CPR Overflow question

showjet98 · 06/18/2006, 08:55 PM

I have a CPR overflow and I cant get the dang thing to start siphoning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 08:57 PM

You need to hook a vacuum pump like an Aqualifter to the air nipple. Also be sure you fill the front and back sections with water.

showjet98 · 06/18/2006, 08:59 PM

ok well I dont have one of those so now what, I need to get this thing going cuz my tank hasnt been filteredor skimmed for 2 days now.

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 09:02 PM

Do you have a powerhead with a venturi?

BTW, CPR overflows are very problematic. Keep and eye on it once you get it working.

showjet98 · 06/18/2006, 09:12 PM

problematic, meaning? if you mean overflowing onto the carpet then maybe I shou;dnt go this route, my dad said if it overflows onto the carpet the tank is gone the next day.

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 09:20 PM

Yes, overflowing onto the carpet. They are very unreliable The CPR can not keep air evacuated on its own and relies on a pump like the Aqualifter. If something fails/clogs or leaks..problem.

A U Tube overflow doesnt have this problem. The flow through it pushes the bubbles through.

What size display/sump/return pump?

mattliu · 06/18/2006, 09:22 PM

false, i have never had a problem.

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattliu
false, i have never had a problem.

Thats great! But that doesn't mean scores of other people haven't. Its a very well known problem.

SteveOhh · 06/18/2006, 09:26 PM

If you take an airline & hook it to the airline connector on top of the unit, start siphoning the aire out w/ your mouth & then drop the airline into the sump you'll have no problems. If you lose power, the airline will just suck water from the sump back into the overflow. I've had a CPR unit for 7 months now & not once have I ever lost suction. Mind you I shut down my return pump during feeding, so it's not like I'm not giving it a chance to lose sucttion. IMO, if the CPR units are so bad & unreliable, why do they sell so many & cost so much?? Something to ponder huh?

Steve

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 09:32 PM

And what happens when a tiny spec of crud clogs the air nipple?

There are lots of CPRs, Seaclones, Rio pumps, light timers that catch fire, sold every day. Doesn't mean they are good.

It always amazes me how people totally discount that there is a problem when it happens to many people just because THEY haven't seen it. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You may have good luck, many people don't. Do you want to gamble?

CPR overflows earned the reputation they have. Lifereef also earned their reputation. No big conspiracy. Just fact.

mattliu · 06/18/2006, 10:09 PM

it always amazes me how people can totally assume there is a problem just because they have had a problem or have heard of other people having a problem.

sjm817 · 06/18/2006, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mattliu
it always amazes me how people can totally assume there is a problem just because they have had a problem or have heard of other people having a problem.

Well, that is true. I'm funny that way. When I've seen the problem first hand and see many others have experienced the exact same same problem...I just assume there actually is a problem. I should start ignoring such things and pretend they dont exist!

mattliu · 06/18/2006, 10:48 PM

in all seriousness people have trouble for different reasons. some due to design some due to installation. i get the flow going on my cpr's so that they too push the air bubbles through. any siphon setup has potential problems. at the least the cpr's have a device that ensures a continuous siphon. how bout directing me to some threads about the problems. i've had three with no problem.

Bebo77 · 06/18/2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sjm817
Well, that is true. I'm funny that way. When I've seen the problem first hand and see many others have experienced the exact same same problem...I just assume there actually is a problem. I should start ignoring such things and pretend they dont exist!

lol that and SJM hates CPR's

Bagz · 06/18/2006, 11:29 PM

I hate CPRs my overflowed three times suck a head ach i went u-tube never had a problem

06/18/2006, 08:55 PM	#1
showjet98 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Claremont, Ca Posts: 1,027	CPR Overflow question I have a CPR overflow and I cant get the dang thing to start siphoning. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

06/18/2006, 08:57 PM	#2
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	You need to hook a vacuum pump like an Aqualifter to the air nipple. Also be sure you fill the front and back sections with water. __________________ - Scott

06/18/2006, 09:02 PM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Do you have a powerhead with a venturi? BTW, CPR overflows are very problematic. Keep and eye on it once you get it working. __________________ - Scott

06/18/2006, 09:20 PM	#6
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Yes, overflowing onto the carpet. They are very unreliable The CPR can not keep air evacuated on its own and relies on a pump like the Aqualifter. If something fails/clogs or leaks..problem. A U Tube overflow doesnt have this problem. The flow through it pushes the bubbles through. What size display/sump/return pump? __________________ - Scott

06/18/2006, 09:22 PM	#7
mattliu Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: tampa Posts: 594	false, i have never had a problem. __________________ "The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat." -- Jacques-Yves Cousteau Current Tank Info: 75 in the works

06/18/2006, 08:59 PM	#3
showjet98 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Claremont, Ca Posts: 1,027	ok well I dont have one of those so now what, I need to get this thing going cuz my tank hasnt been filteredor skimmed for 2 days now.

06/18/2006, 09:12 PM	#5
showjet98 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Claremont, Ca Posts: 1,027	problematic, meaning? if you mean overflowing onto the carpet then maybe I shou;dnt go this route, my dad said if it overflows onto the carpet the tank is gone the next day.

06/18/2006, 09:26 PM	#9
SteveOhh Moved On Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Whittier, CA Posts: 3,182	If you take an airline & hook it to the airline connector on top of the unit, start siphoning the aire out w/ your mouth & then drop the airline into the sump you'll have no problems. If you lose power, the airline will just suck water from the sump back into the overflow. I've had a CPR unit for 7 months now & not once have I ever lost suction. Mind you I shut down my return pump during feeding, so it's not like I'm not giving it a chance to lose sucttion. IMO, if the CPR units are so bad & unreliable, why do they sell so many & cost so much?? Something to ponder huh? Steve

06/18/2006, 09:32 PM	#10
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	And what happens when a tiny spec of crud clogs the air nipple? There are lots of CPRs, Seaclones, Rio pumps, light timers that catch fire, sold every day. Doesn't mean they are good. It always amazes me how people totally discount that there is a problem when it happens to many people just because THEY haven't seen it. It doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You may have good luck, many people don't. Do you want to gamble? CPR overflows earned the reputation they have. Lifereef also earned their reputation. No big conspiracy. Just fact. __________________ - Scott

06/18/2006, 10:09 PM	#11
mattliu Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: tampa Posts: 594	it always amazes me how people can totally assume there is a problem just because they have had a problem or have heard of other people having a problem. __________________ "The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat." -- Jacques-Yves Cousteau Current Tank Info: 75 in the works

06/18/2006, 10:48 PM	#13
mattliu Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: tampa Posts: 594	in all seriousness people have trouble for different reasons. some due to design some due to installation. i get the flow going on my cpr's so that they too push the air bubbles through. any siphon setup has potential problems. at the least the cpr's have a device that ensures a continuous siphon. how bout directing me to some threads about the problems. i've had three with no problem. __________________ "The sea, the great unifier, is man's only hope. Now, as never before, the old phrase has a literal meaning: we are all in the same boat." -- Jacques-Yves Cousteau Current Tank Info: 75 in the works

06/18/2006, 11:29 PM	#15
Bagz Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: cali Posts: 366	I hate CPRs my overflowed three times suck a head ach i went u-tube never had a problem