[MasterBlaster]

The other day I returned home to find there had been a pwr outage. My refugium had siphoned (via the pwr heads) into the main tank, overflowing it, and flooding resulted.

I realize now that I must place the inflow tube at a level right below the water surface to break the siphon should another outage occur.

The refugium is a 30 gal no baffles rubbermaid with a DSB, live rock, and various macroalgaes.

For me, it's primary purpose is critter production, secondary purpose - photosynthesis.

Placing the inflow tube (diagonally to the overflow) at allmost the same level as the overflow is going to is going to markedly reduce the turbity of the 'fuge. I do not want this - I want enough water agitation to aid critter migration into the main tank. I do not wish to put a critter-chopping pwr head in the 'fuge.

Original placement of the inflow tube was perpendicular to the sand bed, 2 inches above, and diagonally to the overflow. I felt this provided the most water movement possible.

Finally!!! My Question!

Is this my only option? Do one-way check valves exist, like they do for air tubing? How can I increase water movement?

I am allready pumping as much water into the 'fuge as I think is possible.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[saltwaterdave]

I can't really help you with your problem,I am having a hard time getting a mental image of what you have going on,BUT, It is my understanding that fuges are suppose to have a slow flow and not quite so much water movement.I hav'nt read about any recommended gph figures,but everyone reccomends a slow flow through the fuge.
David

[MasterBlaster]

Originally Posted by saltwaterdave

I can't really help you with your problem,I am having a hard time getting a mental image of what you have going on,BUT, It is my understanding that fuges are suppose to have a slow flow and not quite so much water movement.I hav'nt read about any recommended gph figures,but everyone reccomends a slow flow through the fuge.
David

I don't thing I can 'splain my set-up much better than what I have allready - a specific question would be helpfull.

I'm hip to the low-flow concept. I won't be increasing the gph, just reducing the turbulance due to repositioning of the inlet flow from just above the sand bed to just below the waterline.

Short of moving up to a larger pwr head(which might defeat the low-flow concept), my question remains;

Does a check-valve exist for saltwater? Is there a better way to prevent flooding from pwr outages?

I just don't like the idea of going from my existing low-flow(125-150gph) to even a lower flow.

I'm not even really addressing the turnover rate: internal 'fuge turbulance is what I wish to maintain. To my way of thinking, reducing turbulance will reduce critter export to the main tank - maybe I'm thinking wrong.

[jeff967]

just drill a small hole in your pipe or tubing slightly under the surface of your fuge, it will suck air and break the siphon, no flood
jeff

[MasterBlaster]

Originally Posted by jeff967

just drill a small hole in your pipe or tubing slightly under the surface of your fuge, it will suck air and break the siphon, no flood
jeff

Thank you, Jeff, thats the best ans yet.That will cause a drop in water pressure, but I guess I can live with that!

[jeff967]

hey, I did not see before, we are kind of close I'm in Monroe, frag trades?
jeff

[dougchambers]

Blaster,

In answer to your other question, yes you can get check valves for Saltwater. Here is one that I've used in the past:

Check Valve

Doug

[MasterBlaster]

Thank you, Doug, that was just what I was looking for. Jeff, I don't have any frags as yet, but someday...