[cofstl411]

I am sure that I am overlooking something but I can't figure out how to get the water to start siphoning into the hang-on overflow. I have the tube that looks like a u but just can't figure it out. I am sure there is an easy way and I am just trying to make it too hard.

[pavesi]

Once water is above the "U" tube it should automagically start the siphon.

That is where the biggest drawback to using the siphon method is.. Water
MUST be above the the tube..

One trick you could try and use is this:
once your power returns, IF you have a powerhead un-used/un-needed, you could point the output into the tube to get a siphon started.

[cofstl411]

I am guessing that the water has to be pretty high in the u tube not actually above it. Unless, I have my overflow hooked up incorrectly. I did not realize how close to the top of the tank the water had to be. At the rate my ro/di filter is working it will be tomorrow before it gets that high.

[pavesi]

Uh.. No.. Actually, for a siphon to start, it MUST be able to pull water from lower... so, by just mearly being *close* to the top will not pull water over the edge.. it has to be above the top of the "U" to start properly.. you will understand once the tank is full.

[marxsman]

Once the tank is full try this, turn the u upside down in the tank and fill it with water, flip it over fast into the overflow hangers and this will get the siphon to start.

another trick is to leave the U where its at and put a piece of small flex hose in the tube till it hits the top of the u and suck the air out, it will fill up with water and start the siphon.

You can use this hose method to suck the air out after the siphon starts to adjust water flow also.

[pavesi]

This is great to start.. what happens when the power goes out?
No siphon, and to boot, all the water that was once in the sump is now on the floor/carpet.. The siphon MUST be able to self prime. If not, see statement above.

Originally Posted by marxsman

Once the tank is full try this, turn the u upside down in the tank and fill it with water, flip it over fast into the overflow hangers and this will get the siphon to start.

another trick is to leave the U where its at and put a piece of small flex hose in the tube till it hits the top of the u and suck the air out, it will fill up with water and start the siphon.

You can use this hose method to suck the air out after the siphon starts to adjust water flow also.

[Reefland]

If you have a good overflow box, when the power goes out the siphon will not break, just stop. Since the siphon doesn't break, once the power comes back on the siphon will restart and there will be no flood.

I used the flexible air line method. Put one end of the airline in the U tube until the end is at the peak of the U tube. Suck on it very hard and very fast to get a good siphon started and it will push the air out that you couldn't suck out.

[pavesi]

[quote=Reefland]If you have a good overflow box, when the power goes out the siphon will not break, just stop. Since the siphon doesn't break, once the power comes back on the siphon will restart and there will be no flood.

I'm taking the position of: its not a good overflow box, and siphon will break, at least until tested properly. Guess we'll know more today since his tank should be filled now
I hope he just used plain water to test with though!

[Reefland]

That is the best position to take. Consider it no good until you can test it by starting the siphon and killing the power several times over ensuring that the overflow restarts each and every time on it's own.

[ereefic]

Is the outer box divided into 2 sections? One for the u-tube and the other for the drain? If so, this will keep the syphon in the event of a power faliure. Basically, the bottom part of the u-tube needs to be lower than the top of the drain. That way, the end of the tube in the outer box will remain underwater (as well as the other end of the u-tube) in turn keeping the syphon. The 2 pics below are of the 2 different style overflows (mentioned above) that will keep the syphon.

What I did on one of my overflows to make starting a syphon much easier is this:

Get a airline to airline connector and drill a hole in the top center of the u-tube just big enough to slide that connector in so it fits snug. Then you'll need to trim a small amount of one end of the connector so when it is put into the u-tube, it extends just a little ways in. Then silicone it in really good and let it set-up really well. Attach a length of airhose to that connector and then add a valve with another length of hose coming off of that.

To start the syphon, just open the valve and suck on the one end of the hose until the u-tube fills with water then close the valve and you have successfully started your syphon without trying to wiggle a hose up there.

Just make the hose long enough for you to easily get to it. HTH

[Reefland]

Cool little DIY project, thanks for sharing Eric!

[marxsman]

also for you guys, if you have a power outage the water will siphon out of the return line and back into the wet/dry. So there for, on the return line, on the U tube that goes into the tank drill a small hole in the bottom of that tube. just about waterline. It will break the siphon effect by sucking air, that way it will not siphon your tank into the box.

on the other note you will not need to start the siphon from the overflow box. the water should start itself.

[cofstl411]

I don't know if my overflow is a good one or not but I took a picture of it. There is only one chamber but two hoses going to sump. I tried to use a maxi-jet 1200 to push the water over the top but it was not strong enough. I just purchased a turkey baster and will try that. Next I will try the hose to suck air out of the tube. I appreciate all of the input. My water is about an inch from the top of the tank. I will look into getting a better overflow box because I definitely do not want any mishaps on my carpet. What do you suggest? Do any have a way to start a siphon easier?

[cofstl411]

Well, the turkey baster did the trick. The siphon went very smoothly but now I have a different problem. My mag 7 pumps the water back into the tank faster than the overflow drains it into the sump!

[pavesi]

This *could* be a problem if there was no way to solve it.. luckly for us there is.. Just go down to your local home depot (etc.) and pick up a adjustable valve. You will have to maybe figure out how your going to install it, on my return pump I bought 2 3/4" adaptors and placed the valve between it.

[cofstl411]

Will that cause the pump any problems by restraining it like that? I am glad you posted that message because I was just about to buy a rio2100 off of ebay. I have everything else set up (live sand, 100 lbs LR, 2 snails, protein skimmer etc) and it is killing me not to see the everything going.

[pavesi]

depending on the pump, yes, it will degrade the pump over time.
I would venture to guess that your Mag will degrade, how long, hard
to say.. luckly their pretty cheap

note: only restrain the output, never the input.

PS. have you turned off your power to see if your siphon breaks, and
what happens when you turn the power back on WITHOUT starting
the siphon manually??

[cofstl411]

When I turn off power I don't lose siphon. But when I restart, the siphon is at a much lower rate. Not something I want to wonder about while I am at work.

[Reefland]

After a short time the siphon should speed up and catch up with the return rate.

[jobryan26]

1. Fill u-tube with water to top in this position "u".
2. Use two pieces of Saran Wrap and then cover each end.
3. Flip upside down in this position "n" and put into place in the overflow.
4. Remove the Saran Wrap and it's done.