primeing overflow?

[King Triton]

I am building a 55 reef tank and am putting a sump under it I am useing a overflow and am wondering if anyone uses a power head to start the siphon I have tested mine over and over and it always starts on its own but would I be safer to put a barb adapter at the top on the horseshoe siphon tube conected to a power head ?

[metalhead]

Should be fine without that... Run at least two tubes in it if you want, in case one gets plugged the other(s) will continue to siphon.

May be a good idea though... I've never tried it but it might be worth experimenting with if you have any spare tubes laying around.

Regardless the tubes should hold their siphon pressure if the power goes off so I really don't see a need for it but then again, maybe I'm missing your point.

[Nemo Keeper]

I have an overflow with 2 tubes in it as well. I mostly use 2 because I wasnt getting enough water to my sump which ran dry and burn out my pump. Anyway, I turn off the pump while doing a water change and the tubes maintain the water pressure and continues to run once I restart it. You can use a small tube, about2 cm in diameter to inset into the tube, place the tube into the overflow and siphone real quick. This will fill the tube with water without getting ahy inyour mouth. Then you can simply slip out the siphon tube and you're good to go. You will only need to do this if it loses pressure for some reason. Hope this helps.

[Seige]

Nemo Keeper, you should add a float switch that shuts down your pump if the water level drops too low so your pump doesn't burn out.

[Nemo Keeper]

You know Seige, I haven't thought about that. Thanks for the heads up!!!

[Seige]

I would think it's a fairly cheap fix. Float switches should sell for around $10-$15 I would think. Haven't bought one so I can't say for sure.

Another option is to run an ATO that fills it whenever the water level drops and trigger the ATO with a float valve.