Sump Overflowed

[mig]

So I shut my pump off yesterday to change the filter and my sump overflowed. Its never done this before. I have a line marked on it for running depth and power off depth and running depth was good. So I killed the power again this morning but this time I lifted the pump outlet out of the main tank water and sure enough the sump level was well below high water mark. Therefore its siphoning back the pump outlet for some reason. Now I did add a durso drain in my overflow recently to quiet the 24" drop waterfall but I don't get how this would effect the pump out line but this must be the reason. I know a lot of you are running the durso drain but what did I do wrong? I have an 1.5" pipe that turns 180 at the top and a small 1/8" hole drilled in the cap.

 

[reef keeper]

Pictures will help

 

[EricTMah]

Did you drill a siphon break hole in your pump outlet line in the main display? I always drill two very small hols in that line just below the normal running water level to break the siphon to prevent as much back flow as possible.

 

[heath]

not sure if this will help, I don't know/understand a lot about plumbing but, when I had the plumbing done on my tank, sewerat added a check valve (not sure of the actual name) to avoid this type of thing happening. The valve has a flap that lets the water out but closes to avoid it coming back. It wasn't that expensive but a really good safety valve..I will look it up and let you know..

 

[heath]

ok, found it. I ordered it from Reef Supply and it is a true union swing valve, the cost was under 30 $. they have them in all the different sizes, check it out, to me well worth the piece of mind. Also, when he put it in, he didn't glue it so that it can be taken out for cleaning if need be..

 

[Kman]

If you do install a check valve make sure you clean it regularly. They fail from time to time if you don't. I also drill a small hole in the return line in the main display just below the water line.

 

[reef keeper]

I have dursos with a syphon break on them. My tank back siphons to the sump until my returns are out of the water in the display. Make sure your return lines aren't too deep

 

[jeffopentax]

A just put a ball valve on my return line. Cheap and reliable


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[scubasteve]

i put my hole right at the water line in my returns and as soon as my water stops flowing sump only raises an inch at most

 

[TORX]

Did you drill a siphon break hole in your pump outlet line in the main display? I always drill two very small hols in that line just below the normal running water level to break the siphon to prevent as much back flow as possible.

This is a must. I have a hole drilled in the back of my return plumbing to break the siphon on the return. I will post a pic of it. Works 100% of the time, large enough to never clog, but I do clean it to be sure.

 

[TORX]

Just a hole drilled between the 2 elbows. Has been amazing and is a must.

 

[mig]

I tried to attach a pic but file is too large and my cell camera setting smallest pic is 2.5 mp and site max is 1mp

 

[mig]

Sorry torx I can't see where you have the hole in that pic.. by return line do you mean return from sump to main tank? I have a hole in drain line to sump but no hole in sump to main tank.. and if so I'm not clear where to drill. Maybe you can point with a pen to the hole and a pic a little farther back..

 

[TORX]

Ok by a gole return line do you mean From sump back to main tank?

Where the return goes into the main tank just above the water line. I can not get a good pic as it is on the back of the return towards the back of the tank and the back is painted black, so I can not get a picture.

 

[chrisstevens]

Did you drill a siphon break hole in your pump outlet line in the main display? I always drill two very small hols in that line just below the normal running water level to break the siphon to prevent as much back flow as possible.

What eric said, small hole drilled on each return line( depending on how many you got) just below water lvl in the tank when the pump is running. That way it doesn't syphon a bunch of water out of you tank to your sump when the pump is off.

 

[mig]

Ok thx torx I see what you mean however in my case I would drill the pop together flex pipe but yes I see how this would prevent syphon and water would just spray out the hole under normal operation.. have to make sure the is drilled on the bottom side so it sprays into the tank obviously..

 

[mig]

And thx to all that replied.. that's why I love this site.. now if the hole is below water line it will syphon some water but if it's slightly above waterline it would spray under normal operation but would not back syphon anything

 

[TORX]

If it is loc-line pipe, then just lift it closer to the water line so that it breaks the siphon sooner.

 

[EricTMah]

Check valves fail all the time. I don't trust them at all.

With the siphon break hole. You're still going to need to keep it clean. But imo they're more reliable than a check valve

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[TORX]

Check valves fail all the time. I don't trust them at all.

With the siphon break hole. You're still going to need to keep it clean. But imo they're more reliable than a check valve

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And a lot easier to check and clean. If gook clogs your check valve...good luck cleaning it lol. They do work, but I personally would not use one.