New tank Wet dry filter Help

[bajaoutlaw65]

Need some help here. Never had a wet dry filter before. How do you get the thing started? I have a 72 gal Bopw Front set up brand new. I purchased a wet dry filter system for it and put the pump/Skimmer and thermostat in the filter box mounted under the tank. I have a hang over box I guess to suck water to the box. How do I get the suction started to the filter box bio balls. Help. I allready flooded the place trying it my way.........J.C.

[Richard]

Use a piece of airline tubing to suck the air out of the overflow tubes. Then just pull out the airline tube. Make sense?

[bajaoutlaw65]

I'll try that. Thanks

[bajaoutlaw65]

Nope I guess I don't get it. Could you explain it to me alittle better. The U shaped tube is huge. I don't understand.

[MattK]

Do you have a valve on the down side of your overflow?

[bajaoutlaw65]

OK got it to work. I was trying to put the u tube in the wrong side. OK next question. I have somewhat regulated the flow from the filter out and the pump in. I turned off all power to the tank, I noticed the outlet valve in the tank siphones the water back into the wet dry sump. So my question is if the power goes out I guess my tank is going to empty right? That doesn't seem right. Do I need a backflow prevention vavle of some kind? I am scared I'm going to flood the house.

[jc]

By outlet valve do you mean the pipe where the water from the sump comes back into the main tank? If that is so then you need to put at least two holes in the return. Small holes nothing big and on opposite sides of each other. That way when the power is out the return line will not siphon back the tank water into the sump. The holes will kill the vacuum. The reason for two holes is just in case a snail decides to park himself on a hole just as the power goes out. Put the holes just under the water line about a quarter inch or so.

[MattK]

Yes, it will siphon the water out of your tank until the siphon is broken. Siphones are tricky, never really trusted them myself.

[bajaoutlaw65]

Thanks for the advice. I'll try it. Love this forum.

J.C.

[erick]

Water siphons to my trickle filter through a 1-1/2" drain with two 3/8" holes drilled about 1/2" from the surface of the water at the elbow. But water also drains back into my pump through the return line from the sump, 2 sources of backflow. You have to make sure that you return line is not lower than the safety holes drilled into the main drain, otherwise, your tank keeps draining until the siphon at the return line is broken. MAKE SURE that your wet/dry/sump can hold all the water that drains from the tank when power is lost, or you'll end up with a mess. If your sump cannot hold all the water, adjust the water level in the tank so when power is lost, the sump can hold the excess w/o overflowing. Best of luck...Erick

[erikharrison]

the siphon doesnt break, there is just no room for the water to flow downward anymore. it cant fill up enough water to go down the inlet in the overflow's outside box. I am getting a wet dry today, so I am curious. Also, you can check www.melevsreef.com and do some looking at the sumps there. He goes into detail about how to start the siphon. And yes, this forum ROX. I just joined it myslef last month, and look at how many posts i have made ;)

[caferacermike]

The tank shouldn't lose anymore then an inch of water. I have a dual 1,200gph hang on on my 125 fresh tank and I've lost power several times, not to mention I shut off the pump once a week to do water changes. In 3 years of operation I've never once lost my siphon nor have I ever had a problem with restart.

[erikharrison]

oh yeah, just dont overfill your wet dry, make sure the water is high enough not to make "tornados" in the water on the outlet side where your return pump is, then pull the plug and see what happens. If you think it's going to overflow your sump, remove some water and try again. Just make sure not to run your pump dry. I just got done fiddling with mine, I am going to add some live rock beneath the bioballs under the crate.