Return line siphon break

[Dean]

So I have come to the conclusion that check valves are not the answer unless you want to clean the weekly. Obviously the best answer is enough space in your sump to accommodate but I don't have that luxury so... What is a viable option? My tank is drilled and the return is about 4" below the top of the tank on a 65 tall. That's about 10 gallons of water to clean up if Murphy jumps on my back which is inevitable. Anyone out there in a similar situation with a solution?

- Dean

[FireWater]

Have you drilled a hole on the return just below the water line in the tank yet?

[aquasport24]

+ 1 with John , but i would go futher and drill 2 holes, just incase one got glogged up. I would also bring the return nozzle as up high as possible.

[Dean]

I will try drilling holes in the locline and see if that works.

- Dean

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Make a u in the pvc, bringing it below the sw line, attach the locline, drill the pvc below the sw line

you can also drill the pvc above the sw line it just spashes

That way you control the return by adding more pvc, you may want to bring the locline down into the sw

edit the pvc, drill the pvc from the return, not locline

[Dean]

I'm not understanding on the pvc part Shane. My tank is drilled. There is a 3/4" bulk head with the locline threaded directly into it shock is about 4" below the surface.

- Dean

[BBQHILLBILLY]

ok my bad, not sure how to break the siphon

edit you can still control with an L and bring pvc up from the hole to sw line, then drill just a thought, or bring return over the back, with a u, and drill there, put a cap on the return hole 4 in below, couple ideas

edit you allmost can make a closed loop :bigsmile:

[aquasport24]

4" below the water surface or 4" below the rim. Drilled holes would not work if locline 4" below water surface. Might have to get a bigger sump if that is the case.

[Dean]

Ya that is the case. Hole was drilled way to low. I found a vacuum breaker online through Grainger that I am going to try.

- Dean

[Dean]

Working on getting a pvc anti-siphon device ordered through my plumbing material supplier. It should work great but will be a little pricey. http://www.plastomatic.com/rvdt.html

[FireWater]

Can you take a pic of your current return line as it comes into the tank, Dean?

A small hole just at water line should be all you need.

[Dean]

Sure. I will post one when I get home later.

- Dean

[Dean]

Here are a couple if pictures of my return.



- Dean

[Dean]

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/25/9agebe4y.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/04/25/7ygadyza.jpg

- Dean

[vman181]

I would bring up the locline right out of the drilled hole from the back of the tank. Then angle the spouts down as you have them. I would then drill a hole on the underside (red dot) of the locline at the top. I added the crude picture but it should help with what I am trying to explain. This will break the siphon before too much water was drained from the tank. Just make sure you drill the small hole on the underside so water will not spray upwards. HTH

[Dean]

I gotcha. Great idea. Thank you.

- Dean

[vman181]

I would also do two holes as someone else has suggested. Just incase one gets clogged up.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dean]

So I ended up taking out the locline and made up a spray type return which I piped up to the edge if the water line using black painted pvc with a cap on the end and a bunch of holes drilled into it. I have the holes pointed where it will cascade down the back of the tank providing good flow through my rock work. It is less noticable than the locline return and provides much more flow coverage also.

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/03/7edyha4u.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/05/03/ybynadyr.jpg



- Dean

[aquasport24]

Wow...Good idea. It even better if you paint it black.Just have to clean out holes once in a while.

[Dean]

Wow...Good idea. It even better if you paint it black.Just have to clean out holes once in a while.

Thanks. I scarred the edges of the pipe for a tight fit rather than gluing so I can take it apart for cleaning every now and then. The pipe reflects a lot of light in the picture but really not noticeable in person.