Reliable siphon starter?

KoleTang · Jul 9, 2015

I'm trying to create a siphon apparatus for my quarantine tanks which will drain into the sanitary sewer instead of having to haul buckets out of the basement.

I was considering putting a pump inline, but then I realized the siphon will pull the remaining water out of the tubing every time, rendering an un-primed pump.

I found this, but I'm not sure if it can be used to prime a siphon and allow the water to flow continuously, or if it only outputs water pump-by-pump.

This Python Squeeze Starter may be an option, but I'm not sure how reliable/leak proof it is.

Does anyone have experience with these, or similar products, or a better alternative?

Harold Green · Jul 9, 2015

The pump needs to go in your tank and it won't lose prime but will allow siphon through the running pump. A 250 gph or smaller should do the job. I use a gravel cleaner. It will start a siphon just by moving it up and down in the tank and I don't have to run a pump at all.

KoleTang · Jul 9, 2015

Harold Green said:
The pump needs to go in your tank and it won't lose prime but will allow siphon through the running pump. A 250 gph or smaller should do the job. I use a gravel cleaner. It will start a siphon just by moving it up and down in the tank and I don't have to run a pump at all.

The system is going to be split from 3 inlets controlled by ball valves. One inlet per quarantine tank to prevent cross contamination. So I am looking for something that can be put inline rather than something that would need to be placed in a tank. So unfortunately a submersible pump will not work.

Harold Green · Jul 10, 2015

Do you have a picture of your setup? I'm imagining that you have a tube in each tank coming up over the top of the tank and out to your tree of valves. If all three valves are below the tank bottom as long as the water in the tank is above the inlet you can maintain your siphon by just shutting off the valve. Assuming this is your setup you need a one way valve, airline tubing, airline valve at each high point at the tank tops. You can pull out the air from time to time and all you have to do is open a valve to start siphon. Of course I'm just guessing as to your setup. I'd still consider a small pump but in each tank. You can still use one drain line with three valves.

KoleTang · Jul 11, 2015

Harold Green said:
Do you have a picture of your setup? I'm imagining that you have a tube in each tank coming up over the top of the tank and out to your tree of valves. If all three valves are below the tank bottom as long as the water in the tank is above the inlet you can maintain your siphon by just shutting off the valve. Assuming this is your setup you need a one way valve, airline tubing, airline valve at each high point at the tank tops. You can pull out the air from time to time and all you have to do is open a valve to start siphon. Of course I'm just guessing as to your setup.

I like that idea a lot. Can you elaborate on how you bleed the oxygen from the high point of the tube? Where does the check valve go?

BTW, yes you described the setup perfectly. I don't have a picture because it isn't plumbed yet.

I'd still consider a small pump but in each tank. You can still use one drain line with three valves.

I want to be able to move the tubing around the tank to suck up debris and then attach it in place, keeping it below the water line, when it's not in use (so pumps won't work). I still have to figure out how to mount the tubing when not in use.

Harold Green · Jul 11, 2015

You'll need a hard elbow at the top of each tank. Drill a hole at the highest point, epoxy in the tip of a one way valve, a short piece of airline tubing and a small plastic shut off valve. With a baster you can draw out the air that accumulates in the tube. I guess you could put a hose barb just under the water line and attach a flexible tube as needed so you don't have to keep it in the tank. Another option would be to build your tree with a hose barb at each shutoff and take a gravel washer and slide it on one barb at a time and use it to do the cleaning with.

Windy · Jul 16, 2015

I have six tanks that set about a foot above the sump. Not much siphon and I don't want to siphon the waste to my sump. So I set up a pump that pushes the water into a 100 micron sock before going into the sump. I have a fish room, so when I want to start this siphon, I have a valve that feeds it from my main sump pump. It starts with gasps but I can quickly shut off the prime valve. I run the pump while cleaning to improve suction. Once started its quite easy to move from tank to tank. Then I wash out the sock.