Siphon Stopper?

Breakthecycle2 · Sep 1, 2015

Here is a picture of mine. When I shut the pumps off, the water doesn't even come down to the return lines. It only drains a 1/2", maybe 3/4".

rygh · Sep 1, 2015

icecool2 said:
Picture time! When the water gets below the "small hole" the siphon is broken.

Works great ... for a while.
But if that little hole gets full of crud, which most little holes do, it will not pull in air, and you get a big flood.

AZDesertRat · Sep 1, 2015

Never ever rely on drilled holes or check valves, both are a false sense of security and can end badly. An air gap is the only proven, maintenance free form of backflow prevention. Drilled holes get dirty, a snail could park over them or a piece of algae or foodcan get sucked up against it when the power goes of and flow reverses creating a vacuum. Its not worth the risk when a simple air gap cannot be defeated, no matter how hard you try, water cannot jump uphill.

TheEngineer · Sep 1, 2015

Peace. No argument here.

ATB USA · Sep 1, 2015

tigerdragon said:
I installed one of these on my 55 hex and it works great the only con to it is they only make it in 1/2"

They do make it in 3/4" now. I just ordered a tank from them with two of them.

ATB USA · Sep 1, 2015

I will let you know in a few months how they work.

tigerdragon · Sep 2, 2015

Really? Dont see it on their site must be new and they havent updated site yet

ATB USA · Sep 2, 2015

tigerdragon said:
Really? Dont see it on their site must be new and they havent updated site yet

Yes, call and ask for Mike their salesman.

3/4" Siphon Stopper® Complete Fitting w Bulkhead and Elbow - $39.95each is what they charged me to go on the tank.

ReefBum · Sep 2, 2015

kschweer said:
I always just keep my returns right under the surface of th water. It makes for great surface agitation and when the power goes out only a very small amount of water can siphon back before air is drawn in breaking the siphon. Anything like these or a hole drilled somewhen in the return line can be blocked by salt creep making them not work.

I do the same.....I don't really trust any other method.

Breakthecycle2 · Sep 3, 2015

Can anyone tell me where to drill a hole in the picture I posted please?

TheEngineer · Sep 3, 2015

Oh, I see your setup now.... Neither a hole or a siphon break are going to help you. You need to move that loc line output as close to the surface as you can.

Breakthecycle2 · Sep 3, 2015

icecool2 said:
Oh, I see your setup now.... Neither a hole or a siphon break are going to help you. You need to move that loc line output as close to the surface as you can.

I can't really. The water is going to flow out and splash outside of the tank..lol. dang. Any suggestions?

TheEngineer · Sep 3, 2015

A few more sections of loc line and you'd be able to get higher without angling it up so much.

Breakthecycle2 · Sep 3, 2015

icecool2 said:
A few more sections of loc line and you'd be able to get higher without angling it up so much.

Might not be a bad idea.

TheEngineer · Sep 3, 2015

A couple of elbows to get the connection point of the loc-line up to the water level would work too. Much cheaper than loc-line. Then you could do a siphon break hole, but I agree with everyone else that you should try and have it pull air quickly anyway.