dustins first tank. 120 gallon(lots of pics)

[fatman]

Originally Posted by dustin_P74

there is about a foot and a half of empty space from the top of my water in the sump to the top of the sump

Very likely more than enough space, but all it would take to find out is to unplug your return pump and wait to see how far the water rises in your sump. If it does not rise all the way to the top then you can add more water. Then plug the pump back in and let it run a few minutes. Then mark the glass with a piece of tape or a marking pen at the water level in your pump return compartment. This is your water level that must be kept topped off with fresh water as the water evaporates. Just check every day and add fresh (no salt added) water to the sump until the water raises up to the mark or tape line. Any time you do water changes you should fill your tank up until water starts rubbing into the overflow, then pour water in the sump or tank with the pump running until the water reachs that water line/mark (on the sump) and stays there. Other tan what little water you lose to salt creep and putting your arms and hands in the tank, this should keep your salinity levels consistent.

[dustin_P74]

ok well i cant mark a line because if it is unplugged for more then 30 seconds the sump over flows because the overflows dont stop draining water, i know this from personal experience

[fatman]

Originally Posted by dustin_P74

ok well i cant mark a line because if it is unplugged for more then 30 seconds the sump over flows because the overflows dont stop draining water, I know this from personal experience

What are you using for over flow pipes in your overflow towers? If you have mega flow, Oceanic or Durso overflow tubes they all have anti siphon holes as part of their design. If you are using some form of home made overflow tubes I would need a description of there parts and pieces to know what is wrong with them. Even with a poorly designed set of overflow pipes the water can only flow as long as it is fed water, and it can only get as much water as what is pumped into the tank and some of what is in the tower, unless you have no overflow pipes which is not recommended at all.
Water should flow only a short while after the return pumps is shut off. If yours does not the problem needs to be found and fixed, it is not a question of if you will have a power outage it is a question of when.

[dustin_P74]

Originally Posted by fatman

Even with a poorly designed set of overflow pipes the water can only flow as long as it is fed water, and it can only get as much water as what is pumped into the tank and some of what is in the tower, .

well when i say the mega flow towers i mean that there are three rows of slots along the height of the towers so there is always water to be drained and i dont know what kind of pipes are being used because i had the whole tank professionally installed ,so that means that they arent home made pipes but i dont know the brand they used, but they used hard pvc throughout and not the flexible hose if that tells you anything

[fatman]

It just sounds like you are describing a typical "reef ready" tower such as used in a AGA or Aqueon tank. They will stop flowing as the water drains down to the level of bottom of the top set of slots. This means 1 to 3 inches of water, depending on your water level in the tank when the pump is running. If you look at the tower from the top you should see that there are two walls in the towers construction and that the inner wall is the height of the bottom of the top row of slots. There should be no holes or slots anywhere else on the inner wall of the overflow tower.

[Oscarsdad608]

It sounds like they didn't put in any anti syphon holes in your return pipes. Lok on your returns, just under the water line you should have a 1/8 inche hple drilled on each return that will break the syphon when the water reaches that hight.

[fatman]

Covered that already, on the previous page of the thread. I think there is just some confusion or specualtion going on by dustin as to how long his water will continue to exit his tank in any manner and or fashions once the pump goes out. I have not seen any commerial overflow return systems that did not have anti siphon holes on both the returns and the overflows pipe plumbing. Megaflow and Oceanic actually put at least two or three anti siphon holes in the modified "T" used in their over flow riser, but only one hole in the 90 degree fitting for their Loc-line returns. The return holes are only 1/8" or smaller so they could be plugged up though.

Dustin,
We only need to know about the fittings and pipes inside the overflow tower that runs from the bottom glass to the top of the tank either on the bck wall of the tank or in one or both back corners, There are flexible black pipes made out of rounded knobby peices joined together. This section of pipe screws into a white piece of plastic that is bent 90 degrees and that pipe runs to the bottom of the tank. On the underside of that 90 degree bend should be a hole that is about an eight inch in diameter. That needs to be checked to make sure it is not plugged up. It is the antisiphon hole for the waters return line. Also in the overflow tower there is a larger piece of whiteolastic pipe that runs to the bottom of the tank. At the top of the pipe it forms a "U" with a nob shaped bulge on top of one side and that connects with a screened inlet at the other end of the "U." At the end of the "U" just above where it is hooked up to the pipe going to the bottom of the tank there should be two or three holes about 3/8" in diameter. Those holes are all anti siphon holes to prevent the overflow fronm siphoning water out of the tank after the water level drops down to their heights.

[Piggy]

Maybe if you posted some pics that would help.

[fatman]

I keep buying other stuff so still have not bought a camera, and the only drawing program I use is AutoCad. I do not know that this forum would accept an AutoCad drawing. I would have to draw it and print it then scan it in as a picture in jpeg I guess. Is it really that hard to follow. All he Has to do is probably stand on a chair and look into the tower. Biffer says she is not the DIY type but I am sure she could look into an overflow and see if she has anti siphon holes even with my description as a guide. I could never teach grade school or even Jr. High School, probably not even High School. I would probaly pull my hair out regularly. Hard as I try I do not do simple very well.

[daugherty]

you should have ms paint. as it comes with ms