Aqualifter failure = flood

[treesprite]

I found water spilling over the edges of the tank all over the floor in the middle of the night, fortunately only a gallon or two.

 

Anyone who is using a CPR or similar type overflow box that uses an Aqualifter-type pump... MAKE SURE the pump is still powerful enough. Mine is working, but clearly not well enough anymore to get the air out fast enough for the return pump when teh electricity somes back on. If you have to start pouring water into the back section of the overflow box to help it along, it's time for fixing or trashing.

 

Now the question. I opened the thing and the bladder things have no holes in them, and there's nothing clogged. Is there something I'm not thinking of that I could do to get this thing working well again or do I need to get a new one?

[jamal]

i was using the aqualifter for my kalk rx and that didnt go well either. many people havee trouble with these pumps. it will cut on but it will not always cut off. it must have to do with power consumption or a design flaw. i banished the one i was using in avor of a peristaltic pump that is much more reliable.

[schulzjp]

Now the question. I opened the thing and the bladder things have no holes in them, and there's nothing clogged. Is there something I'm not thinking of that I could do to get this thing working well again or do I need to get a new one?

 

I have had this happen to me too. My problem is that the "nipple" on the cpr and the airline tubing clogs with algae since it is so close to my lighting (limiting the suction of the aqualifter, if not stopping it). Normally I just clean out the algae every 2 weeks or so and I dont have any problems. I just replaced the clear tubing with black airline tubing, and i think this will solve my problem and prevent that algae.

[davelin315]

I agree, they can clog fairly easily and are not designed to do a whole lot with pressure. If you clean them regularly you should not run into problems. I recently noticed that they were pulling almost nothing from my kalk stirrer so I cleaned out the tubing and there was a buildup where the effluent comes out (I don't feed anything but RO/DI water through them). They were as good as new when I cleared that out.

[wreck]

If you use black airline tubing you won't have algae growth in the line. I have a CPR overflow also, I like the low profile of the overflow box but don't like the fact that air builds up in it. I don't have an aqualifter so I tried hooking up a Maxijet with the air line hooked up to the CPR, it didn't pull the air out well if at all. I did a mod that I had done to my CPR skimmer and it works great, pulls out any air buildup very quickly. Here's a link to the mod: http://www.cpraquatic.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2875

Wreck

 

I have had this happen to me too. My problem is that the "nipple" on the cpr and the airline tubing clogs with algae since it is so close to my lighting (limiting the suction of the aqualifter, if not stopping it). Normally I just clean out the algae every 2 weeks or so and I dont have any problems. I just replaced the clear tubing with black airline tubing, and i think this will solve my problem and prevent that algae.

[lancer99]

I have always used one of these http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html .

 

Because of the much higher flow rate through the U-tube, air bubbles never accumulate, and there's no need for a pump or any other extras.

 

They are pretty much bullet-proof, and after many years of use, I've never had a any problems.

 

-R

[Freezerburn]

I'm done with overflows, my next tank will be drilled. It's hard to explain to family members how to fix the thing when siphon breaks. Of couse that kind of stuff only happens when your away :D

Edited December 11, 2007 by Freezerburn

[treesprite]

I'm done with overflows, my next tank will be drilled. It's hard to explain to family members how to fix the thing when siphon breaks. Of couse that kind of stuff only happens when your away :D

 

 

I have shown my son the "emergency button". If something is wrong turn it all off and call me.

 

I debate having a drilled tank in an apartment, but drilled would probably be a lot easier to deal with and less to worry about.

 

THanks for the suggestions and info.... I will look into all of those things.