Check Your Anti-Siphon Devices NOW!

[BeltwayBandit]

Word to the wise. Go check your anti siphon devices on your tank now. I'll wait for you.....

 

Ok good now let me tell you a story. I have had a fun filled night. Oh yes. About 9pm we hear a loud bang and then poof no power. No worries I say, my tank will be fine. I go looking to make sure that there is no fire from the transformer that just blew and got candles etc.. You know the usual when the power goes out. Then I go down to check to make sure that my tank is all hunky dory... Well it wasn't. You see my return line from the sump had turned into a siphon and about 1/3 of my 120 gallon system was now on my carpet. Plus my snails were about to mutiny because about half of them were high and dry. What happened? Well. My return line is a flex hose connected to a PVC U over the back of the tank. It then ends in a nozzle that I can direct to different parts of the tank. Now being a smart Reefer, I had wisely drilled a small hole right below the normal waterline of the tank that acted as an anti siphon for the return. Problem was I hadn't checked it in about a month and a half becuase life had just been too busy. Long story short, the anti siphon hole was plugged and I had just drained 1/3 of my system volume onto the living room floor. Fortunately my wife was less upset about it than I was. But here it is 1am and I am still working on getting the water out of the carpet. I am also making make up water to finish filling the last 5-10 gallons, because again as Mr. Murphy dictates I only had about 20 gallons of RO water made at the time.

 

So far no immediate deaths to report. Time and massive water changes over the next week or so will tell what the final butcher's bill will be from this little escapade. So in case you didn't do it before, please go and check your anti siphon devices. And remember to check them weekly. It only seems mundane and stupid till you forget to do it and have the resultant flood to deal with.

 

I'm squishily yours,

 

Beltway Bandit

[Gadgets]

I am not happy that this happened to u but I am glad u that u said to recheck it, because I am leaving town on Tues to go away for a week. Mine is cool, but it feels good to feel safe and sound.

[dbartco]

The exact thing happened to me last night when the power went out!!!!

 

Lost only about 10 gallons, basement floor, no carpet. I waas in Richmond of course. This hobby will divorce me. I cleaned mine today........late.

[Guest Siders]

Howdy, well i got one but its a check valve and it works like a champ.i'll try to take a picture of it this afternoon. Question though, for the actual overflow box, is there anything that can be put in place to stop the pump if it breaks? I have looked at some fairly inexpensive float switches but the problem is i think they will clog fairly easily. Any good ideas? Thanks, Siders

[flowerseller]

In a power off situation, my back flow does not exceed my sump capacity.

[Sugar Magnolia]

I drilled two syphon breaks in my returns. One just belwo the water line and one just above.

[mogurnda]

Note to self: Check siphon breaks. It will help my marriage.

[bigal20874]

I use a rubber maid as a sump from target and I got the biggest one, so it won't overflow. Pepco sucks, power out pretty frequently.

:angry2:

[flowerseller]

There's a big sump on the boards for sale now for anyone looking to upsump.

upsump - new word of the day -

[mogurnda]

upsump -  new word of the day -

36286[/snapback]

Surprised the profanity filter didn't catch that one :D

[Guest Tomsimtim]

I also have a U syphon, but I do not understand where the anti - syphon holes are to be drilled, on the return from the sump???

[Caribbean Jake]

Tomsimtin yes on the U that is in the tank at the end of your return.

 

I also went through this event in June and ended with 15 gallons of water in our basement carpet. It took three weeks for the concrete to dry. I also have two holes drilled on the U at the end of the return. It is all aprt of the hobby.... just have to live with it I guess.

[Guest Tomsimtim]

What should the diameter of the hole be???

[BeltwayBandit]

What should the diameter of the hole be???

36563[/snapback]

 

 

It doesn't have to be that large, a 1/8" hole should work fine. Just remember to check it periodically to make sure that it isn't plugged up. I have mine right at or near the water level so I can see the surface agitation from it to check it. Granted I had not done that in a while and thus my problem.

 

Fortunately the butcher's bill for this little escapade was rather light. I did not lose any coral or fish. My only confirmed casualty was a snail. On another note, all of my inhabitants actually seem to be doing much better after changing close to 70% of the system volume during the course of the initial flood and the subsequent water changes post flood.

 

BB

[rioreef]

I have two 1/8" holes drilled in the sump return just below the water line, 90 degrees from each other. This is a limiter to the volume that will be siphoned back into the sump. I say that with knowledge that without the siphon breaks the total volume drained is handled by the sump.

 

Suggestion for anyone is - to have a sump that can handle any water siphoned back into it. Don't know if it can, turn off your return pump and watch the water level in the sump rise...be ready to switch it back on :D