A safe return

[ragin_cajun]

I put check valves on my return lines, they worked awesome for a year or so. Now, they don't seal completely and the display back flows if power goes out.

So, I drilled a siphon break -- a hole in the return line. The water level in the overflow drops when the pumps shut off, and that hole sucks in air and breaks the siphon--so the display won't drain into the sump anymore.

This hole normally spits water out, so it won't get clogged. It's a jet of water through an 1/8 inch hole. You could drill the hole anywhere, so long as it draws in air when the pump stops. If you put it above the water line, put a hose in it and point it back into the display tank so it's kinda quiet. Mine is under the overflow water level, so I can't hear it at all. But if the pumps shut down, the water level in the overflow drops a good 3 inches, and exposes the hole and it sucks in a lot of air.

 

[Blobfish]

thank you for all the advice!

purpose of having the returns so low was for the most streamlined look I could get, reducing as much hardware as possible. Risk seems too high so will raise them up though Im going to think some more about it ...

 

[takagari]

I would never rely on a check valve to be honest. especially on a 240, at 4 inches off the bottom.
I'm cringing. just thinking about it

 

[Blobfish]

ok, return holes drilled at the top of the aquarium ...risk reward...juice aint worth the squeeze

 

[Zanson]

Take a look at the custom aquarium siphon stopper returns. They may work for what you are going for as well.

 

[Blobfish]

yea, I saw those...they look nice