DIY PVC Overflow - check valve issue?

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mithesaint

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 31, 2007
38
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Buffalo NY
I'm working on overflows for my 135, and think I'm having a check valve issue. I have two 1" overflows set up, and they're running fine, but like to lose prime. It looked as though I was losing air into the system through the check valve, so I attached some airline tubing to the check valve, and dropped the tubing into the water, so if it's going to suck anything, it's water, right?

With the tubing attached, when I shut the pump off, the water level drains down, and the siphon holds it's prime. I restart the pump, and the overflow starts draining again. If the tubing is taken out of the water or off the valve entirely, the siphon stops within 10 seconds.

I'm sure the overflows themselves are working correctly, as one of them by themselves will keep up with a Quiet one 4000 at a 5' head height, as long as the tubing is attached to the check valve and in the water. I made two overflows, because redundancy is good:headbang2

I'm thinking I should replace the check valves. Both of them are brand new, and I'm sure I have them in the right way, because that's how I started the siphon. The airline trick works for now, but isn't a long term fix because it defeats the point. Any other thoughts?
 
I replaced both check valves today, both of them had chunks of floating debris that were clogging the valve, and preventing it from closing properly.

THAT explains how two brand new check valves failed right when I started...
 
you will be replacing the checkvalves time and time again... once they get wet.. they prettymuch never work right again.. the best solution i found was to keep a dead check valve siliconed to the overflow with a piece of airline tube connected to them (so far this is what you have)
the trick is to put a second check valve on the end of the tube.. that way you can remove it to suck out air from time to time and then replace it...

its better than sucking on something that you keep in the fishtank...
 
That's absolutely brilliant. Too bad I threw the old check valves away already...

Guess I'll be buying a few more next visit to the LFS. Thanks for the idea.
 
yeah.... i went through about 7 before i figured this one out.....
 
I disagree. I used these blue check valves that had a big rubber triangle, the got we everytime I sucked the air out. They never stopped working, the only reason I had to suck the air out was when I cleaned my overflows.

Just get a good check valve
 
Update: replaced the check valves with the blue type mentioned about (Top Fin?) and they're working fine. They're much bigger than the old check valves, so I don't think they'll have the issue the other valves had.

What are people doing for preventing things from entering the overflow on accident? I've had the tank running for two days now, and the overflows are working great. Multiple shutdowns, and flawless restarts. However, two of my cories are apparently thrill seekers, as I've scooped two of them out of the sump now. Netting? What kind and where did you get it? Right now the over flow is simply a pipe going upwards, no elbow or anything at this point.

This morning I found a cory sitting on the drip plate for the bio compartment. Not sure how long he had been there, nor how much longer he would have lasted...crossing fingers to make sure everyone behaves while I'm at work today!
 
The aqualifter...do I just hook an airline to the check valve and the aqualifter? I'm sorta confused on how that works. Thanks.
 
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