How do you start your siphon?

[davdev]

I built an overflow siphon as per the directions in the sticky and everything is working great except one thing. How do you get the siphon to initally start? The only way I can get it to work is to suck in on the rear stand pipe. This works, but for many reasons, I would really like to find another way.

I have a check valve installed and I am using the aqualifter pump and I thought this would do it on its own, but it doesn't.

 

[chally567]

Cap the open pipes and either suck on the standpipe or cap the standpipe too and eventually the aqualifter should prime it.

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I don't think there's any other way. Besides, it's a rare thing. Once it's primed it runs on its own.

Just put your palm over the outlet (that drains the water into the sump), and suck on the pipe pointing up, outside the tank, parallel to the intake.

 

[Kaosu]

..i just dunk my hose inn the water..till the bubbled are out and it goes on its own for my big one i submerge the big end and shake it it has a check valve so it starts it self if i shake it back and forth in the water.

 

[Zaminpirlo]

shake it up and down extremely fast

 

[West1]

Way back when I had a HOB overflow, I started your method but realized a powerhead or a hose connected to a powerhead worked best for me

shake it up and down extremely fast

Check, Now what...



(I almost pissed my pants reading that reply)

 

[Justin4g63]

At work we take air line tubing and put it in one side of the tube about to the middle of it while both ends of the tube are submerged in water and suck on the tubing and youll see water come thru

 

[CHOMPERS]

I don't suck on no pipes. I paid a girl twenty bucks to come over and suck on my pipe, but she couldn't get it going so I didn't pay her. Next thing I knew, some dude dressed in purple and lots of gold with a giant purple hat busted in wanting the twenty bucks. I told him to suck on my pipe and I'd give him the twenty bucks. He looked at me all weird and said, "Naw dude, ya gotta add water to it first."


Moral of the story: Add water to your pipes.

 

[CHOMPERS]

shake it up and down extremely fast

I'll pay ya five bucks to come over here and do that.






...bring a bucket and a gravel washer with ya.

 

[GhostShrimpMan]

Way back when I had a HOB overflow, I started your method but realized a powerhead or a hose connected to a powerhead worked best for me



Check, Now what...



(I almost pissed my pants reading that reply)

I really laughed out loud