Making an over flow for a turtle tank

[Pharaoh]

There isn't a need to add the other bend in the pipe. See below for where water line will actually be.

I think that the siphon issue you are having is related to having air in the pipe. I would put a little bit of glue around all of the joints and see if it is leaking.

 

[Lil_Stinker]

Dang, it just hit me ! ! ! !

you are not getting all the air out of that BIG top loop...
You really need to get it all out...

Recommendation. drill a small hole in the top & put in an air check valve. Then cover the exit pipe, fill the external stack, then suck the air out from the top look via the check valve. thus getting out all the air..

The extremely long rise & fall is keeping your original way of starting the flow from getting all the air out.

WOW, where was my mind earlier...

 

[prcdslnc13]

ok I got it running. Ill post pics tomorrow as I get things cleaned up. I had a multitude of problems.

1. no check valve so I couldnt get all the air out.
2. not enough water. Since Im going with a lower water level for this I had to play with it. The T was quite a bit higher then my original level.
3. Once I got the syphon going my pump was quite a bit stronger then the flow. So I had to go back to the hardware store and get a ball valve.

I think that was it. its been running at a consistent level for about an hour now. I think I feel comfortable leaving it going till morning.

 

[Valous]

any updates and pics.. I am curious how this is working out for you cause I have turtles and understand the low water level.. Might help with picking up that debris off the bottom. BTW what kind of turtle do you have?