Overflow starting

[hmt321]

I flooded the garage. Better the garage then the front room. The way I flooded it was i broke the siphone to cut the tubing down since it was slowing the flow of water down and building in the overflow. So after I broke the siphone i stopped the pump so it doesnt run dry. So while i was trying to figure out what i was going to adjust the water started flowing back through the pump into the sump and all over the floor

So how do i prevent this from happening in my front room where it would be a really bad instead of the garage.

you need to drill a hole right at your water line (or slightly under) on your return line.

this is what happened:

you shut the pump off
water started to siphon back into the sump through the return line

if you drill a hole it will break any siphon before the water can overflow the sump. a check valve can also work in some (or most) applications

 

[PMK]

Instead of drilling a hole right above the water line in the tank I went and got a got a Anti-syphon atmospheric Vacuum Breaker. which it says its a back flow prevention valve. This is bascially the same thing as a check valve. So it should work riite?

 

[Dr Joe]

If your return pump can handle the added restriction of the valve, and you clean & test it regularly (any little build-up in the valve will cause it to leak backwards slowly or worse).

Still best to use syphon break holes (2 - 180 degrees apart) in the return hose / pipe just under the highest water level (in the tank).

You can use these ideas in tandem if you like too.

On the bright side...now you have a clean spot on the garage floor .

Dr Joe

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[PMK]

Oh Crap I just realized it for s drip emitter but it connects to a regular outdoor faucet like for watering lawns. I dont think the valve could hande the pump maybe heres what there websote says. Ok Im going to drill the hole. Now since i got to make to outlet what should i use PVC? Anyone got pics of there DIY outlet?


The Back Flow Prevention Valve threads directly on to your faucet. The function of the valve is to prevent water from flowing back into the faucet once the water is turned off. Always use the Back Flow Prevention Valve before installing any other Adapter or Fittings to your Drip irrigation or Mister Irrigation system. (1 Valve Per Card)

 

[Dr Joe]

Some backflow preventers shut down (? open up) at 20 psi so check it out.

Dr Joe

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[PMK]

Dr. is there any type of check valve that I could use to be on the safe side cause 240 gallon is alot of water in my front room. Im going to brows the web see if i can find anything

 

[ercnan]

Don't use a check valve (even though they do work), just drill a hole on the underside of the return(s) above the water line, creating a siphon break.
As long as the hole is open, it will always work, a check valve on the otherhand can get gunked up and fail if not cleaned regularly.
A siphon break hole should always be open since pressurized water is blasting from it. A check valve, even in the pressurized pump output, will, over time, collect gunk just as canister return lines do.

 

[PMK]

Cause the thing that stops me from drilling is where to drill the hole since i dont have a store bought outlet. Heres what Im using let me know if I need to change it to frill the hole or where to drill it


I am using 3/4 inch tubing on the return but do I drill the hole right into the plastic tubing cause Im making an outlet out of a 90 degree pvc evlobw thats 3/4 inch as well

 

[ercnan]

Drill the hole (1/8 - 1/4") right at the 90 INSIDE the tank.
With the pump running, you will see a stream of water from that hole, which should be drilled so as to direct the stream into the tank.
Shut the pump off and it will suck air, thus breaking any back siphon.
This allows you to place the output "nozzle" anywhere beneath the surface you like with no worries of flooding the sump in a "power off" situation.

 

[PMK]

I got it Ill post pics when im done with the 240 heres a quick breakdown the tank is 240 gallons the with 1200gph overflowboxes into a 29 gallon sump half full of bio balls with a rio 2500 pump. And to instantly cycle the tank Im using all my old water sand and FX5 and HOB and adding a acqualcear 500 filter and transferrring it into my new tank. With all that filtration I wondering what I could get away with stocking. Eventually I will add plants and a light to the sump and also a drip system but thats down the road.