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siphon break return line?

kevin

NJRC Member
When I turn my return off I'm getting a siphon. It doesn't fill my sump, but it does overflow my skimmer & I have to put the return nozzle down so it doesn't shoot water everywhere. I've read about check valves, but some are against it. Any simple solution so it doesn't siphon. Their is no pvc in my return line.
 

Tazmaniancowboy

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
There should be a little hole near the elbow of the return nozzle....check it for salt creep. If not, you should be able to drill one

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
 

kevin

NJRC Member
There should be a little hole near the elbow of the return nozzle....check it for salt creep. If not, you should be able to drill one

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

ah, I know I def. have salt creep on it. I didn't know there could/would be a hole there. I'll check when I get home. Makes a ton of sense, I'm stupid. Thanks!
 

kevin

NJRC Member
so I'm more of an idiot. I drilled a hole.. it works.. but water shoots out of it. I made it so the hole is covered by pending the plastic.. but it drips water back into the DT which I don't mind. I would also like to know the proper way to not be an idiot?
 

panmanmatt

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Usually you drill it just below or at the water line when the tank is running. Once the pump is off you will get a little bit of a siphon until the hole is exposed to air.
 

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
Kevin, not sure of how your return comes back into the DT, but here are two thoughts:

1. Siphon break with return(s) coming over the top of the tank

Put a coupling between the pipe and LocLine. That coupling has a hole drill and a short piece of tubing is glues in. I used the same tubing that we have on our RO units. The tubing is cut just below the waterline.

IMG_0326.jpg




2. Siphon break with bulkhead returns

The problem with bulkhead returns is that they tend to be deep in the tank resulting is larger volumes of water flowing back into the sump when pumps are turned off. A siphon break can be installed into the return line(s). Run the plumbing above the bulkheads and install a tubing line that is feed into your plumbing going down to you sump. When the pumps are turned off, the air in the drain lines is drawn into the return lines, breaking the siphon.

65320221.jpg
 

kevin

NJRC Member
Thanks guys, I don't know how I got this far in life. I bent the line so it's somewhat sitting in the water. Only a minimal amount of water is sucked down now. Much much better then before!

Just picture the first setup. I drilled a hole, the hole was pointing up out of water. I turn on the return pump & BAM water shoots at my back wall. I stood and stared for at least 5 seconds before putting my finger over the hole. sigh
 

TanksNStuff

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I blame Taz on that one! He should have known you were an idiot and mentioned to drill on the underside. :eek:
 
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