cpr Overflow Mess help please

sparkienyc · 03-02-2008, 04:41 PM

briefly 65 gallon marine running rioo 800 rvt connected to cpr overflow... 20 berlin sump / sea urchin skimmer and rio 3100 return pump with check valve. Rubber tube connects the rvt to the nipple on the overflow box. All was fine for a month. Fri when i returned from dinner my tank was filled to the brim and almost the entire contents of my sump was emptied on my wooden floor.
i found that the rvt stopped ( i suspect the problem) but what can i do ?
1. did i do something incorrect in the setup of the rvt overflow?
2. do i need a second pump?
3. what broke the siphon?
Now every piece of equipment is scrubbed clean and reassembled, but i am afraid to start up the system and go to bed tonight HELP PLEASE .. IF I NEED TO BUY SOMETHING ELSE TONIGHT I NEED TO DO IT IN THE NEXT 45 MINUTES

Otty · 03-02-2008, 05:49 PM

If it is a CPR the you will need a Aqua Lifter pump to keep the air out of the over flow. They are only about $12 and hook to the nipple on the top of the OF.

sparkienyc · 03-02-2008, 06:04 PM

When i purchased the set up from marinedepot rather than the aqua lifter them recommended the rio 800 rvt to do the same job ( or perhaps better) . i know i did something incorrect by just connecting one piece of tube to the rvt and the other to the nipple on the cpr.. it seemed too easy.. i cant find directions anywhere

Otty · 03-03-2008, 03:54 AM

Never used one of the RIO's so I don't know how it hooks up. That seems to be the cause of your problem, you got air in your siphon. Are you sure you got the right hose hooked to the CPR? It should be pulling water and air out of the CPR and discharging it somewhere else.

sparkienyc · 03-04-2008, 07:56 AM

I learned that everything was correctly set up, however something broke the siphon on the venturi to the overflow, so the return pump kept pumping away , overfilling the tank and spilling over . Some one should tell you that the venturi needs to be disassembled weekly to prevent such things from happening..
I thought attaching an aqualifter would act like a failsafe should the venturi get clogged again or the propeller stop????? I appreciate all your help