overflow failure

i get bubbles that linger in my utube but always seem to get pushed out eventually. i am just sick of living in constant fear that the siphon will fail and the tank will overflow onto the electrics causing god knows what. it is a eshopps 300 with a mag 5 return at 4 foot head. im going to order a mag 7 this week hoping it solves the whole issue. i wish i just had the tank drilled so i diddnt have to worry. i will never use a overflow again. i wish i could even drain the tank a bit and have someone drill it.

 

I've seen somebody use a little bit smaller u-tube, than he was using, which increased the flow and kept the bubbles from lingering. Just don't go too much smaller.

 

I just ordered a Lifereef overflow since I can drill my tank. Similar in design but, the build quality of the LR is really good. Reviewed very well (people say best overflow for non-drilled tanks on the market). It's def more expensive then the Eshopps. The guy guarantees that it will not lose siphon. I also have a mag 7.

 

CPR overflow with an aqualifter pump. NEVER have to worry about it..even after power outages it starts right back up.

 

The problem is you aren't getting a full siphon. Stick the airline hose all the way up to the center of the u-tube. Make sure the end is touching the top of the u-tube. Not just in the middle of it. Suck really hard really fast. Do this until there are not bubbles in the u-tube. You can also either try a smaller u-tube or stronger pump if the bubbles come out of nowhere. Can we get some photos?

 

i do have a full syphon. the bubbles just come from the where the overflow takes the tank water. the problem is the amount of flow going through the utube "JUST" manages to push bubbles through. there is always bubbles bobbing up and down in the utube. i have a 1" utube and cannot find a smaller one then that. i would love a 3/4" one. anyone know where i can get a smaller utube than 1"? my next resort has to be the mag 7 pump.

 

I solved this cheaply by drilling a small hole in top of u-tube attaching a pastic hose nipple and buying a tom's aqualifter (like 20$ with the filter). make the output of the lifter go to the tank side of overflow. its been running for 6 months or so with no issue.

 

it doesn't have to be a utube made for the overflow. you can just cut a plastic hose with a smaller diameter to fit.

 

Don't even worry about it. Your new pump should solve the issue completely. There are always bubbles going through the u-tube no matter what you do. With a pump that is pushing more water your overflow will also be pulling more water. This increase in flow will push bubbles through the u-tube. I can say 100% that if you are having problems with an air bubble forming after the overflow is running it IS that you don't have enough return flow.

 

make sure your u-tube end that goes into DT over flow box has enough clearance from the inside/bottom of box.. I used a 1" spacer to raise my utube up so I get more flow going to it. Ive only had it break siphon once in 12 years.. pretty reliable.. I use a mag 3 -350gph return with a 60 size 10 g wet/dry sump on a 55g.