what to do incase of powercut??

Somewhere on Melev's Reef I saw a great animation showing you what happens with an overflow. I am trying to locate it now.

 

Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums Check this out. It shows you what happens when the return pump is on / off.

 

I think I get it now...but I don't think my box has baffles in it. I'll have to check the whole thing when I get home. I hope I didn't sound rude or anything in that last post...I was just very confused and couldn't figure out the physics behind the whole deal.

Thanks for the great info and link!!!;D

 

You can try it pretty easy. Just turn your return off... Let the water drain down until it stops draining... Turn the Return pump back on and see if it starts draining again, just watch and make sure the DT doesn't overflow, if it doesn't start draining again, you will have to figure out another way like the air lifter pumps or a battery backup that will run the pump for a long enough period. Or a new overflow.

 

I wouldn't think a new overflow would be needed. Scrap acrylic and some acrylic glue would work. Heck, just finding a tall enough, skinny enough glass (so it doesn't cover the drain hole would accomplish the same purpose.

 

I'll have to check when I get home...so bascially there should be a baffle in each box, protecting the u-tube? And if not I could create a baffle or casing or something of the like?

 

This is the one i have (i have an older all clear model) Sealife Systems - Prefilter 60/100 - $58.50

It doesn't have baffles protecting the u-tube just two boxes and on the drain hole on the other side there is a small pvc stand pipe that keeps the water in the overflow box up above the bottom of the u-tube. Kinda like this...

 

Yes, it's easy. There are many ways of doing this. See how the middle chamber is baffled off so even in the case of a power outage, the u-tube stays under water (as that section never drains). Once power returns, water will continue to overflow into the sections with the drains. http://z.about.com/d/saltaquarium/1/0/l/Y/1/EshoppsOverflowBox.jpg

 

Exactly same concept as mine, mine just uses a pvc pipe instead of an acrylic baffle

 

I think mine is like this...