overflow startup

[robertmathern]

I just set my tank up outside to make sure everything works and dose not leak all over my floor

. My problem is I can not get the overflow box to work. I guess I dont understand the consept

. It did not come with instructions.

I am not sure of the brand but it dont have the u-tube it is all plastic please help

 

[rwall]

I don't know why they don't come with instructions, I just had the same issues...
insert a piece of air tubing up to the top of the U tube (about 12-18 inches will do)
suck on it until the air is sucked out and they water starts to flow. That should do it.

 

[b0b82]

look like this?

 

[robertmathern]

yeo thats the one. Mine has a air tube attached to the overflow part of the box I tried sucking on it but nothing I can get to to overflow but as soon as I stop it stop. I also notice the baffle in the outside of tank compart ment might be leaking throuh the baffle. because all the water leaks out of the baffle. I dont know if you know what I mean by that

 

[b0b82]

I don't use that kind. I think you will need a vacuum pump with that one. I use the U tube type.

 

[robertmathern]

Well thanks hopefully someone can help. Good thing I set it up outside. There is water everywhere lol. I am thinking on tossing it and getting a u tube type if I cant get it to work. Maybe the pump is to small. It is a mag drive 9.5 the overflow is rated for 1400 gph. This sucks It kind of costs a lot of money. I bought it cuz I thought it looked better than the utube.

 

[robertmathern]

Never mind guys I figured it out working good so far

. But it think I have to fix the leak in the outer baffle. I am thinking it will loose syphon if the power gos out. But we will see in a few minutes I will turn it off for about an hour then turn it back on. And see what happens

 

[errattiq]

run an aqualifter pump with that overflow, i have the same one. fill up overflow part with water and fill up back portion (not section with bulkhead, the one where the water falls into the bulkhead portion) suck up airhose until you get flow going, PINCH air tube closed as much as you can, insert air hose into aqualifter inlet, insert another airhose into the outlet and then put the out hose into the overflow portion in your tank.

 

[robertmathern]

That is basicaly what I did. I dont know what an aqualifter pump is or where you get it. What dose it do besides lifting water I got that part but what purpose dose it have. Sounds like a cool device. The baffle did leak and when I shut off the power it lost syphon so I put aquarium sealicone on it that should seal it up. Got to wait for it to dry then I will try again (in a couple hours)

 

[robertmathern]

Well sealing the baffle worked. I can turn the power off and on with no problems anymore

 

[robertmathern]

Seeing has how air bubbles do go under the intake baffle in my overflow just to get suck in the middle and eventually loose prime. I put a piece of filter media (basically cut a carbon filter pouch to fit) in the intake. It seem to slow down the flow just enough that the water is higher in the intake and not letting bubbles to form. It has been running all day and no air is in the overflow compartment. Just looking for some input to see if someone tryied this before. I think it will work. But I am using tap water right now. Once it has been setup do you think alge will plug up the filter. Causing an overflow on my tank. Or do you think it will last a bit so I can just change it every few days. And clean out the old one.

 

[robertmathern]

One more question do I need a aqualifter pump for a utube type overflow. There are some utube overflows 800 gph on Sleaze bey for 30 after shipping. If i dont need the pump for that it would be cheaper than buying 10 dollar pumpe that will go bad on me. I have have mag 9.5 return at about 750 gph after head.

 

[mch2o]

hey man dont waist your time with it. Just get the U tube everyone I have heard using them have said they have failed on them. I think you would be better off just getting the Utube over flow.

 

[robertmathern]

Yep thats what I am going to do. To bad I already bought the CBR. However the tank is on hold now. I crashed my car today

(damn florida drivers lol) Wasent my fault Poor comarro. But I have no way to get anything. I knoe there insurance is paying for everything. But I dont know what it will cost me up front. So I will have to wait till a later date to try again.

 

[lost in it all]

I don't know where I read it but it was in a diy overflow thread that the guy said to hook up the air line on the top of your overflow to the air intake on a powerhead in your tank. this would in theory keep sucking any air that accumilated in the tube (on yours the entire plastic siphon) and also would insure a restart if it lost its siphon.

 

[robertmathern]

I tried that. It put micro bubbles millions of them in the tank. I could however put it in the refuge. It has a baffle.