Power head help to convert to a lifter pump...

[flower]

Hi, I hope somebody can help me.

I want to use a small power head instead of the lifter pump for a CPR overflow. My problem is that it seems all the newer models have the little nub to fit the air line tube inside (square shaped at that)...it doesn't make a good enough seal on the air line to use it as a lifter pump. Can somebody please help me find a pump that will work, or how to rig one up that has a square nub? ... or... if somebody knows a particular brand I can get hold of that has the old fashioned little nub to attach the air tubing to.

 

[saxman]

Try a few wraps of Teflon tape over the nub...once you get the airline on it, the tape should fill in the gaps. You could also try some epoxy around the bottom of the tube once it's on the nub (5 minute should work fine). You might even get away with using a small zip-tie around the airline once you get it over the nub.

Unfortunately, you're finding out that the CPR-style overflows aren't so hot (at least IMHO)...I've always thought it poor design for an overflow to require a lifter pump to make them work reliably.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by saxman http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538768
Try a few wraps of Teflon tape over the nub...once you get the airline on it, the tape should fill in the gaps. You could also try some epoxy around the bottom of the tube once it's on the nub (5 minute should work fine). You might even get away with using a small zip-tie around the airline once you get it over the nub.

Unfortunately, you're finding out that the CPR-style overflows aren't so hot (at least IMHO)...I've always thought it poor design for an overflow to require a lifter pump to make them work reliably.

Thank you so much for your help...I so much agree with you, but at the same time the U-tube design wouldn't work for me with turning off the pumps so often to feed seahorses. if I ever replace this tank, I'm going to make sure it's drilled. If a tank isn't drilled, I wouldn't recommend a sump system....overflow boxes are pains in the butt.

This may sound like a really dumb question....but I have to ask it anyway. I found a way to seal the little power head, by using a larger air line hose that I had with spare parts (it was part of a plug line on my skimmer so it could be drained, I never used it) and an adaptor from an IV get up....but now I notice it doesn't push out water from the tube like the lifter pump... It seems to suck air and mix it with the output tube on the power head...did I get the wrong kind of power head, or is that the way it's supposed to work?

I thought the lifter pump pushed water into the overflow via attached to the little nub on the CPR box...I don't see how sucking air will get it to work...but I haven't tried it yet. All I managed to do so far is seal the little square nub designed for air intake (according to it's little booklet)....so now an air line fits good and tight.

 

[saxman]

You need to plug the powerhead's main output, as the water exiting the PH will draw air into the tube (venturi effect). If you have a REVERSE powerhead, it will work the way you intend it to work. Your other choice would be to use the main output of the powerhead to send water to your CPR. You could also pick up a micro water pump and use that instead of a PH.

I'm not really sure why a U-tube type O/F is problematic. They should not lose siphon when the pump is turned off...they only stop draining the tank and resume once the pump is switched on. FWIW, I never killed the flow on our SH tanks for feeding, but I know lots of peeps do so.

 

[flower]

I have only HEARD form others about the U-tube type overflow getting air losing the syphon and flooding the floor....Anyway...I give up. No more overflow boxes for me. I'm going to store the sump and when I'm ready, I will get a pre-drilled tank.

 

[flower]

I don't know how to remove this post, only edit it....so I'm just repeating....I give up

 

[2quills]

What's the deal, Deb?
The idea of a power head or lifter pump isn't to pump water into the cpr over flow. The idea is to suck air that gets trapped in it, out.

 

[saxman]

This is true, Quills...for whatever reason, I was under the impression that Flower wanted to pump water into the overflow, otherwise, the venturi should work fine.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538891
What's the deal, Deb?
The idea of a power head or lifter pump isn't to pump water into the cpr over flow. The idea is to suck air that gets trapped in it, out.

Where have you been, my knight in shining armor? I am so bad at this, and trying to get this dang thing to work, poor Saxman doesn't speak Debbie logic (what my late husband called my thinking) and couldn't figure out what my grief was.

It isn't the pump after all...something is bad clogged on the overflow, and no matter what I do, I can't get any pump to work, not the new lifter, or the little power head. Silverado lives nearby, and he said he will come and see what he can do to help. He THINKS he has Saturday free (fingers crossed), if he can't get it up and running, then my CPR overflow is gone, and I will just use HOB filters until I can manage to swap out the 90g for a pre-dilled tank.

I have air lines running to the sump to keep the water from going stagnant. I call it life support. The HOB filters are on the tank and running, I swapped the chiller hoses from the sump to the display (UGLY, but my Potbelly seahorses must stay cold). That should hold things for quite a bit.

 

[2quills]

Are you still using those plumbing lines that I sent you a while back? Maybe there's a blockage in the line somewhere (possibly the valves).
Yeah I really wished we could have gotten your tank drilled way back when. The external overflows work but they still have their headaches for sure.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538968
Are you still using those plumbing lines that I sent you a while back? Maybe there's a blockage in the line somewhere (possibly the valves).
Yeah I really wished we could have gotten your tank drilled way back when. The external overflows work but they still have their headaches for sure.

Yes it's the same exact setup. I used clear hoses so I can see if the lines are blocked;. The water runs out just fine, and levels off at the overflow...if I fill the overflow it drains right out. The problem seems to be the CPR overflow itself. I can't un-attach it without help. That's where I need Silverado, we need to remove the overflow, and clean it up real good to get it to work again.

Funny story...My Aunt used to swear her house knew when she has any extra cash. My tax money is just enough to buy a new tank and have it drilled...(but I don't want to use it for that)....the tank just knew.

 

[2quills]

Reef tanks are smart like that.
Like spouses or children I suppose. They can smell the money.

 

[silverado61]

2quills, shouldn't there be a way to drill her tank asis if it isn't tempered? It would be messy with the water to cool the bit but if you drained the tank just enough and used a piece of acrylic on the inside of the tank with clamps. Kind of like using using two pieces of wood to keep the first one from blasting out.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538974
Reef tanks are smart like that.
Like spouses or children I suppose. They can smell the money.


Back on subject...picking your brain here, that little nub on the overflow is the only thing that could be clogged that I can see. But I can run a wire all the way down with no problems, and I can blow in an air line tube and it makes bubbles, so it isn't clogged at the nub. Can you think of anything else I could look at? It's definitely in the overflow box before it gets to the drain...it's in the little thin chamber where it should fill from the lifter pump and overflow to the next larger chamber where the drain is.

Here is a picture of the back so you can see what I'm talking about....

 

[silverado61]

The problem would be having enough room behind the tank to drill.

 

[silverado61]

Deb. If we have to take the whole overflow apart to clean it, that's what we'll do. Do you have any vinegar?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538984
Deb. If we have to take the whole overflow apart to clean it, that's what we'll do. Do you have any vinegar?

I do, about a half of a quart left from cleaning the power heads...I don't know how much it would take, if that's enough and it would have to soak if we use vinegar. It isn't crusty that I can tell, I just can't figure out why it won't siphon up over that little section.

 

[silverado61]

When I come out there I'll pick some up. Do you have a small tank we can use to cerculate it through the overflow?

 

[2quills]

Yeah that sponge (if you're using it) definitely needs to be checked and cleaned if necessary. It should come out without having to remove the overflow. Double check to make sure the valves on the plumbing are open and not closed. If the nub is clear then you should be good to go. A blockage in the drain is the only other thing I can think of.
Silverado, I personally wouldn't attempt drilling a tank with water in it. If it were drained virtually all the way down then I would do it. Otherwise I'd consider it too risky to drill with that water pressure pushing on the glass. Maybe on a beefed up custom acrylic tank I'd gamble on doing it with water in there.
The U-tube style overflow may be a little less problematic for you Deb if you want to try one of those. Eventually if we try enough different stuff we could have very well got you a reef ready tank already lol. 20 Aqua lifters later....

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by silverado61 http:///t/397143/power-head-help-to-convert-to-a-lifter-pump#post_3538989
When I come out there I'll pick some up. Do you have a small tank we can use to cerculate it through the overflow?


All I have is a 10g I use for a hospital/quarantine tank in the garage, will that do? Otherwise all I have is an old salt mix bucket I use for water changes. Oh...and I have another 37g Plastic garbage can marked FISH ONLY that I used to use for holding my mixing water....it's just like the one I keep in the kitchen for water...I have two, could we use that?