U Tube

[new2u]

Ok this sounds retarted but its INSANELY IMPORTANT! How do you start a U tube? I had it rigged with some tubeing but now the pump is returning it faster than the overflow can flow! please help.

 

[salty cheese]

I use a power head to start the siphon, if you are looking to balance the water flow you need a ball valve on your return line.

 

[big911dog]

A U-tube is usually just a siphon. Fill it up, cover the ends, and put in place without breaking the siphoning action. If it connects to a pumping system, you may have to prime the pump first.

 

[new2u]

Well it goes into my overflow and I thought that the pump determined the overflow??? Its a powerhead 808 and im so pissed right now, everything was working before I screwed with it and now I have no idea what to do

 

[new2u]

and salty cheeze i have no idea what you just said, oh and im not using pvc I'm using tubeing

 

[salty cheese]

Gravity and the size of the drain pipe determin the amount of flow, not the pump.

 

[new2u]

But the pump is going to fast and putting too much water back in so what do I do to fix that

 

[salty cheese]

You need to attach a ball valve to the return line, that will limit the amount of water thats able to go back to the tank.

 

[new2u]

Where can I buy a ball vaulve? Would I have to go to PVC for it to work?

 

[boomper]

You can use airline tubing.......stick it up to the top of the "U" and put the tube in place with the smaller tubing still in it. Then begin to suck and you will suck all the air out.......keep sucking all the air out until the water starts to flow through the airline tubing. When this happens, put your tongue over the end to stop the water from flowing into your mouth, and then just remove the airline tubing.

 

[salty cheese]

I've seen them used with hoses but I don't know where to get one. Did you try HD?

 

[new2u]

I havent looked yet i was just curious, and what were you saying bomper?

 

[salty cheese]

They were talking about getting the siphon started.
A pic of RazorEQX's setup, it looks like you can buy an adapter to fit the valve.

 

[squidd]

So everything was "working before" (balanced) and now it's not...?
Do you see an air bubble in the "top" of the U tube.."
An air bubble in the top of the U tube can restrict flow enough to cause a tank "flooding" imballance...

 

[new2u]

Well I kinda messed up my bioballs and now this too, you can see my other thread for that shtuff but i cant even get the u tube started I've been having to use cut up peices of my siphon cord, basicly its a mess

 

[salty cheese]

I thought you had the siphon started and needed to balance the return.

 

[new2u]

Well kinda sorry for the confusion salty, im mainly confused with the u tube syphon

 

[sergeant]

You can find most of this stuff at any hardware store. Just remember when using a valve always reduce the water going out of the pump, not the intake. Otherwise the pump will overheat and burn.
To start the syphon in a U tube, get a piece of air line tubbing and feed it in the U tube half way in. Put the U tube in the overflow box. Is going to be full of air. Use the tubbing to suck the air out of the U tube and start the pump. The syphon will start and the water will flow to your sump. I hope this helps.

 

[salty cheese]

Do you have water flowing through the over flow down to the wet/dry?

 

[new2u]

I had it going but with my rigged syphon it worked for about 3 hours but then the tank's waterlevel got near to the point of overflowing!