Overflow siphon/powerhead question?

[cdeakle]

I have a cpr cs90 overflow box and a rio 600(I HATE RIO!!!!) powerhead attached to keep the siphon going and to start the siphon again after power outages. The rio 600 was placed in my tank and I got these micro bubbles from hell.

So I got a longer length of tubing so I could place the powerhead into my sump and get rid of those bubbles. The replacement tubing I got was clear and one thing I noticed after getting everthing going again was that not only was it drawing air out of the overflow box but it was drawing water out as well.

Do I have to worry about the sump overflowing because of this? Is this normal? The manual suggests putting the powerhead into your sump so now Im wondering what gives? Will I wake up to a new swimming pool where my living room once was? LOL

 

[Lostmind]

I have a similar setup and the amount of water sucked thru that by the little rio is sooo small as to be insignificant imo.

I mean, watch the flow rate of the bubbles... they move soo slowly.

 

[cdeakle]

Thanks for the info bro!

What kind of setup you got?

 

[Lostmind]

I have the cpr overflow that claims to pull down 1600 gallons per hour. I forget the model #...

Other then that, this is just my second month into it. First tank, 124gallon, 75 gallon sump, 3 custom sealife T4 pumps (quiet!), 2x 175w MH, 65 watt actinic 140# live rock

other then that, a couple powerheads (3 maxijet 1200's), aqua c skimmer (180 sumthin) and an empty bank account.

And you?

 

[mooner]

I agree. The powerhead pulling water is a good sign and it is tiny amount compared to the water going thru your overflow. I get a BB sized bubble or two out of mine about every 10 seconds and the rest is water...works like a champ. I have the CS90 from CPR.

As for the micro bubbles, I went with a post-impeller venturi power head (the maxijet is pre impeller which turns the bubbles in to 1,000,000 tiny ones) and pointed it vertically now the bubbles just shoot out and rise to the top and never get chopped up.

No more micro bubbles but I wish I could rig my MJ to do the same as it is a more reliable power head but I have not seen any way to do it.

 

[cdeakle]

Lostmind,

I have a 55 gallon reef with a 250 watt 12,000k sunburst, cpr cs90, 12 gallon sump, 90 lbs of LR , 1/2" sand bed, corals, anemone, maroon clown, blenny...

Its been going for almost 2 years and have yet to have a major problem(knock oin wood) with all the horror stories with sumps I'm still waiting for that new swimming pool in my living room one morning LOL

Mooner,

Your powerhead is in your sump for the overflow right? and the amount of water being pulled isn't noticable? I would love to see a pic of your setup/plumbing. We have similar setups =)

 

[mooner]

420Puff,

My powerhead is actually in my main.

I'd guess that the amount of water could be summed up this way: If there was a tiny bubble that left the overflow chamber and started to travel it would take about 15 seconds to get to the powerhead (about a 2 foot distance) so that is not much water flow compared to the what the overflow is putting out. Now, if you are putting water into the sump (which is best but I have restrictions preventing me from doing the same) you may nave more flow as it is siphoning to a lower point?

But yes, my water amount removed by the powerhead is not an issue at all.