Emergency! Eshopps nano overflow almost losing siphon!

[kristonenicolas]

I came home from doing a double and find my tank 5mm away from flooding my rented room. Looking to see what was causing it I noticed the u-tube on my overflow had a lot of air in it. (See below).

I work a lot and don't always come home. I'm afraid to come home to a wet floor. Again, I'm only renting a room and it would be embarrassing and expensive if I did! Please help! I have the next two days off and need this to be resolved.

[ensiferum321]

There really isn't much you can do to prevent it. That is one down side to hang on overflow boxes, over time they are going to collect all the air from the tiny bubbles. You just need to restart it, shut down your return pump, and use a air line tube to suck the air out so you can create a siphon again.

Also, was there a chance of a power outage? Sometimes they will keep a very slow siphon going for a short period of time when power goes out, power could have turned back on just in time to catch back up, but the air was already in the tube.

[kristonenicolas]

Asked the landlord and roommate. There wasn't a power outtage.

[ensiferum321]

Do you check the tube daily? if not, it could of been just getting micro air bubbles over time. I've had my fair share of "spills" with HOB overflows, which is why I will not go that route again.

Asked the landlord and roommate. There wasn't a power outtage.

[sushibug]

Do you check the tube daily? if not, it could of been just getting micro air bubbles over time. I've had my fair share of "spills" with HOB overflows, which is why I will not go that route again.

I had to keep restarting my old HOB overflow.... got a lifereef one and it has not accumulated a single air bubble in the six months or so that I had it. Its simple really... it's just longer than a regular HOB. Nice build quality too.

[kristonenicolas]

What do you mean it's longer? The u tube?

[freshwater]

What do you mean it's longer? The u tube?

Thats what she said.

I have been looking into changing up my setup and making a sump.

[sushibug]

What do you mean it's longer? The u tube?

yes the u-tube is longer and so is the overflow box. it basically makes it a stronger suction so that air bubbles flow right past the tube. before, i had to turn down my eheim 1262 pump because my other overflow box wasnt keeping up. now, i have it maxed out because the lifereef overflow box is faster than it is (and can match the pump because its fast; not go faster than the pump).

[kristonenicolas]

Is it possible the water is not flowing fast enough through the u-thbe? I was thinking maybe I could increase the flow on my return.

[kristonenicolas]

Thats what she said.

I have been looking into changing up my setup and making a sump.

Hahaha you should!

[freshwater]

Hahaha you should!

Yah Ill think about it. I might make it my weekend project if I dont go home this week. Hey Ill come by after work and offer you my expertise on overflows. Im an expert.

[kristonenicolas]

Problem fixed! Found out a my return pump was a little clogged. Did a little cleaning and increased the flow on the return and it did the trick! Air bubbles are now being pushed out of the u-tube.

[swissfish]

Old trick that works well:
Drill a hole in the top of the overflow tube. Buy a power head for your tank (maxi jet or something like it). Glue the air suction hose into the top of the overflow tube. Connect everything and start it up and see what happens. If done right you got yourself a self priming overflow.