Power outage

Devonjevon · Dec 10, 2011

I would like to get an idea of what everyone is using( if anything) to stop water flow from your display into your sump during power outages. Breaker flipped this afternoon and I got 1 gallon water on floor.

swannyson7 · Dec 10, 2011

Your best bet is to put a hole in your return lines to create a siphon break. Check valves will do the job short term, but they tend to fail over time as calcium deposits, algae, etc. build up on them.

vankirk · Dec 10, 2011

I keep my return lines about 1/2" below water line. And then leave enough space in the sump when the pump is off.

Devonjevon · Dec 10, 2011

swannyson7 said:
Your best bet is to put a hole in your return lines to create a siphon break. Check valves will do the job short term, but they tend to fail over time as calcium deposits, algae, etc. build up on them.

Yeah I have a check valve that didn't check.

REEFKEEPER10 · Dec 10, 2011

my sump holds the extra water. that would be a start.

MBG75 · Dec 10, 2011

Drill a tiny hole in the lineloc aimed down

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LeoLionFish · Dec 10, 2011

Not to hijack your thread Devon, but how long can a tank go without power?? Winter is here and I know there will be some power outages due to snow etc. Do you all have generators or what??

Travis D.
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pickupman66 · Dec 10, 2011

A siphon break hole is good but always make sure your sump can handle the draindown volume. Check valves will fail. Just a matter of when. I have a valve in my setup but don't rely in it (only because of distance and volume in my pipes). My sump can handle the volume

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pickupman66 · Dec 10, 2011

As for the length of time, this spring my tank went 14 hours with no power at all. We were out of town and thankfully Bart could rescue. I didn't lose any fish but did lose a few corals. It was a full 25 hours before power was restored. I now have a ganerator that can run my tank and most of the house until I run out of gas.

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