Overflow question - How do i make it work?

L

LawAndArt

[OK, So I bought another tank. I do not need another tank, yet somehow, I have become one of those people that I used to wonder about. I have four of them going now. I'm not well, and I think this must qualify as some sort of OCD.

That being said: I bought the new tank used - so no directions, and it uses an over flow. How am I supposed to get the water to go up through the overflow over the tank wall? There isn't a pump, but It does seem to have an air hose attachment. Is an air pump going to make water defy gravity? The overflow is made of black plastic so I can't see into it to figure it out - the black box of mysteries.

Somebody help me - I'm becoming delirious.
It's likely something simple and I'm overthinking it.]
 
[Hey Dana! You need to suck the air out of the overflow to start the siphon. Fill both sides of the overflow box with water, then either; 1. attach airline to the overflow attachment and the end to the air intake of a good powerhead. The powerhead will draw the air out of the airline and the overflow tube, causing the water level to rise in the tube until it can flow over the tank side. 2. insert airline up into the overflow so that the end of the line is up against the topmost part of the overflow. Place other end into your mouth and blow all the water out of the airline. Now reverse and suck the air out until you see the water rise into the airline again. Now carefully cover your end of the airline so it does not lose pressure and place the end under water so air will not re-enter the line and break the siphon. If the air intake on the overflow is a one-way valve, you can probably remove the airline without danger of breaking the siphon, otherwise attaching it to the air intake of a powerhead is a good idea. Good luck! :lol:]
 
[Thanks Kerry,
I'm going to go give it a try right now.
It sounds like if nothing else, I'll get to see how my overflow tastes!]
 
[Mmmm! :nod: Good stuff! Still, you don't know what you're missing until you suck skimmate from your skimmer - it'll make a man out of ya I promise! :lol: (no, I haven't tried it, I really don't want to be a man :glare: But I think it would be a great one for those dumb reality shows!) :lol: ]
 
[If it works anything like mine you will get several mouthfulls before it starts working... (shivering at the thought...)

Ouida]
 
@Orchid wrote:
[If it works anything like mine you will get several mouthfulls before it starts working... (shivering at the thought...) Ouida] said:
[Thanks for the reminder of one of the reasons I vowed to never run a non-drilled tank every again! :)

Good luck, hope all goes well for 'ya!]
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