plumbing question

[georgeorndorff]

Dear Gal's and Guy's,
How is everyone stopping water from run back down the return line to the sump when the return pump is turned off...Thanks George Orndorff

 

[Kay]

Hi George. I didn't know you could stop it. Mine always runs down and I get ready for it. Of course, just cause I'm married to a plumber doesn't mean I know anything about plumbing.
:lol:
Kay

 

[Carabelli]

matt is right, the key is to create some type of hole to break the siphon - but, you want to make it larger enough so it won't plug up easily and you need to make sure you keep it cleaned out, or, it will siphon till the return line is reached ...

at my work tank, i just have the return line with a third of it out of the water - it creates some microbubbles, but, very few and it helps to the keep the surface aerated well ... plus, no siphon and no holes to keep clean

still plan on some water flowing back to your sump though as the water in your lines will go with gravity ... some might suggest check valves, but, over time, they will fail and it will make a big mess!

 

[hegi]

you could always add a check valve. It would allow water to be pushed through it by the return pump not come back down. I would add this in addition to the anti-syphon holes.

 

[iamquockie]

I don't know if this is too much work but the way my return plumbing goes is that I have a ball valve above return pump, before the return nozzle. when i stop the pump, i just turn off the valve. works for me.

 

[DaveJ]

@georgeorndorff wrote:

A siphon break is what you need.... either drill the holes as suggested. The other trick is have your loc-nozzles at a depth below water level that you can handle in your sump. The water will drain (without a siphon break) as much water until the ends of your returns are exposed. Ball or Gate valves work well too but don't hard plumb them in with cement because you need to replace them occasionally.