How to prevent your reef tank from flooding your house

Here is a short how to video on how to prevent your reef tank from over flowing through the use of a properly designed sump and siphon breaks in your return line.

How to prevent your reef tank from flooding your house sentiment_very_dissatisfied 10

Reef tank 9 years ago 28,574 views

Here is a short how to video on how to prevent your reef tank from over flowing through the use of a properly designed sump and siphon breaks in your return line.

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Most popular comments
for How to prevent your reef tank from flooding your house

Ron Yerke
Ron Yerke - 6 years ago
What? No anemone for the clownfish? That is likely to stress them.
Seth Williams
Seth Williams - 6 years ago
Genius
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 6 years ago
Seth Williams thank You! Feel free to subscribe!
Kenney
Kenney - 7 years ago
I like the idea of running the return to the bottom of the tank to ensure good circulation and these siphon breaks would be a good way of ensuring that it does not drain the tank.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Kenney Thanks for stopping by! Feel free to subscribe.
Shekina Shalom
Shekina Shalom - 7 years ago
Thank you !! i will try this im kind of scared of overflow boxes, but i cant really drill my tank now that is full :( im a small girl something could go wrong
RoxyQueen
RoxyQueen - 7 years ago
how come its sooo dirty?? I aint tryin to be rude but dude it only takes 1/2 hour to take that shit apart and clean it ...My Lord I would be embarrassed at that aquarium!! Im sorry but its pretty bad. Thanks for the video..much appreciated..
Johnny Boy
Johnny Boy - 6 years ago
Shit gets dirty quick. Roxy is a cunt, ignore her.
Shekina Shalom
Shekina Shalom - 7 years ago
what a hateful piece of shit.
RoxyQueen
RoxyQueen - 7 years ago
I will subscribe if you clean that filter and that pipe!! LOL!!
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
RoxyQueen Thanks for the input. Feel free to subscribe.
Paul Cahill
Paul Cahill - 7 years ago
Our tanks sump over flowed way above "max water" line and fried our power boards. Got it all fixed in a couple hours. Where the water goes back into the tank had stopped working... any ideas of what could have happened??

We have a marine 4ft tank
Kelvynn Lee
Kelvynn Lee - 7 years ago
What happens when your overflow clogs or siphon breaks and pump in the sump keeps pumping water into your tank and overflows?
3toedSloth75
3toedSloth75 - 6 years ago
Seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to install a float switch that would kill power to the pump in the case an overflow is detected. Like this: https://youtu.be/VdIT8peLndI
BTW: if you want it to be normally on instead of normally off just change which terminals the power wire is attached to on the relay.
This is also great because you could hook it to an alarm too.
Johnny Boy
Johnny Boy - 6 years ago
A tank with a built in overflow is the best option to prevent this issue.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Kelvynn Lee that's a good question and thankfully hasn't happened to me. But to answer your question you should size your return chamber in your sump so only certain amount of water will empty out before the tank over flows. Unfortunately the pump may burn out but it's not a bad compromise. Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to subscribe!
aze606
aze606 - 7 years ago
hey is this the aqueon 55 gallon tank
Willi Billi
Willi Billi - 7 years ago
Simple idea and it works like a charm!
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Waxy Parsnips thanks for stopping by feel free to subscribe!!

10. comment for How to prevent your reef tank from flooding your house

Jessie Corceles
Jessie Corceles - 7 years ago
thank you for your interest on my comment and I will gladly do a video or is okay if I could provide a schematic diagram instead because I am fully booked with my day and night jobs until next month , .man only have 5 hours of free time each day that I could spend for feeding my little buddies and sleep . , but still try to do the video . , by the way I'm using fresh water community tapped for my Aquarium.
Jessie Corceles
Jessie Corceles - 7 years ago
OH BROTHER I JUST DON'T WHY YOU GUYS COMPLICATE YOURSELVES TOO MUCH ? WHEN ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS APPLY THE DRIP SYSTEM , OLD WATER DRIPS OUT , NEW WATER COMES IN , YOU DON'T NEED AN EXPENSIVE WATER DRIP REGULATOR JUST SUBMERGE ONE END OF YOUR SMALL AQUARIUM HOSE AT LEAST 2 INCHES FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE AQUARIUM THEN SUCK ON THE OTHER END AND SECURE IT STEADY TO THE FLOOR DRAIN , NOW FOR CONTINUED WATER FILLING YOUR AQUARIUM , USE THAT MECHANISM FROM YOUR OLD TOILET , THE ONE THAT AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS THE WATER OFF WHEN FULL , NOW YOU CAN AVOID WATER OVERFLOWING FROM YOUR AQUARIUM , JUST MAKE SURE TO INSTALL A WATER PURIFIER OR A DISPOSABLE ACTIVATED CARBON HOSE ATTACHMENT BEFORE YOU INSTALL THE TOILET MECHANISM WHEN YOU ARE USING COMMUNITY TAP WATER , JUST DO YOUR BEST TO CONCEAL THE MECHANISM WITH A PVC PIPE OR ANY DECORATION TO MAKE IT LOOK GOOD . NOW IF YOU DO THIS CORRECTLY , YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO DO WATER CHANGES ON YOUR AQUARIUM .. THE ONLY THING TO WORRY ABOUT IS WHAT TO FEED YOUR FISHES... NO NEED TO SAY "THANK YOU" JUST SPREAD THE WORD .
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Jessie Corceles Thanks for stopping by. Do you have a reef tank? Or do you use fresh water? I'm wondering how your method gets the fish easy out of the sand bed. Maybe you can do a video on this.
Chooper
Chooper - 7 years ago
You seem very consumed with what other people think.....
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Chooper Thank you for the kindness. I'm not a professional and I welcome all opinions. Please feel free to subscribe.
Man Cave Reef
Man Cave Reef - 7 years ago
good video nice tank. just put Chek valves and done deal.
Waiting for more videos. You have a new sub.. check out my chanel. hahaha
Shannon Mayhew
Shannon Mayhew - 7 years ago
that's a good idea. I've got my return stuck in a hob filter right now to keep it from being a siphon if the power goes off.
Rod Ostoski
Rod Ostoski - 7 years ago
Thanks for the video. What size holes did you drill in your return? I"m setting up a 150 and the return back siphons when I shut the power off.
Cain
Cain - 7 years ago
I've been looking for a solution for weeks! thank you!
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 7 years ago
Hi thanks for stopping by! I say the smaller bit you choose is best. You only need a hole large enough so the line will suck air and break siphon in the event your pump shuts off. I hope this helps. Please feel free to subscribe!
HNiCDuke
HNiCDuke - 8 years ago
its called getting a check valve.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
HNiCDuke HI thanks for the input. But as with everything in this hobby it can fail over time. the check valve can be especially problematic if salt and or crud build up causes it to stay open, or worse closed. Thanks for stopping by.
aLgProduction (video)
aLgProduction (video) - 8 years ago
wish I had know that years ago when I had an overflow box.....
Dontfckcare
Dontfckcare - 8 years ago
so this is how you prevent your filter tank from flooding everything but whats with the tank? how can u prevent the tank from overflowing then somehow your overflow stops working and the return pump is still pumping water up into the main tank?
Dontfckcare
Dontfckcare - 8 years ago
+The Reef Rookie thank you very much, that helps me a lot. my filter tank isn't parted in chambers yet so i completely forget about that option.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
Hi thanks for stopping by. To prevent that you need to figure out what size to make your chamber that hold a your return pump. my chamber will run dry before over flowing. I figured it's better to replace a burned pump then flooding the living room. I hope this helps and feel free to subscribe!!
Rajdeep Das
Rajdeep Das - 8 years ago
Can u please tell me, where to make the hole? Over the water level? Or below the water level?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
good morning. I put the hole right at the water line so i can barely see the water moving. I hooe that helps.

20. comment for How to prevent your reef tank from flooding your house

ekong85
ekong85 - 8 years ago
have you ever had a snail clog the return tube?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
+Hansa hi Hansa thanks for stopping by. thats a good question. is there a way you can drill a siphon break in the return line?
Hansa
Hansa - 8 years ago
What if it is a uniquarium, how do I prevent the tank from overflowing with the built-in filtration? Please help.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
Good morning. I a happy to say no I haven't but I drilled 2 holes in the line just in case. I hope the video helped. thanks for stopping by and feel free to subscribe.
Candace A
Candace A - 8 years ago
Thanks for the video, quick question.. I'm looking at building a sump of my own..
When you do lose syphon on your overflow box, what happens then?
What preventative options do I have to make sure that my sump doesn't pump all the water into the main display and empty the contents of the sump? Any advice would be appreciated.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
+Candace A Hi Candace, thanks for stopping by. What I did was make sure that my return section of my sump was sized so that in the event I lost siphon on my overflow, then the chamber would go dry before  the tank over flows. I figure it was better to replace a pump then have a flood. I also make sure that my ATO reservoir is not big enough to flood the tank as well, because if the return section drops the ATO will kick in. I must say though, almost 2 years with my Eshopps and I haven't lost siphon. (knock on wood). I hope this helps. Good luck and feel free  to subscribe!
Fred Beer
Fred Beer - 8 years ago
So did you just drill holes in the side of the return nozzle?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 8 years ago
+Fred Beer Hi Fred...Thanks for looking at the video. Yes, I took a small drill bit and drilled a hole on each side. I did 2 holes just in case one gets clogged or covered by a snail or something.
Ar15 Freedom
Ar15 Freedom - 9 years ago
Also what size rio return pump are u using?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+Shane Phillips I actually just got rid of my Rio pump as I found it very noisy.  I replaced it with an Eheim Compact + 2000. I'm super happy with this pump, its so quiet I cant hear a thing. My Rio is now used to mix salt water...
Ar15 Freedom
Ar15 Freedom - 9 years ago
Love the tank reef rookie!!! I am adding a simp to my system this week I've been using my hang on filtration which works great and all but I want a dump cause I ordered an apex system and want a place for my equipment lol I ordered the eshopps pf. 300 overflow how do u like yours it works good?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+Shane Phillips Hi Shane, I have the PF800 over flow system on my 55 gallon tank with 30 gallon sump. It works great once you get it dialed in with your return pump. I have had it for over a year with no issues at all. Good luck...
paul matyskiel
paul matyskiel - 9 years ago
Are you still vacuuming your sand bed with your water changes with the dosing?
paul matyskiel
paul matyskiel - 9 years ago
Just wandering,I do also but didn't know if I should stop while dosing thanks.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+paul matyskiel Yes I am. I do a different section each time I change my water every 2 weeks. (I don't have a DSB)
paul matyskiel
paul matyskiel - 9 years ago
Quick question I have a 75 gallon reef with nitrates at 40 ppm if I did my calculation right I should be dosing 7 ML minus live rock and sand should I be splitting it up like half in the morning and other half at night or 7 in morning and another 7 at night might be stupid question but just dont want to mess things up thanks.
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+paul matyskiel Hi, that's a good question. I dosed the whole amount at once, but you may want to check with red sea. If you go to Reefcentral.com, Res Sea has a section in the forums where you can ask that. They are great at getting back with the answer. I just would hate to give you  the wrong answer. Also, make sure your skimmer is running as thats what exports the product consumed by the bacteria.
paul matyskiel
paul matyskiel - 9 years ago
Thanks for quick response I been battling nitrates 40 ppm for awhile and was thinking of trying the red sea dosing so thanks.I'm going start this weekend. I subscribed
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+paul matyskiel That sounds like a good idea. just follow the dosing instructions on the bottle. Also make sure you keep up with your water change to keep the water clean. Good luck and let me know how you make out. it will probably take a few weeks to come down, but the stuff works great.
paul matyskiel
paul matyskiel - 9 years ago
Hey just wandering are still dosing the red sea if so how's it working?
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
+paul matyskiel Hi Paul, yes I am still dosing my tank with NoPox. My nitrates and phosphates are super low so I am dosing 1 ml per day and it's working  very well. thanks for the question, and feel free to subscribe.
Kyle Jones
Kyle Jones - 9 years ago
Another point to make is what happens if the overflow clogs or breaks siphon. Having a smaller 3rd chamber in the sump (which you do) helps prevent the DT from overflowing when the return pump turns back on. Great vid!!
The Reef Rookie
The Reef Rookie - 9 years ago
Thanks kyle. I appreciate the coments. Yes a smaller return section does make some peace of mind. Feel free to subscribe for more cideos. Thanks again. ..

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