I’m looking at getting a bigger res and the one I’m eyeballing is a taller narrower one than I currently have.. I could save a bit of space with this shape. The problem is that my tables will be lower than about the top half of the res and would cause my solution to drain out through the pump until it reaches my table height. I want to install an inline pump this time.. With a submersible I won’t have this issue. How can this problem be remedied..? Surely it must be a common problem..? Do I just have to stick with a submersible instead of an in-line..?
How to stop res gravity draining through pump..?
- Thread starter Tkboy
- Start date
Boatguy
Well-Known Member
Wouldn't a check valve also prevent the pump from moving water? Or are you talking electronic valve?
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
check valve only allows flow in one direction
Boatguy
Well-Known Member
Yes, so in order to prevent the water flow the flap would have to stop water from draining through the pump which would also prevent the pump from moving water. A high loop, or vented loop would prevent both siphon or gravity feed.
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
i dont' think we are talking about the same thing. i have check valves on all my air stones to prevent water from getting into my air pumps. they still pump air to the stones.
Boatguy
Well-Known Member
The op was worried about the top half of his res gravity feeding his plants that are below that height through the pump
rkymtnman
Well-Known Member
my bad, i misread what he/she said.
Yeah precisely.. I find that when using a submersible I end up with about 5 gallons of solution remaining in the res and it’s going to be tricky to scoop that out of a res like the one I want if not impossible.. I’m just trying to think of a way that it can pump out completely so I won’t have that issue. Along with this gravity drain problem..
Maybe the best would be to make a new outlet in the centre/bottom of the res feeding to an in-line pump, take a loop from there to level with the top of the res and on towards my table outlet. I’d have to fabricate a stand for the res to raise it off the ground sufficiently but that should be fairly simple..
Major Blazer
Well-Known Member
I would just keep the pump submersible but then again you didn't mention why you wanted to go inline.
My main concern with the submersible is that there is always left over solution that the pump can’t pick up - with the taller res it’s going to prove difficult to gain access to properly empty it out.. I could just install a drain at the bottom initially I guess..
southernguy99
Well-Known Member
Yes the one way inline check valve IMO is the best way to stop the siphoning, if your submersible is in a taller tank, where the hose comes up out of the tank, just put a T in the hose , get a plastic check valve with the rubber stopper inside, put it on theT upside down so when the pump is on the valve closes and when it shuts off it opens putting air in the line.
You can get a little elbow for the submersible so it pulls all the water out. if you have a submersible take the filter off there should be a piece that unscrews just get an elbow or a hose fitting that will fit the threads you can put a filter on the end also if you feel the need.