Re: # Subject: [Killietalk] "U" tubes

[Mark Pearlscott <mark at pearlscott_com>]

Wright,

I have used a system similar to what you describe.  It does work, though 
I found restarting the siphons (when needed) to be a pain.  One note 
though is that my rack is right up against a wall, and so I don't have 
access to the back of the tanks.  How I restarted siphons was by using 
another length of airline tubing that I would have a "connector piece" 
on the end... I filled that tubing up with water and then put the 
connector end into the siphon I was restarting.  Lifting the length of 
tubing above the tank flushed the siphon free of air.  Simple, cheap, 
but ultimately a little annoying to do.

Overflows (via bulkhead fittings) are just more error proof.  Change the 
floss in the overflow once in a while, and that is it.  No having to 
reach behind tanks, worry about babies being sucked out, etc.  Though 
they are certainly more ugly.  There are trade offs to everything I guess.

Mark
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Mark Pearlscott, LMP
Treatment Massage, The Injury & Pain Relief Clinic
4500 9th Avenue NE, Suite 300-34, Seattle, WA 98105
http://www.TreatmentMassage.com
(206) 234-9929

"Assisting You to Wellness."
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Wright Huntley wrote:
> *"Curtis Smith" <cskillies at hotmail_com> wrote:*
>
> > Wright,
> >
> > By all means use a length of airline tubing to start your siphon as it 
> > works well. Get good at it because from my experience with "u" tubes 
> > on a reef tank a few years ago they frequently lost their siphon and 
> > had to be re-started.
> >
> > Curt
>
>
>
> That would be a huge problem for an unattended continuous water change 
> system to lose siphon. [Wet floors!] Besides, my "siphons" will be too 
> tiny for that kind of start.
>
> Since I probably will use 1/4" black drip irrigation tubing (with a 
> clear airline section for monitoring), starting will be a minimal 
> problem. Plug the outlet momentarily and suck with a baster on the 
> upright opening to get it going. We are talking a double-J tube here, 
> not the single over the tank edge kind. If continuously fed, it should 
> be hard to lose siphon unless tank depth actually gets below the lower "U."
>
> Clogging is a bigger problem than losing siphon, IMHO. I probably will 
> cut a 2" long piece of 1/2" drip line and tap the 1/4" outgoing line 
> into the center. Stuffed with floss, it should keep babies in and not 
> clog very easily.
>
> Wright


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