Help removing air bubbles from U-tube overflow

[number1gsxxr]

Some of you might remember my post a few weeks ago about about my tank overflowing issues. The problem seems to stem from the U-tube collecting air and breaking the siphon.

It's a huge pain to start the siphon over again and remove all the air.

I've seen those continuous siphon overflows but A) I don't want to buy a new overflow if I can help it and B) I don't know how I feel about trusting an AquaLifter to maintain siphon.

Does anyone have any ideas to remove the air bubbles? I was thinking something along the lines of a radiator bleed valve but I think those are made of brass.

 

[Takara]

do it right and drill it, save you the trouble of future problems

glass holes . c0m

 

[delta]

You need more flow

In the mean time. Lift the box slight and let the tank fill until it starts filling the overflow box then lower it to its regular level. Rinse and repeat until the bubbles are gone.

Then go buy a bigger pump so you don't have this issue anymore.

 

[number1gsxxr]

The pump I have is a Mag 5 I think. It has seemed to work for about a year and just in the last month or so has it started to collect air bubbles. I've never cleaned it or removed it since I installed it. Perhaps I can start with that instead of having to buy a new pump? How long are pumps generally good for? Do all pumps lose flow over time? Thanks for the help.

 

[willray]

Like Gregg said more flow!The velocity of the water flowing through the tube will carry the bubbles away or you could use an aqualifter pump and could set on a timer to come on say 2 times a day for 15 minutes.

 

[Psychographic]

The easiest fix without changing the flow rate is to drill a small hole at the very top of the U-tube, just large enough to fit a small length of rigid airline. You want to glue this piece in place, just allow it to penetrate the thickness of the U-tube, if you go to deep you never be able to remove the bubble completly. Use some scraps of acrylic to make gussets for extra strength.

After it has dried add a decent length of silicone airline, a control valve and another lenght of the silicone airline. Make sure you get a quality valve. Now you just open the valve slowly while sucking the air out of the U-tube, watch for the U-tube to fill completely and close the valve. If you choose you could add an Aqualifter to this setup, but it has to run 24/7 unless the output of the Aqualifter is ALWAYS submerged.

I might have an old U-tube I've modded to show you if you need a pic.

 

[stingythingy45]

Just get a better pump with more flow.
Maybe an Ehiem 1260.

 

[number1gsxxr]

These are all good ideas but how hard is it to drill a tank that's fully stocked? Are there companies that will do it? I think for the greatest piece of mind drilled is the best way to go. If drilling a tank that is full is not doable then how hard is it to transfer everything into a new tank that is drilled?

 

[stingythingy45]

These are all good ideas but how hard is it to drill a tank that's fully stocked? Are there companies that will do it? I think for the greatest piece of mind drilled is the best way to go. If drilling a tank that is full is not doable then how hard is it to transfer everything into a new tank that is drilled?

What size tank are we talking about?

 

[number1gsxxr]

46-gallon bow front. I would probably only need 1 hole. Since I'm already using a return nozzle that hooks over the edge. Two holes would certainly make it look better.