How to stop hang on filters siphoning out water back into the Tank?

Hi, Im planning to go away for sometime and need to keep my fish on auto feeders which is easy enough but i have a issue with my Fluval Edge as the Filter is a hang on and needs re-priming after being turned off or a power outage happens this is because all the water gets siphoned out of the filter back into the tank and if im not there to re-prime it then it will most likely burn the motor out and stop filtering the tank as well as. any ideas how i can stop this?

 

Hi, Im planning to go away for sometime and need to keep my fish on auto feeders which is easy enough but i have a issue with my Fluval Edge as the Filter is a hang on and needs re-priming after being turned off or a power outage happens this is because all the water gets siphoned out of the filter back into the tank and if im not there to re-prime it then it will most likely burn the motor out and stop filtering the tank as well as. any ideas how i can stop this?

I dont know of a way.
That's why I am personally a huge fan of sponge filters. And analong timers. Both restart after power outage. Old school.

Do you have airstone? Maybe put small sponge filter instead as emergency backup.

I dont run airstone anymore just another sponge filter for that reason. Air plus back up

 

Welcome to forum.

Is it a small Aquaclear hang on back filter?

I would try to raise the water level of tank as high as you can.

Its possible the water level is an inch or two too low, creating the siphon effect.

I suggest to fill the water level up and then unplug filter to test if there is still a siphoning effect.

Also, how long will you be gone for ?

 

My AC 110'S & Emperor 400's will always hold their prime & restart after a power outage if the water level is topped to the max.
If the water level drops as much as 1.5 inches, 50 / 50 chance of failure.

 

Welcome to forum.

Is it a small Aquaclear hang on back filter?

I would try to raise the water level of tank as high as you can.

Its possible the water level is an inch or two too low, creating the siphon effect.

I suggest to fill the water level up and then unplug filter to test if there is still a siphoning effect.

Also, how long will you be gone for ?

Forgot to mention But the idea of the Fluval edge is to fill it up all the way and it has like this neck for the opening? your suppose to to fill it up partially in the neck and remove any air bubbles on the top. Its hard to explain via text but because i have a Betta in it i cant do that. I have tried before but removed the water to leave enough space for him to breathe since the panic was obvious when he was trying to find the opening to breathe, others say their betas learn in the end but im not so keen on that idea since i cant watch him all the time so better safe then sorry

Gone for at least 2 weeks but my granddad agreed to come check up every now and then but it wont be every day since thats not ideal for him

 

How large is the opening where the filter is at, about 6" x 6" ?

I would think the beta would learn where to go to get air.

In my opinion, there is more of a risk of filter not restarting versus beta not figuring out to swim a few inches over to where the opening for the filter is to get air.

Is whwre you live prone to power outages?

If so, consider a battery back up, aka UPS / Uninterruptable Power Supply. People use them to power their computers during power outage. An Aquaclear pulling 5 watts should run a long time on a UPS backup.

The Tiger Direct website has a ton of "reconditioned" UPS's for large discounts, and new ones as well. The reconditioned UPS's are used, but usually have their internal battery replaced and all components thoroughly inspected by manufacturer to pass their QA/QC process.

That would be a good investment. I would not plug in the light or the heater to it, just the filter. That would ensure the UPS battery lasts longer.

 

Yup, water level higher may help or UPS. Honestly that is one of the main reasons I didn't get an Aquaclear when I was looking for HOB filter, even though they are great filters aside from that.

 

I have an Aquaclear 50, and while it does siphon out water when it looses power, it only drains to slightly below the water level in the tank. It keeps its suction though, so it restarts even if I don’t prime it.

 

all of my Aquaclears will start back up when I unplug them, and plug them back in.

I will do that occasionally when I feed flake food.

They always start back up.

I keep my tanks level up though, usually high enough to touch the discharge chute of the AC.

When I do WC's, then yes mine will drain out and I have to refill them.