[Reticentregret]

okay so i screwed up .... Im putting together a 20 gallon and using a 5 g for a sump ... i drilled a hole in the 20.. so thats feeding the sump.....now... i did my tests with multiple problems .. first of all the the pump is draining the final chamber in the sump way to fast and bringing it to dry ... which i could more that likely easily fix with a flow constrictor(??????)....se cond and the problem that bothers me most.... when i go for the power test..... as soon as the power goes out the return line siphons tons of water back down there which obviously is a huge huge problem....and im not to keen on the idea of check valves cause i know id be terrified and taking it apart and checking it alllll the time... i dunno someone help me out .. i could probably posts pics tonight or tomorrow.

[Drafterdude]

reticentregret,
You could restrict the pump with a valve,but you run the risk of burning the pump out prematureley. i would get a smaller pump pherhaps.
You can stop the back siphon by drilling a hole in the pipe just below the water line inside the tank on the return line, at a level that will only allow 1 gallon or less to backsiphon into the tank.
Best regards

[dans40]

drill a 1/16 hole in your return line inside your tank at or slightly below water level so the siphon breaks

[pogodzib]

I agree with both of the above posts. Getting a smaller pump would be preferred, if you can find one that can still handle the head, since restricting pumps too much can cause them to fail prematurely. As for the back siphoning, that is something that everyone has to deal with as well and drilling a hole in the return line just above the water line when the pump is shut off is the easiest way. When the pump is running, the hole will be submerged slightly.

[lazy reef guy]

As for the pump simply installing a ball valve and a tee so that what you dont want going back to the tank can simply go back to the sump , and that way you dont burn up the pump ball valve and tee 10 dollars or less