Aqua lifter pump and diy overflow

[skipper]

I hooked up an aqua lifter pump to the check valve in my diy overflow and the tank's water level is staying just where I want it to be. What bothers me is that the aqua lifter's output seems to be 80% air. Does this mean that my overflow input tube is sucking too much air? I would think that a water pump sucking air would burn out. Here's a bad picture of the set up.

 

[Dr Joe]

Hooked to the check valve?

Does the over-flow make a lot of gurgling noise?

 

[skipper]

I've got an empty aquarium plant pot in the intank to prevent a good sized whirlpool/water tornado from forming in the pipe. That sounds like a toilet flushing nonstop. With the little plastic pot in the pipe's top it doesn't allow the eddy to form and it's pretty quiet. Yes- hooked to the check valve via air line. Is that a no-no?

 

[Rivermud]

Sounds to me like you have a leak still where the check valave is placed. Now instead of losing your siphon like you were previously, you are seeing the air bubbles being pulled in by the vacuum pump.

 

[skipper]

RRR- I epoxied the check valve. You are probably right, there is way too much air being pumped out. I guess I need to redo it.

 

[Rivermud]

Like they suggested, I would go with the spring style check valve .. make sure you sand the area around the valve well before re-sealing it. Also check any of your connection fro the intake to where the valve.. looks like just the one. There should be absolutely no air if it is hooked up to a vacuum pump, any air is a sure sign of a leak.