HOB load shedding frustrations!

Hi guys,

Any one got any tricks to stop cheapo Chinese HOB filters from draining them selves dry if power goes out and not been able to cycle them selves back to flowing again.

Just burnout 2 of them yesterday when I was not around to reprime them.

I use some of the cheaper Chinese HOB filters on a tank or 2, especially QT tanks and they always run dry if power is truned off and have to be manual filled and primed to get them going again.

I know the aqua cleat does not do this but they are expensive to run on every tank.

I was thinking of modding them with Submersible 12v dc pumps that would push up the uplift or installing a small submersible inside the hob to suck in through the uplift?

I hate load shedding and hob filters. Its a bad combination. Never have this issue with any other filters during load shedding.

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i have been pretty lucky with shedding but have had 2 solid scares with my aquaclear 50, turns out the major issue my side is debris in the impeller.
running off a ups but it only makes it 45min, the 12v pumps are a viable option. i was considering adding a dc air pump and an air stone to the intake tube to create vacuum..lol, over engineered as usual

 

What size tanks are we talking?

 

The only alternative is to add a non-return or check valve at the hob intake pipe.

Maybe try something similar to the following diy valve:

https://mods-n-hacks.gadgethacks.com/how-to/make-super-cheap-one-way-check-valve-0147955/

 

This is why I stopped using HOB’s...

 

I know I also hate them, but only really use them on QT tanks so its quick and easy to change out media and carbon after treatments.

 

Nice cool hacks, thanks for the link! Something to consider.