NonSequitur Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 So yesterday I picked up a sump, return pump, and skimmer. I was putting everything together last night, and realized if I put the sump inside my stand I wouldn't be able to service any of the contents without draining and moving the tank.. the sump fits in the stand, but just barely. So now I'm thinking of putting the sump outside of the stand, out of sight behind a sofa (about 3ft from the tank). Would running the line from the HOB overflow diagonally (I didn't measure the angle, but I'm thinking as steep as I can manage) from the bottom of the overflow to the top of the sump make a huge difference in the amount of water that can flow through the line? Would it be worth adding a second overflow? Would it be better to run the line vertically to the height of the sump, then elbow and run horizontally? Is there a better way to do what I'm trying to do that I'm not thinking of? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zarathustra2 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Your first instinct was right. Diagnol down is a better solution that a horizontal run for flow. that being said, both will work. Maybe CRMike can chime in. He isn't a pipe fitter you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Will you be able to service the sump behind the couch? I would also hate to have it overflow too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Yes, I'll be able to get to it there easily by moving the couch. In the stand I couldn't get to it at all, couldn't get the skimmer collection cup out, couldn't get the pumps out. I'm thinking of putting some sort of catch pan like they put under a/c units with a switch to turn off the pumps if there is a leak.. hopefully that, combined with plenty of headroom and siphon breaks on the return pipes will prevent an overflow, but it's a little scary having that much water in the house. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Just in case everything should go wrong I would recommend investing 15 bucks in one of these: Place in the pan. You can find them at HD hang by the water heaters. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Absolutely.. I remember seeing in your tank construction blog that you had put one of those in and was just about to go back and look to see which one it was. Hopefully I'll never have to hear it go off, but it'll be good insurance having it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chatfouz Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 So yesterday I picked up a sump, return pump, and skimmer. I was putting everything together last night, and realized if I put the sump inside my stand I wouldn't be able to service any of the contents without draining and moving the tank.. the sump fits in the stand, but just barely. So now I'm thinking of putting the sump outside of the stand, out of sight behind a sofa (about 3ft from the tank). Would running the line from the HOB overflow diagonally (I didn't measure the angle, but I'm thinking as steep as I can manage) from the bottom of the overflow to the top of the sump make a huge difference in the amount of water that can flow through the line? Would it be worth adding a second overflow? Would it be better to run the line vertically to the height of the sump, then elbow and run horizontally? Is there a better way to do what I'm trying to do that I'm not thinking of? in my experience no. I had a big sump a few feet from a tank a year ago and i didnt have problems with flow. You do lose some energy but i never noticed it being anything to gripe about. Just be sure its done well because I made the mistake of half-a#@ it and a pipe came loose and water everywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 That's a good point.. I was trying to decide if I wanted to do solvent welded pvc or flexible tubing.. flexible will be easier to work with, less measuring and cutting, no elbows and such, but I've put together enough pvc to know that a properly welded joint will hold way better than a hose clamp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caferacermike Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Should be fine if it's just a few feet. Using 45 ells will be much better than 90's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
offroadodge Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 ya any distance in my opinion would be better done with PVC (IMO). Hope all goes well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 15, 2009 Author Share Posted August 15, 2009 Thanks for all of the advice! I'm going to pick up the pvc this evening and try to get it all running tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 15, 2009 Share Posted August 15, 2009 so how did it come out? Got pics? Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 No pics yet, I'm going to have to go back to HD tomorrow to get a few more parts. I got home with the parts and realized that the thread on the fitting doesn't match the thread on the pump, so I'll have to rethink that part. I do have a barb style fitting that will work in a pinch, but I'd rather stay with solvent welded fittings if I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 16, 2009 Share Posted August 16, 2009 What make and model is the pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 16, 2009 Author Share Posted August 16, 2009 It's a dolphin dp-900 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted August 17, 2009 Author Share Posted August 17, 2009 I ended up using 1.25" spa-flex flexible pvc for the line from the overflow.. it didn't end up quite as diagonal as I was hoping, but so far it seems to work. Due to some pump trouble (possibly seized impeller, it's soaking in RO water now to see if that'll free it) I'm only running a rio 1400 for my return, which has pretty pathetic flow but at least it shows that everything works. Because of the difference in pump size I went with .75" braided poly tubing from the pump to the risers for the return (didn't want to cut/glue more pvc when that pump's there temporarily). Here are a few photos. I'm going to clean it up later, fasten the return pvc to the stand, but it's great to have it actually flowing. First, here's the sump in it's new home, with the skimmer running and filter floss where the bio-balls would go to help silence the falling water (my wife didn't like how loud it was. I'll probably end up building a box to put it in to silence it) Here's the overflow running into 1.25" spa-flex. Return risers: Skimmer in action, but apparently nothing to remove yet: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+dapettit Posted August 17, 2009 Share Posted August 17, 2009 Looks like it's working. I was wondering about the noise, my wife would have said the same thing. Dave- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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