Hey guys... I have no experience with sumps or plumbing, but I understand the basics. I'm close to buying a 400+ gallon tank and need some help....
It has one central infernal overflow with pretty deep teeth on all 3 sides. I assume it can handle whatever gph I can throw at it. There is only ONE 2" drain at the bottom of the overflow box. This concerns me in case it were to ever clog. He's had it running for over 2 years as is, without issue. There are TWO 1.5" returns that go up through the bottom of the overflow box, and exit to the left and right sides of the overflow box about 2/3 of the way up. He has this set up in his garage and it's noisier than hell, because he doesn't care, because it's in the garage.... He's using a large sump pump as the return pump to boot. I plan on replacing it with one Laguna Max Flo 4280 instead for energy efficiency and noise reduction. I'll be sleeping about 15 feet from this tank so I'd like it to be as quiet as possible. Let me know what you think of this plan:
I would use the 2" drain as a full siphon because it's the least likely to become clogged. This will pull 2000-2500gph or so, given my research (correct me if I'm wrong please). The 4280 pump will do about 3000gph unthrottled at my given head height, I think. I would then use one of the 1.5" drains to handle some excess water silently, and tune my pump accordingly with a valve. Then use the other 1.5" drain as a dry emergency only drain. More or less a beananimal system drilled through the bottom.
Am I over thinking this? I'd like to keep it on the cheaper side if possible but I really can't afford to have any water damage. I'd like some of you more experienced guys to chime in! Thanks!
It has one central infernal overflow with pretty deep teeth on all 3 sides. I assume it can handle whatever gph I can throw at it. There is only ONE 2" drain at the bottom of the overflow box. This concerns me in case it were to ever clog. He's had it running for over 2 years as is, without issue. There are TWO 1.5" returns that go up through the bottom of the overflow box, and exit to the left and right sides of the overflow box about 2/3 of the way up. He has this set up in his garage and it's noisier than hell, because he doesn't care, because it's in the garage.... He's using a large sump pump as the return pump to boot. I plan on replacing it with one Laguna Max Flo 4280 instead for energy efficiency and noise reduction. I'll be sleeping about 15 feet from this tank so I'd like it to be as quiet as possible. Let me know what you think of this plan:
I would use the 2" drain as a full siphon because it's the least likely to become clogged. This will pull 2000-2500gph or so, given my research (correct me if I'm wrong please). The 4280 pump will do about 3000gph unthrottled at my given head height, I think. I would then use one of the 1.5" drains to handle some excess water silently, and tune my pump accordingly with a valve. Then use the other 1.5" drain as a dry emergency only drain. More or less a beananimal system drilled through the bottom.
Am I over thinking this? I'd like to keep it on the cheaper side if possible but I really can't afford to have any water damage. I'd like some of you more experienced guys to chime in! Thanks!
