AquaClear 70 overflow?

[predatorkeeper87]

You really think if it was fool proof he would be the only person doing this? There is a reason no one else is doing it, it doesn't work long term. How little water must be in his sump to keep from overflowing the tank if the AC dies? Or what if the pump dies? It wont overflow the sump when the AC keeps pumping? Or how do you keep one pump from out pumping the other? You cant tell me they are balanced perfectly, one will eventually run dry. There are many reasons no one does this. Eventually you are going to end up with a wet floor, a dead pump or both.

well....he started the thread in '13 and if he built it somewhere around there its been running for a while now lol.

Ya obviously there can't be a whole lot of water in the sump or the tank water level is lower if he has it measured out to not overflow the tank if the HOB dies. and since you can set the intake tubes on HOBs to specific levels, again, to a position where if his return pump died the HOB would suck air before overflowing his sump. Thats no different than a gravity feed from an overflow box on a drilled tank lol except if your return pump dies on this type you end up losing a HOB motor if you aren't home to catch it.

I would have to take a wild guess as to how he has his return pump regulated to not outpump the HOB but if I were to do this I would add some type of throttle on the return line (ball valve would work just fine) to reduce the flow back into the tank.

He's not the only one doing this either haha I've seen a few folks throw these together. Are they the most efficient? Hell no. Do they work? Yup. Way more likely to end up with dead pumps than wet floors.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

P.S. Fishguy, make no mistake, I'm not arguing that this way is a great overflow haha. I know you know your stuff as I've seen and agreed with a lot of your posts on tanks, reseals, etc. I'm just saying this way is plausible and, done right, pretty fail proof discounting user error, hardware failure, etc.

 

[fishguy306]

Well, I am impressed it is still running, I didn't see the date when I posted. Good on OP for getting it to work long term, I would not have wanted to tinker with it and figure it out. I'm all for the DIY stuff, but this one seems like it would have a lot of risks. But if it is working, more power to ya.

 

[KyleK]

As for overflowing the TANK, you could have a full sump... just have the pump intake a few inches below the waterline on the return inside the sump?

 

[qu13tst0rm]

Thank you Predatorkeer87, you explained it correctly.

Fishguy306, I am running a Rio Taam HF10(?) for my return. It has a control valve on the output, so you can regulate the return flow. Yes you are right, it is NOT PERFECTLY BALANCED... but the HF10 does not out pump the AC. Because the AC is constantly primed it just circulates within itself if the HF10 cannot keep up (the balance is pretty dang close)
The intake to the AC only uses the first tube section, so as not to drain the tank more than a few inches deep.
I keep the sump level just above to return pump output neck, this assures no sump overflow.

I've had NO overflows with this setup, though periodically, if I don't maintain the sump level my return pump will run dry

I just finish a new stand for this tank, and am about to install a new sump.
I plan to add a second modded AC on the other side, to increase my circulation.
Also I will be installing a Tunze 1073.05 as return, with some sort of tank and sump level sensors to control the pump flow.

 

[qu13tst0rm]

OH, did find a flaw in this setup.
The tank resident are a Pacu and a Red Devil.
Both are rescues from friends.
Found out the Red Devil is female, and they will lay eggs without a male.
And when momma drops eggs... NO ONE can come to that side of the tank.
She has been kicking the Pacu's but every now and then.

During one of the melees the dislodged the intake tube from the AC, the stopped the drain and allowed the sump to run dry.

I am working on setting up a 240 to rehome the Pacu and my Pleco's.
The She-Devil will be getting her own tank.