Auto drip & overflow location?

[DarylMac]

Hi all,

I need some advice. I'm going to be tearing down my tank soon so that I can switch from canister filters to a sump.
I have a synergy reef overflow (20" version) and I'll be setting it up using a bean animal design.

In the future I want to be able to ad a constant drip water changing system. What I don't know is should I be adding the drip system to the aquarium or the sump? Should the excess water overflow out of the aquarium and down the drain, or out of the sump to the drain?

I haven't done much research on auto drip water change set-ups (because I'm not settin it up yet), but I do have a decision to make soon...

In the next couple weeks, while the aquarium is taken down for drilling, I am having a plumber in to do some work in our kitchen. At the same time he is going to install a laundry service box behind my aquarium or stand (I don't know if laundry service is the correct name, but it's essentially a hot/cold water supply and drain that is installed behind a washing machine).

This will allow me to easily fill & drain my aquarium without using a python.

Because I want to add a auto drip system in the future I'd like to set-up this laundry service now so that it will work with that system down the road.

So how high off the floor should I mount the laundry service? Should I keep it low so that I can easily add/remove water from the sump? Or should I be adding & removing the water to/from the main display tank, thus allowing me to install the laundry service a little higher off the floor?

Thanks in advance.

 

[celebrist]

I am hoping to set up a drip system soon as well. I would think drip into the tank and drain out the sump to avoid flooding hazards

 

[ragin_cajun]

I drip into the sump, and drain outta the sump. I don't want all that in my tank, I want it in the sump. One of the reasons I have a sump is keeping things like this outta the display tank.

As for where to put the drain in the laundry service.....doesn't really matter. If you put the laundry service 3-4 feet off the ground, you could cut into the drain pipe and tee off a drain to your sump. It doesn't really matter how high/low the laundry service is.

Ask your plumber. I may sound like a plumber, but I only play one on TV, but I don't think it matters much. Just have a drain and a cold water outlet close to your tank, your drip will work great.

If you're gonna mix hot water into the drip, (I see you're in Alaska), you might want to consider the metal ions that come out of a hot water heater. I don't think hot water tank effluent is particularly dangerous to shower in or drink occasionally, but I wouldn't want to live in it.

 

[celebrist]

I drip into the sump, and drain outta the sump. I don't want all that in my tank, I want it in the sump. One of the reasons I have a sump is keeping things like this outta the display tank.

As for where to put the drain in the laundry service.....doesn't really matter. If you put the laundry service 3-4 feet off the ground, you could cut into the drain pipe and tee off a drain to your sump. It doesn't really matter how high/low the laundry service is.

Ask your plumber. I may sound like a plumber, but I only play one on TV, but I don't think it matters much. Just have a drain and a cold water outlet close to your tank, your drip will work great.

If you're gonna mix hot water into the drip, (I see you're in Alaska), you might want to consider the metal ions that come out of a hot water heater. I don't think hot water tank effluent is particularly dangerous to shower in or drink occasionally, but I wouldn't want to live in it.

Thanks for the info, I would prefer to drip into the sump for sure. You don't think that affects the effectiveness of the drip? I am thinking I could drop into the pump chamber. I am on a well with on demand water heater so I don't think ions will be an issue but outlet temp might be. I will discuss with my plumber if I don't stay at a holiday inn first

 

[ragin_cajun]

My drip hose is stuck in the cage of one of my pumps, right on top of the pump inlet. I think that is the most effective mix of drip water into tank water possible.

Well water...is your well water safe to drink? My in-laws have a place in a very rocky/mountainous type area, and they don't have a water well because they say it's likely that the well they drill would require them to drill so deep to be safe that it's just not worth it. So, they use lake water.

Same thing, they say there's lot's of metals in the wells where they are, not safe to drink over long periods, so it's discouraged. It's in Maine, so they might be overly cautious about this stuff there.

So, if your well water is high in metal ions, or your water heater is, it could be a problem for fish living in it over several years.

It's might all be BS. In this day and age, I'm skeptical of all environmental concerns until I see real info, but heavy metals in water can be serious--I just don't know at what concentrations.

 

[DarylMac]

I'm in Vancouver Canada. We have incredibly soft, and slightly acidic water. Biggest concern is that it's treated with chlorine or chloramine or something.

 

[coryjac0b]

I modeled my system after ragin_cajun . Mine has been working great for the last few months.

 

[Ozarker]

I modeled my system after ragin_cajun . Mine has been working great for the last few months.

Hi all,

I need some advice. I'm going to be tearing down my tank soon so that I can switch from canister filters to a sump.
I have a synergy reef overflow (20" version) and I'll be setting it up using a bean animal design.

In the future I want to be able to ad a constant drip water changing system. What I don't know is should I be adding the drip system to the aquarium or the sump? Should the excess water overflow out of the aquarium and down the drain, or out of the sump to the drain?

I haven't done much research on auto drip water change set-ups (because I'm not settin it up yet), but I do have a decision to make soon...

In the next couple weeks, while the aquarium is taken down for drilling, I am having a plumber in to do some work in our kitchen. At the same time he is going to install a laundry service box behind my aquarium or stand (I don't know if laundry service is the correct name, but it's essentially a hot/cold water supply and drain that is installed behind a washing machine).

This will allow me to easily fill & drain my aquarium without using a python.

Because I want to add a auto drip system in the future I'd like to set-up this laundry service now so that it will work with that system down the road.

So how high off the floor should I mount the laundry service? Should I keep it low so that I can easily add/remove water from the sump? Or should I be adding & removing the water to/from the main display tank, thus allowing me to install the laundry service a little higher off the floor?

Thanks in advance.

I have tanks set up both ways and each works fine. My 240 has no sump and I use a 2 gph drip emitter and a DIY HOB overflow that drains into my 1,200 gal aquaponic tank. It's a little risky because if the overflow fails I've got a wet floor but with a luft pump I've had no problems.

On my 29 with internal overflow I have a sump in the basement with ~ .25 gph drip with an overflow to a floor drain. I drip into the pump chamber and overflow out of the sock chamber. But given your choices, I would probably keep it all in the sump and out of sight, assuming the plumbing allows.

Good luck. Auto drip is the way to go.

 

[carbene]

dont forget to finish it off with a rubber ducky.

 

[SandNukka15]

I drip into tank and drain is in the sump to prevent flooding.....

If you have an above ground sump higher then tank level....drip and drain would both be from the tank