DIY Drip System

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C

cubs fan

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 29, 2009
16
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chicago
I'm having an idea for a simple DIY drip system.
240g tank.
Drip Out:
Tap a 1/4" line to a inline 1GPH drip emitter from my sump.

Drip In:
Tap a 1/4" line to a inline 1GPH drip emitter from my cold water pipe into my tank.

That equates to 24 gallons a day of new water (10%).. over the course of the week would this be the equivalent of doing a 70% water change?

Is this too simple or perfect?
 
chlorine?
 
ar0wan;4686291; said:
chlorine?
Click to expand...
yea take into account whats in your tap water unless you are running a r/o unit
 
Drain line shouldn't be on a drip emitter. You want it free and clear, larger diameter tubing so it can flow freely to the drain.
 
You could simply drill a drain hole with a gate valve on the side of the sump at your normal water line to create an overflow to the drain. I say gate valve so that you can close it off for maintenance when you turn off the return pump and the water level in the sump raises.

The only issue is that you could lose a lot of water out of this overflow in the event of a power outage.

If you played with the sump high and low levels and were creative with the height of the drain, you could probably get it to work so that even if it did stop, the water level in the sump would rise, you'd lose some water, but when it kicked back on, the return pump wouldn't run dry. (How's that for a run-on sentence? lol)

The drip emitted is a good idea, but I wouldn't personally trust he precision/consistency of/between two drip emitters... they will be close, but not the same and your sump will either flood or run dry of not checked daily. Plus, all drip emitters will clog eventually.
 
I've never had luck with drip emitters, they always clogged on me. I use irrigation adjustable valve.

Also, it wont be 70%. You'll be adding 70% clean water each week but some of that clean water will go down the drain. Here's a long article on water change efficientcy.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-10/rhf/index.php

Tony are you running a drip now?
 
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