Im confused completely by the idea of an overflow without drilling the tank. I have a grasp of the filter part of sumps and have a few really good ideas (i believe) for sump filters. However i cant grasp the idea of building an overflow without drilling the tank if someojne could explain to me how one works, and why it would keep the sump from over flowing during a power outage, and the tank from overflowing once it kicks back on then im sure i could grasp the idea and it would help me out alot.
DIY help needed anyone got any good help for me?
- Thread starter Hdeuce
- Start date
It's the same as a siphon. The water in the tank will only drop so far as the level as the intake of the siphon. Your sump should match this level with some room to spare.
Example: Say your siphon stops when your tank level has dropped 10 gallons. Your sump should hold more then 10 gallons! That way if your return pump in your sump should ever die or lose power you won't have a flood! Get it?
Example: Say your siphon stops when your tank level has dropped 10 gallons. Your sump should hold more then 10 gallons! That way if your return pump in your sump should ever die or lose power you won't have a flood! Get it?
It would only overflow your tank if you started the siphon when the sump is already full.
If the water from the sump is only what came out of the tank to begin with then there wouldn't be enough water, when it is returned to the tank, to overflow it.
If the water from the sump is only what came out of the tank to begin with then there wouldn't be enough water, when it is returned to the tank, to overflow it.
Most of the overflows that are used now will never actually lose siphon. There generally will hold a certain level even if the water stops flowing. Since they don't lose siphon, they start right back up when the pump does and ergo....not overflow.
You can picture it as a syphon, but don't think of it as a syphon because it isn't one. Water is pumped into the tank from the sump and in turn water is pushed out thru the overflow (hence the name), when the pump stops the overflow stops (it is at equilibrium). Now just below the minimum water level of the tank, should be an anti-syphon hole(s) in the pipes going to the overflow. If the water (for whatever reason ie return line broke) gets to this point the flow will stop. Pump height in the sump handles a similar fuction if you have a extra-large sump. When it stops from one of these reasons, it's considered an emergency and requires your attention and is designed not to restart.
Some have pictured it like one of those multi-tiered fountains that each tier overflows to the next one (tank to sump) unless the pump is stopped then everything stops.
Dr Joe
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Some have pictured it like one of those multi-tiered fountains that each tier overflows to the next one (tank to sump) unless the pump is stopped then everything stops.
Dr Joe
.
What he said.