DIY sump

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I suggest using a seperate pump for tanks at each level...

You could place the pumps in the same sump... The purpose for multiple pumps is to better create equal distribution of return flow...

Even if you used ball valves as in the pic posted above... the water at the outlets of the bottom row of tanks will be under high pressure and will thus shoot out of the pipe (think garden hose with a thumb placed over most of the end).

I think you could buy three adequate sized pumps for aroudn the same price as you would pay for one massive pump that could serve the whole system...

The electrical usage of one massive pump will exceed that of three adequate sized pumps...

So while it would be possible to use only one pump... I just don't think the "pros" would outweight the "cons"


Lastly, I suggest you consider purchasing a 55 or 75 gal tank as a sump for this system. You need to leave the functioning water level in the sump low enough to hold the water that falls into the sump when the pump is turned off. A 12" deep sump in use on 5 tanks with this much plumbing just doesn't have the room to do this.

Be sure to think through every angle before you put this together.
 
nc_nutcase;3918955; said:
I suggest using a seperate pump for tanks at each level...

You could place the pumps in the same sump... The purpose for multiple pumps is to better create equal distribution of return flow...

Even if you used ball valves as in the pic posted above... the water at the outlets of the bottom row of tanks will be under high pressure and will thus shoot out of the pipe (think garden hose with a thumb placed over most of the end).

I think you could buy three adequate sized pumps for aroudn the same price as you would pay for one massive pump that could serve the whole system...

The electrical usage of one massive pump will exceed that of three adequate sized pumps...

So while it would be possible to use only one pump... I just don't think the "pros" would outweight the "cons"


Lastly, I suggest you consider purchasing a 55 or 75 gal tank as a sump for this system. You need to leave the functioning water level in the sump low enough to hold the water that falls into the sump when the pump is turned off. A 12" deep sump in use on 5 tanks with this much plumbing just doesn't have the room to do this.

Be sure to think through every angle before you put this together.
Click to expand...


everything in this post is important ... you have to think about EVERYTHING or you will end up having to fix things later and it will cost lots of time and money that would not be needed if you have the correct planing ...

i would say one of the most important things is how tall the sump is.. your going to want something that is really tall .. or really big .. but something that can handle all the tanks draining to there lowest point during a power outage at the same time ... and like nutcase said ... you have to think about all the plumbing and tank water all going to the sump ..

as far as the pumps go .. i would say that 3 pumps one for each level is the best way to go ..
 
"I could even let the top tanks just drain into the one s below"

Yeah, I like the idea of a 'cascading water train'.

For the fishes, not in the penthouse suite, sake...you probably will need some kind of mechanical filtration between each level.
 
What if I took the water from the pump to the top first and then back down for the other rows.I could put a ball valves where the water T from the pipe at each level for each tank on the bottom 2 levels.I am hereing you all just trying to stay in my budget.I hope you all understand and keep helping me with the project
 
Here is my newest and I hope final drawing of the system - the sump.Haven't went there yet.I don't think in loss of power there will be much water to collect in sump.There is a cover on the over flow so the most the tanks could ever drain is 3/4'' + water out of pipes.I think less than 10gls.


final.jpg
 
I suggest you calculate how much water will drain into the sump when the pump is turned off… guessing, thinking or assuming can lead to water on the floor… Even if each tank only drops ½” when the pump goes off that adds 7.5 gal plus the volume of your pipes to the sump…
　
I do think your recent drawing would work better… but I don’t think it will work very well… I’m still suggesting 3 pumps…
　
If you are dead set on using a single large pump with the recent drawing. I suggest using smaller pipe (probably ¾”) for the light green line that goes from the pump, to the top row then back down… But use larger pipes (probably 1.5”) for the darker green lines… this will lessen the pressure where the water enters the tank.
 
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