Hey guys I am wanting to add a drip system to my 480g. My question is. Can I add the drip system without drilling into my sump. I can't think of anyway to do it without drill. But just thought I would ask if anyone had any other ideas.
Drip System with a sump???
- Thread starter TheFishWrestler
- Start date
You have to have an overflow somewhere in your sump for the water to leave. Unfortunately that involves drilling. If your running a closed loop in your tank with out a sump then you can put the overflow in your tank. But it still would need to be drilled.
You can use a float switch to operate a small waste pump in the sump. The plumbing will need to have a syphon break in it.
Why not just use the diy overflow made from pvc like in the stickies at the top of the forum? Put the overflow in lowest chamber in the sump and connect the out flow to a drain. You could add as much water as you want to the tank, that would overflow to the sump and once the sump started to raise that would overflow to a drain...right?
muskymayhem;4060544; said:
Would that work? We are talking about 1 gallon an hour or so? Think about filling up a gallon jug over an hour. It's just trickling in. I just don't think there would be enough flow to keep the PVC overflows running? I don't know?
Egon;4060897; said:
It would work as long as it is on a smaller scale. I recommend using the alternative style overflow instead. I don't have any pics, but it is the type that Neo used on his drip system. Basically 1/4" - 3/8" tubing as U-tube and 3/4" PVC on the drain side.
Your intuition is correct. In low flow applications, the bacteria build up in them will off gas. It will collect in the upper loop and then one day it will stop working. (It will need to be bled regularly. It will also be a source of major frustrations when it is forgotten or neglected.)Egon;4060897; said:
Thanks guys. I don't think the diy pvc overflow will work. The float switch/pump might work. I will look into that.
I made a drip system and put one of e shopps overflow boxes on my tank. The U intake tube is clear so you can keep an eye on it and I'm only draining roughly half a gallon per hour. To be honest I wouldn't be too concerned with the build up of gases. I started the overflow siphon about a two months ago and there has hardly been any gas build up at all. I'm not saying its maintenance free but at the rate its currently going it looks like I won't have to worry about it for 6 months maybe more. Although I do agree I wouldn't trust a PVC overflow simply because you can't see the gas build up.
Pharaoh;4061228; said:
The alternative style overflow Pharaoh was referring to is shown here . Actually, that whole thread in the sticky section of the DIY forums is about low flow overflows so you should check that out.
Also here is Neo's thread about it as well.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=19920
I am using an overflow like that for my tank since I do not have a sump and it is working great since the water trickling through 1/4" u tube is traveling faster than it would in the larger piping of the traditional overflow. Plus, since it is clear 1/4" tubing, I can keep an eye on it if I ever do see bubbles in the tube and bleed it as Chompers mentioned or just replace it entirely from leftover 1/4" tubing that I have lying around.