power outages and sump flooding

[daleros]

Has anybody ever tried this?
Using a normally closed sprinkler valve inline from the overflow? The power goes out and the valve closes. Also, you can get large sizes for under $100.

 

[mikeandannie]

sounds like it would probably work, but only thing i see wrong with it is, if its is a wet/dry filter water will not fill in the sump in event of a power outage so your dry bio ball will die out alot quicker. when i do power outage test or water changes, my sump fills just past the wet/dry area so it keeps my bio area wet or wet/dry at all times.

 

[rallysman]

The only thing you should needs is a small hole in the return line that's right below the water surface. Inexpensive and almost failsafe.

 

[chesterthehero]

^^ both of them said it all

and to get rid of that 1 in a millon chance of the hole getting blocked... a second hole is great..

 

[Hdeuce]

wouldnt a hole in the return line make it leak?

 

[rallysman]

wouldnt a hole in the return line make it leak?

Yes, but it leaks right below the surface of the water so it doesn't matter

 

[sabotage]

just get a $3 check valve at lowes...Water only flowes 1 way, i have my out leg of my sump..

 

[calicichlid]

How does a check valve solve your prob? Water is already flowing in the direction towards the sump. Power goes out the pump stops the flow of water out bound of the sump, but water will still enter the sump causeing an over flow depending on the size of the sump and placement of your overflow and water level inside your tank.

 

[sabotage]

the out leg is where the check valve is so if power stops, the water will comeback toward my sump..My output is on the bottom of the tank so my whole 300 gallon tank would empty coming down that direction, the check valve stops that..

 

[Alan Russell]

just get a $3 check valve at lowes...Water only flowes 1 way, i have my out leg of my sump..

Beat me to it. This is what I use