Questions of my own for a drip system

[scott s]

Sorry its almost an identical post to the one just posted by "doughboy". Didnt want to jack his thread. My setup is a little different than his. Really starting to hate 4 hr WC's can I get some ideas on a drip system for my set up?
I have a glass sump under the main system (not too keen on trying to drill into it). Not sure a overflow box would work as there is enough room in the sump to handle the back flow of a power outage. I have considered making a new sump design out of acrylic as I dont like my current sump and that could be drilled into for an overflow, but that would be months down the road (if ever). Wouldnt be too hard getting the drip to the tank, but not sure how to get the overflow back out. Guess I could use a sump pump with a float (would have to be small as my return section of the sump is only about 7" wide and already houses the return pump and heater).
Going that route might work, but...how could you prevent a tank overflow in a power outage if your not around? No basement for a gravity drain and the sump sits at ground level so no good way to tie into sewer drain.
Sorry for the long drawn out question...any ideas?

 

[dxdx]

float valves and a pump are the most common solution... but if I were you I'd get to that acrylic sump as soon as you can.

Drilled overflow is the way to go, doesn't rely on power, only one point of failure and that is a clog, which is easily preventable...

 

[doyboy]

U seem to be in the same boat as me Scott, keep me posted if you come up with anything on the drip system, think Im going to wait for the new tank and get it drilled, think it really is the only safe way to go about it. The overflow boxes and the pump idea is a bit risky for me as tank is in my living room and don't fancy explaining a flooded room to the wife lol


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[JohnG]

I have 1 tank with a sump on it. For water changes I got a small pump, 200gph or so, and tied its hose to keep it hanging at the lowest level I want the sump to drain to. That pump is on a timer that automatically starts it every 4 hours and drains about half the water from my sump. I have a float valve which will then refill the sump, the water line for the float valve runs through 2 of the large GE carbon and sediment filters. No power outages to worry about, if the pump breaks your water changes just stop until you notice it.

 

[valderi123]

the cheapest solution is to drill the sump, quick and easy, I know you said your not keen on that. but its not really a big deal.