Sump pipe flow rate question?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
wheatgerm said:
So would it work better to run a T between them then have the T feed the pump? This way has worked in the past and both sumps have equal water levels.

I guess I dont understand why it wont work if sump 1 is feeding sump 2 with a 2 inch pipe and sump 2 is feeding the pump with a 2 inch pipe why it wouldn't stay equalized?
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Yes the T system is your best option.

Sump 1 is feeding sump 2 with a two inch pipe - this is correct but remember this is not powered, it's just gravity fed. Think about a pump forcing water through a 2" pipe and gravity. If you have a 100' grain silo and you filled it with water and put a 2" hole in the side then yes gravity will beat out the pump for sure but how deep is your sump? Maybe a foot? How about two feet? Or maybe even three feet deep. The pump still wins and will move more water than gravity.

The nice thing is - if you don't believe me then do it your way first. I'm saying "first" because I know it wont work and you will have to go back to the T system after.

Or - just do the T system and save your self some time.

wheatgerm said:
Another question I feed I should ask... my tank has two 1.5 inch bulkheads for the overflows will they keep up with the flow or should I upgrade to 2" bulkheads? (Its a plywood tank so cutting the holes bigger isn't a bit deal)
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Bigger drains is always better. Some day you might want to upgrade the pump as your fish grow. Drilling the drains larger now is a good idea and it won’t cost much more so I would do this. But the 1.5" drains at a full syphon will easily keep up with the pump. If it was me I would add another 1.5" drain and set up a herbie system where one drain is at a full syphon, the second drain is valved closed so it's at a full syphon and the third drain is a safety reserve just in case something clogs. But that’s getting fancy with the drains and maybe you don’t want to do that…
 
Its not that I don't believe you I just wanted to understand why. And now I still question if it may work but its doubtful enough that im not going to try. Thanks for the info.

Im interested in the "Herbie system " I am not going to go with an overflow box just the bulkheads and pipe so if I plumb it this way im guessing it will take alot of the gurgle out of the overflow shouldn't it?

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Egon is correct and the only way it could possibly work is if you had a submersible pump in sump one to feed sump two to keep up with your external pump feeding the water back to the main tank....might as well tee the two sumps together.
 
picture should sum it up, basically i want to act like im only using 1 sump it will have all the return and suction from the pump sump 2 i want to use at an extra water containment for when the power goes off also as a reactor for my k1... my plan is to place the connector bulkheads up above where im guessing ill want the water level in the main sump to be (roughly 6 inches). ill run a small T off my pumps return with 1/2" pipe and a ball valve to return about 100gph to the "storage sump" to cycle water threw my k1 and keep things flowing.. i know this is totally different but this stand wasnt designed for a large sump so im having to go to extremes to get what i want.. plwase let me know what you think! thanks

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Bump

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That will work. Good design, I like your thinking!
 
Egon said:
That will work. Good design, I like your thinking!
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Thanks egon! My only worry is... My bulkhead that feeds the pump is 4.5" to the middle of the bulkhead so I figure if I keep the water level at 7" (1 inch above the bulkhead going to the pump) it gives me roughly 32 gallons of overflow to be in the safe zone. If 40 gallons overflow it will be just below my holes I just cut in the top of my sump for my overflow ill be running a drip system on the tank so keeping the water level at 7" wont be a big deal.. I would just like the sump to be able to handle more water when the power kicks off.

Here's some pics of where it is so far. Any concerns?


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When you get it all set up and running, turn off your pump to see if your sumps will hold all the water. Put your pump return as high as possible into the tank. All my returns go straight down into the top of my tank and sort of make a waterfall into the tank. If I lose power or a pump I don't get any back syphon overflowing my sumps.

RE: your drip system. Where's the drain for that? That could also be a way to get rid of extra sump water is needed. I use 1.5 inch drain for my drip system. Way over kill but the nice thing is the extra capacity just incase I lose power and all my sumps overflow at the same time I still drain all the water instead of it getting on my floor.

You have a nice tank! I can't wait to see it filled with monsters :)
 
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