Thanks Oswego for your sugestions. I've thought about using flow controls like ball valves but most folks would agree that its a risky idea to restrict in any way a drain line. Thats just asking or a flood.
I like the idea of using a T to create seperate return paths to the sump. At 1500 gph through the tank, you can clearly see the difference in head at the surface on the upstream side and the downstream side of the perforated spool piece.
You can picture the shape of the channel inside the perforated pipe as being slightly U shaped (higher at the upstream side and becoming more pronounced as it apraoches the bulkhead fitting) with very turbulent flow. As you can see the difference in head becomes less pronounced the closer you get to the elbow that fits the standpipe. This would in my mind tend to imply that there is little potential to draw from the stand pipe.
If the water wasn't so turbulant at the surface, I would try a test with food colouring to see how quickly the bottom is drained. Does anyone know if food colouring is toxic to fish?
I like the idea of using a T to create seperate return paths to the sump. At 1500 gph through the tank, you can clearly see the difference in head at the surface on the upstream side and the downstream side of the perforated spool piece.
You can picture the shape of the channel inside the perforated pipe as being slightly U shaped (higher at the upstream side and becoming more pronounced as it apraoches the bulkhead fitting) with very turbulent flow. As you can see the difference in head becomes less pronounced the closer you get to the elbow that fits the standpipe. This would in my mind tend to imply that there is little potential to draw from the stand pipe.
If the water wasn't so turbulant at the surface, I would try a test with food colouring to see how quickly the bottom is drained. Does anyone know if food colouring is toxic to fish?
Looks great , very well made .
