Valve for drip system

[Manning99]

Just had two tanks with sump systems delivered. I have never ran a sump before (besides a simple overhead) and would like to have a constant drip line installed into both tanks. Tanks are 6x2x3 and 8x3x2 respectively.

I don't fully understand the plumbing but what I've got so far is this. If someone could confirm or change that would be great

Hot/Cold tap>Mixer>?Needle Valve?>Sump

 

[Midwater]

No. The way I do it is drip directly into the main tank, with an overflow in the return chamber of the sump.

 

[duanes]

I run new water to my sumps first, before the main tank.
In that way (just in case) there is a screw up by the water provider.
Could be as simple as after a main break, a large slug of chlorine of chloramine is released, the sump buffers that slug

And also have an emergency overflow just in case of a clogged valve or overflow line type screw up.
Because I run my sumps relatively full, this is the emergency overflow.

If water in the sump reaches the drilled hole in the PVC, it starts overflowing to the ground, or catch receptacle.

 

[Manning99]

No. The way I do it is drip directly into the main tank, with an overflow in the return chamber of the sump.

Great, cheers. Just to confirm I have not missed any steps out here.

In: Hot/Cold tap>Mixer>Needle Valve>Sump

Out: Display>Sump>Overflow Drain

I have read about using a check Valve in the setup aswell but can't seem to figure out if I need one, or if the needle valve will suffice

Cheers again

 

[Manning99]

I run new water to my sumps first, before the main tank.
In that way (just in case) there is a screw up by the water provider.
Could be as simple as after a main break, a large slug of chlorine of chloramine is released, the sump buffers that slug

And also have an emergency overflow just in case of a clogged valve or overflow line type screw up.
Because I run my sumps relatively full, this is the emergency overflow.
View attachment 1521333
If water in the sump reaches the drilled hole in the PVC, it starts overflowing to the ground, or catch receptacle.
View attachment 1521334

Yeah, I think I will definitely be adding an emergency overflow to both systems.

The water in my area is supplied by a river, I have copied in the most recent report. I don't know if this makes it more/less likely to cause issues and if I should relocate the drip to the sump?

Ammonium (ammonia and ammonium ions)<0.0154<0.0154<0.0154mg NH4/l0.590

Chloride6.6518.657.1mg Cl/l250660

Residual chlorine - Total0.120.440.95mg/l1360

Residual chlorine - Free0.050.310.68mg/l1360

Conductivity156272555uS/cm at 20oC2500410

Hardness Total as CaCO32590164mg CaCO3/l410

Nitrite<0.0115<0.0115<0.0115mg NO2/l0.590

Nitrate4.437.6312.4mg NO3/l5090

(Nitrate)/50 plus (nitrite)/30.08900.1520.247mg/l190

Cheers

 

[Midwater]

I run new water to my sumps first, before the main tank.
In that way (just in case) there is a screw up by the water provider.

Yes, I would not drip untreated mains water into the tank. I run the mains through a carbon filter and a trickle oxygenator into a cache tank before dripping it into the tanks.

I have read about using a check Valve in the setup aswell but can't seem to figure out if I need one, or if the needle valve will suffice

For the actions of dripping and overflowing, there is no need for a check valve.

The return chamber in the sump is the most important aspect. It should be a significant proportion of the volume of the sump, even though there is no medium in it. The overflow should be drilled just below the highest level of the return chamber, determined by the last baffle.

 

[Manning99]

I was considering a carbon filter, will have another look into them now. Can't find much info on the trickle oxygenator.

Yes the return pump section is quite large and that's where I will put the overflow.

Cheers

 

[duanes]

When living in the states, I put a very simple check/float type valve ont tap to tank inflow.

If the sump got more full that I determined was enough, the red float would (by pressure) block water from entering it.
These are the type farmers use on cattle troughs, and in my case"if" the sump got too full, the pressure would create water hammer, alerting me to the problem.
I would use it when filling a kiddy pool for overwintering fish in late fall, and was great if I become distracted.

 

[Flaring Afro]

I just use an under sink filter to drip water into my turtle tank. Turtles are obviously less sensitive than fish, but if you look at the filter certifications, you should be able to find one that filters out the chlorine or choramines, whichever you have in your water.

So I go cold tap to filter to tank. You would have to use cold or the filter would be destroyed by the water's heat.