Where to put the hole in sump?

[jim barry]

I am just about to order my sump and tank. I want to add a drain bulkhead to the sump. One for drainage because i will be running a auto drip system and two so i can drain the sump when i want to for cleaning.
I am not 100% sure on where to get the hole drilled. I am thinking it should not matter as it will have a ball valve fitted so it can go as low to the bottom of the sump as i want. Will this be okay or am i missing something stupid?

 

[DIDYSIS]

You need to have a down slope 1/4" per foot to your drain. Depending where your drain is or what you might need to go over. Key is high as needed but low as possible. If you can do it low a L piece can give you water height options. I'm planning mine for 9inches from the bottom as the top of the drain because I am running a good ways to the drain and need the height

 

[DIDYSIS]

The drain one as low as you can go or on the bottom and rise the sump up a little for pipes.

 

[jim barry]

You need to have a down slope 1/4" per foot to your drain. Depending where your drain is or what you might need to go over. Key is high as needed but low as possible. If you can do it low a L piece can give you water height options. I'm planning mine for 9inches from the bottom as the top of the drain because I am running a good ways to the drain and need the height

I am probably about 4 feet away from the drain. I was hoping that the force of water leaving the sump bulk head would be enough to make sure the water drains. If this is not the case then i will have to put the hole about 2 to 3 inches high then?

 

[DIDYSIS]

How much water are you going to drip? Really even 2 gph is really not that much pressure. So your plan is drill it low and then have a ball valve on that to control water loss from the tank?

 

[dxdx]

I put mine roughly an inch below the waterline, this way I could use an 90 degree elbow pointed up to manage where the waterline will be - I can move the elbow slightly to make the waterline higher or lower.

Plus with the elbow being totally open, all the excess water flows into it and out the drain. With a ball valve, I don't think you'll be able to exactly match the outflow to the incoming water. If your flow increases for some reason (pressure spike, drip emitter falls off) the ball valve won't adjust to handle this extra water and you'll be flooded quickly.

 

[DIDYSIS]

Hey I'm getting to all that. Lol. Stole my thunder

I put mine roughly an inch below the waterline, this way I could use an 90 degree elbow pointed up to manage where the waterline will be - I can move the elbow slightly to make the waterline higher or lower.

Plus with the elbow being totally open, all the excess water flows into it and out the drain. With a ball valve, I don't think you'll be able to exactly match the outflow to the incoming water. If your flow increases for some reason (pressure spike, drip emitter falls off) the ball valve won't adjust to handle this extra water and you'll be flooded quickly.

 

[jim barry]

Yes exactly drill low then control. Then if i want to clean i can open fully and empty. As for how much and hour, honestly i don't have a clue! Need to do the maths on that. 9x4x2 tank and 6x30"x18" tall sump total around 430 gallon (UK) so i guess around 30 gallon a day?

 

[jim barry]

I put mine roughly an inch below the waterline, this way I could use an 90 degree elbow pointed up to manage where the waterline will be - I can move the elbow slightly to make the waterline higher or lower.

Plus with the elbow being totally open, all the excess water flows into it and out the drain. With a ball valve, I don't think you'll be able to exactly match the outflow to the incoming water. If your flow increases for some reason (pressure spike, drip emitter falls off) the ball valve won't adjust to handle this extra water and you'll be flooded quickly.

So do you have the elbow on the inside of your sump and this is what the water flows in to? Sounds logical to me. I thought a ball valve would work but if you think this is wrong then i will do what you have suggested. Can you just clarify where your elbow is? Any pics of your set up? Many thanks

 

[DIDYSIS]

I have pics at Home. I'll try to remember to post one. The main idea is a valve with a small crack for water to flow through can clog very easy. And you will always having something that could change or be a risk. With the elbow it's all about gravity and it never fails and you won't have any issues unless something really really large gets in the way of the elbow drain. Much larger opening so if you want to flush the system you just add more water to main take to flow more into sump.