Mega-Flow height adjustment

grunter_1 · 02/13/2008, 08:33 PM

Hi All,
Does anyone have the skinny on how high the Dursa pipe (drain) is supposed to be set? I have a problem where if I shut off the power to the return pumps, I get drain back into my sump that would overflow it if I wasn't there to drain some of the water from the sump. Fortunately there hasn't been any power outages since I've had it set up... but we all know about Murphy's Law.
I have a 125 AG w/ two Mega-Flows, both return lines (one connected to an external Quiet One 4000---1017 gph---and the other one connected to an in sump ViaAqua 3600---1057 gph---w/ a spray bar attached to bleed off excess back into the sump) have swing check valves attached. I just checked the water level in both boxes and on one side the level is approx. 3-1/2 " below the inner wall and the other is only 1-1/2" below the inner wall (hmnnn). Could it be that I have the one side set too deep so it drains back too much water into the sump? And if that's not the problem how do I prevent overflow in the sump if the power goes out?
Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

beanoil · 02/13/2008, 08:59 PM

The height of the standpipe only dictates how far water has to fall when entering your overflow box. I have the same Megaflow kit and have my standpipe extended as high as it will go. The less distance your water has to fall, the less noise. As far as avoiding a sump overflow, the simple answer is to leave enough room in your sump to allow for the drainage that you'll get during a power outage. Here's the easiest way to figure out how much sump room you'll need:

1: With the return pumps running, pump or siphon a bunch of water out of your sump into a bucket.
2: Turn the return pumps off to simulate a power outage.
3: Wait until the tank is done draining down the water in the return lines (MAKE SURE YOU'VE DRILLED SIPHON BREAKS!).
4: When it's done draining, put the water back in the sump that you pumped out in step 1, up until an inch or so from the top of the sump.
5: Turn your return pumps back on.
6: The sump level will drop as the excess water is sent back to the display tank.
7: When the sump level stabilizes, mark that water level on the side of your sump. This is the maximum amount of water that you should ever have in there with the pumps running. Now, whenever there's a power outage, you know you have room for the drainage.

Hope this helps.

grunter_1 · 02/13/2008, 10:59 PM

Thanks beanoil, I'll give that a shot. I believe there are siphon breaks predrilled in return pipe for the Mega-Flows. I may end up having to reconfigure the whole sump as it's only a 20 gal. that I set up w/ baffles and such.
I guess I'm wondering what dictates how much water will drain once the pumps are down...is it just a function of how much water remains in all the tubing and hoses? Well good night for now and I check back later. Thanks again

02/13/2008, 08:33 PM	#1
grunter_1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warren, MA Posts: 24	Mega-Flow height adjustment Hi All, Does anyone have the skinny on how high the Dursa pipe (drain) is supposed to be set? I have a problem where if I shut off the power to the return pumps, I get drain back into my sump that would overflow it if I wasn't there to drain some of the water from the sump. Fortunately there hasn't been any power outages since I've had it set up... but we all know about Murphy's Law. I have a 125 AG w/ two Mega-Flows, both return lines (one connected to an external Quiet One 4000---1017 gph---and the other one connected to an in sump ViaAqua 3600---1057 gph---w/ a spray bar attached to bleed off excess back into the sump) have swing check valves attached. I just checked the water level in both boxes and on one side the level is approx. 3-1/2 " below the inner wall and the other is only 1-1/2" below the inner wall (hmnnn). Could it be that I have the one side set too deep so it drains back too much water into the sump? And if that's not the problem how do I prevent overflow in the sump if the power goes out? Any advice will be much appreciated. Thanks

02/13/2008, 08:59 PM	#2
beanoil Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: PA Posts: 336	The height of the standpipe only dictates how far water has to fall when entering your overflow box. I have the same Megaflow kit and have my standpipe extended as high as it will go. The less distance your water has to fall, the less noise. As far as avoiding a sump overflow, the simple answer is to leave enough room in your sump to allow for the drainage that you'll get during a power outage. Here's the easiest way to figure out how much sump room you'll need: 1: With the return pumps running, pump or siphon a bunch of water out of your sump into a bucket. 2: Turn the return pumps off to simulate a power outage. 3: Wait until the tank is done draining down the water in the return lines (MAKE SURE YOU'VE DRILLED SIPHON BREAKS!). 4: When it's done draining, put the water back in the sump that you pumped out in step 1, up until an inch or so from the top of the sump. 5: Turn your return pumps back on. 6: The sump level will drop as the excess water is sent back to the display tank. 7: When the sump level stabilizes, mark that water level on the side of your sump. This is the maximum amount of water that you should ever have in there with the pumps running. Now, whenever there's a power outage, you know you have room for the drainage. Hope this helps.

02/13/2008, 10:59 PM	#3
grunter_1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Warren, MA Posts: 24	Thanks beanoil, I'll give that a shot. I believe there are siphon breaks predrilled in return pipe for the Mega-Flows. I may end up having to reconfigure the whole sump as it's only a 20 gal. that I set up w/ baffles and such. I guess I'm wondering what dictates how much water will drain once the pumps are down...is it just a function of how much water remains in all the tubing and hoses? Well good night for now and I check back later. Thanks again