spill proof rsump refugium ????

[thomasp123]

I would like to start a dissusion on spill proof sumps and refugiums. I am in the process off thinking about the construction and need lots of input. Please post your thoughts and designs!

Tom

[das75]

In what way?

Never overflowed my sump and can't see how as have set up for when the power goes off, the sump has enough reserve volume that is can hold all that will drain back from the display and lines.

Haven't spilled anything from my fuge either. It's a separate 20g tank that sits above my sump and fed from a tee in one of the drains from the display. Outflow is from a standard coast to coast with a single 1" bulkhead. Guess there is a risk, though slight, could overflow on the floor if the single bulkhead became blocked. Any risk could be basically be eliminated by a backup bulkhead.

[thomasp123]

I am most conserned not with a power failure but rather a broken siphon or clog on the overflow box and the sump being pumped into the main tank and then overflow onto the floor. is this simple paranoia?

Tom

[kgross]

No that is not paranoia.

As long as you don't have an auto top off, it is pretty easy to have an overflow proof setup, you just make sure that the return section does not have more water than can fit into the tank in the event of a drain stoppage. Plus you have to make sure there is enough space in the sump to handle all the drain down water in the event of a pump failure

This is the simple way but you might have to to topoff daily to keep the system working correctly. If you want to do some work, you can use float switches to make the same thing. Mount a switch in the DT (2 for safety), that will turn off the return pump if the water level goes to high. Have this either run a relay that you will have to manually reset, or a timer reset so the pump does not get turned on and off quickly. With out the relay the pump will turn off when the water level gets to high, but as soon as it stops water will drain back down the return, allowing the pump to get turned back on. It can come on and off every few seconds which is very bad for the pump. If you put it on a timer, have it set to start up again after 15 minutes or longer, that way you help keep the DT with water movement, as well as the sump and it will not burn up the pump by turning it on and off multiple times a minute.

Kim

[Esquare]

float switch in the DT?

[kgross]

Yes you would put the float switch in the DT so that it turns off the return pump before the display tank overflows.

Kim

[thomasp123]

Kim where would I get such a switch and timer?

[thomasp123]

I have planned a high baffle plate in the sump so the pump can only pump out the water on the pump side of the baffle. this of course makes a new problem with top off required often. so I like this switch idea as a safety net. On a side note a friend told me that silicone glue will not bond to plexi glass. does anyone have any experience with this?

Tom

[das75]

If your using a overflow box then there's reason to be paranoid where as if you had a drilled tank with an internal overflow chamber, or notch your tank for a external overflow no worries as there's no siphon to loose.

As it sounds like your in the planning stage should really consider a drilled tank though (ideally for a silent Herbie design). There's switches to fail, timers to crap out etc.

If you must use a overflow box, look into having a small pump (Aqualifter or even a venturi hookup on a PH) connected to the top of the U-tube to help maintain the siphon.

[thomasp123]

das please explain further what is a PH? how would this pump be connected?

Tom

[das75]

PH-power head such as a MJ1200 have a venturi attachment. You can run a line from the attachment to the top off the U-tube to draw out any air that might build up and cause a break in the siphon.

[thomasp123]

ohh that is cool. I need to see about that.