Plumbing for auto water change

spbk84 · 01/25/2015, 11:30 AM

Hello,

Reef gurus! I am currently working on a garage conversion. I am making it into a living space for a 300 gallon aquarium. I really like the idea of a Stenner dual pump for auto changes. The tank will be on the opposite side of my laundry room where my utility tub is sitting. The copper lines and PVC are capped and almost ready to be tied in.

Some people suggested that I dump the water into the tub itself, but I rather not. Is there a special fitting I can purchase so the tank waste water can dump directly into the tub waste line rather than the utility tub itself?

Any guidance would be appreciated

Thank you

Goldndoodle · 01/25/2015, 12:00 PM

A simple T between the tub drain and the s-trap under the tub would do what you want. BUT ... you've got to be careful that water from the sink drain doesn't end up back in your tank/sump. A bucket full of mop water would do serious damage to your setup!

You need to make sure the sink is not higher above ground than your tank will be. Water follows gravity ... so if your sump is 2 feet lower than the drain for the sink, water is going to want to go to your sump/tank/pump.

If it's possible, I would not connect directly to the sink drain stack, but would connect to the main line that the sink stack goes to. Completely separate from the sink drain stack.

spbk84 · 01/25/2015, 02:13 PM

Thanks gold. That makes sense. What would be the best method to do so. Is there a connector I can purchase so I can tap right in or do I just drill into it?

Goldndoodle · 01/25/2015, 02:31 PM

Based on your original question and your response above ... I'm going to recommend you call a plumber!

Or, just dump your waste water in the laundry tub. Or plumb a pipe from the Stenner pump to your laundry tub, and have it auto dump the water into the laundry tub.

What you're asking to do is not as simple as drilling a hole in a pipe - which by the way is not easy to do! It requires taking plumbing apart, fitting pipes correctly so that they flow correctly, and putting it all back together without leaks.

And again, if the run is not done correctly - if the pipe pitches at all towards your tank/sump/pump - you'll end up with whatever waste water is being dumped into that laundry tub running into your tank/sump/pump (bleach, soap, unfiltered water, etc.).

It doesn't sound like you have a lot of experience doing plumbing, so ... call a plumber!

spbk84 · 01/25/2015, 02:33 PM

Thanks. That's what it's going to have to be. I didn't consider it back flowing into the tank heh.

01/25/2015, 11:30 AM	#1
spbk84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South jersey Posts: 248	Plumbing for auto water change Hello, Reef gurus! I am currently working on a garage conversion. I am making it into a living space for a 300 gallon aquarium. I really like the idea of a Stenner dual pump for auto changes. The tank will be on the opposite side of my laundry room where my utility tub is sitting. The copper lines and PVC are capped and almost ready to be tied in. Some people suggested that I dump the water into the tub itself, but I rather not. Is there a special fitting I can purchase so the tank waste water can dump directly into the tub waste line rather than the utility tub itself? Any guidance would be appreciated Thank you

01/25/2015, 12:00 PM	#2
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	A simple T between the tub drain and the s-trap under the tub would do what you want. BUT ... you've got to be careful that water from the sink drain doesn't end up back in your tank/sump. A bucket full of mop water would do serious damage to your setup! You need to make sure the sink is not higher above ground than your tank will be. Water follows gravity ... so if your sump is 2 feet lower than the drain for the sink, water is going to want to go to your sump/tank/pump. If it's possible, I would *not* connect directly to the sink drain stack, but would connect to the main line that the sink stack goes to. Completely separate from the sink drain stack. __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge

01/25/2015, 02:31 PM	#4
Goldndoodle Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Monroe MI Posts: 576	Based on your original question and your response above ... I'm going to recommend you call a plumber! Or, just dump your waste water in the laundry tub. Or plumb a pipe from the Stenner pump to your laundry tub, and have it auto dump the water into the laundry tub. What you're asking to do is not as simple as drilling a hole in a pipe - which by the way is not easy to do! It requires taking plumbing apart, fitting pipes correctly so that they flow correctly, and putting it all back together without leaks. And again, if the run is not done correctly - if the pipe pitches at all towards your tank/sump/pump - you'll end up with whatever waste water is being dumped into that laundry tub running into your tank/sump/pump (bleach, soap, unfiltered water, etc.). It doesn't sound like you have a lot of experience doing plumbing, so ... call a plumber! __________________ I don't want an "instant reef" ... I want a successful reef! 120G DT: dual Jebao WP25s, (3) 48" BML LED fixtures, APEX controller 50G sump: Jebao DC9000, Finnex 300 heaters, SCA Skimmer, fuge

01/25/2015, 02:13 PM	#3
spbk84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South jersey Posts: 248	Thanks gold. That makes sense. What would be the best method to do so. Is there a connector I can purchase so I can tap right in or do I just drill into it?

01/25/2015, 02:33 PM	#5
spbk84 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South jersey Posts: 248	Thanks. That's what it's going to have to be. I didn't consider it back flowing into the tank heh.