Has anyone ever?

[jfl14609]

Ok as many of you know tank is in the garage and now I have about 500 different ideas of how to do this. Has anyone had a return line drop to about a foot off the ground then raise up to about 2 foot of the ground to get into a sump. I am thinking the weight of water would be more than enough to do this as the display will still be much higher. I am thinking this will cause some back pressure in the line and possibly slow the flow a little but has anyone actually tried it?

 

[Willistein]

As long as your glue joints are good, it will work. There will be increased pressure in the lower pipe, but the flow will be the same minus a small amount of head loss from the additional elbows and pipe. You thinking of going under the living room?

 

[jfl14609]

i am actually trying to figure out a way to move the fishroom into the corner of the garage where I can make the room wider but would have to drop under the door then back up to get into the sump

 

[Willistein]

I guess I like the idea of an in wall for equipment reasons. You wouldn't need a finished looking stand, just a 2x4 one. You wouldn't need a canopy - just hang the lights and you're done. Just a picture frame on the wall with a couple doors for access.

I think you do want a sump room that has space to move around in though...

 

[jfl14609]

yeah thats the problem I hat the 6 inches behind the tank I mean no matter what I will need a step ladder to get into the tank from behind that that will really cramp my style maybe some type of a catwalk but then it cuts access under the stand I wish my wife would just park on the other side of the garage haha

 

[museumguy]

Our big tank has the plumbing set up very similar. At one point water from the overflows drop about 2 feet below the point where it enters the sump. Definately limits your flow a little bit but shouldn't be a big issue. Definatley use spa flex for this.

 

[Haffs09]

Sounds good to me.

Your flow should be the same whether your return is a direct shot to your sump, or if the line drops down 100' below the sump before dumping into it (as long as the discharge point is the same in both cases). It's Bernoulli's principle at work!

 

[Willistein]

Pressure is a function of depth from surface, and flow is a function of change in pressure.

 

[pascal32]

Would this cause a siphon effect which will be oscillating resulting in changes in sound and possibly water level based on the speed of the return?

 

[jfl14609]

I just re read my post I should mention I meant the line coming from the overflow to the sump I call it the return most call the line coming from the pump the return sorry about any confusion. I got a few pms where people were confused

 

[Haffs09]

Still looks good. In my OP, I should have included the flow in the 100' example will be slightly less due to pipe and fitting losses.

Have you considered what you would do if something got caught in that lower section. It's probably unlikely, but still something to think about.

 

[Willistein]

I know someone that did this. He ran an overflow line under his floor and back up through the floor in a room 15 feet away. The only thing that matters is the difference in height. The losses you get from plumbing parts and the pipe itself are the "minor head losses." If you size the pipe right and don't have tons of elbows it should only restrict the flow 10-20% maybe.

This will 100% work fine. trust me. Ha!

 

[jfl14609]

Still looks good. In my OP, I should have included the flow in the 100' example will be slightly less due to pipe and fitting losses.

Have you considered what you would do if something got caught in that lower section. It's probably unlikely, but still something to think about.

if anything got caught luckily there are two return lines

 

[Haffs09]

Extra protection is great!