need experts! plumbing

[andrewfl]

need some help,i have three large tanks that i would like to put on one sump in my garage. my ? is how can i pull water to the sump and return equally to 3 tanks,all from the top of each tank. Some extra info,no basement FL, all on one floor, all plumbing to be run in cieling, to sump and back to three tanks ? each tank is about 600gal. thanks....

 

[mm949]

without trenching the floor its impossible.....

 

[andrewfl]

there must be some way? i know someone here can get creative! Im just to close to the project,can't think any more. Need some one to think outside the box.. must be a way?

 

[Theron]

Great, I love impossible problems.

Here is my idea. Place the sump in the garage up high above the tanks. The three tanks are at slightly different heights. Water is pumped from tank3 to the sump. Water from the sump gravity feeds tank1. Tank1 gravity feeds tank2 and tank2 gravity feeds tank3.

That is the best way I can think of that would be simple and reliable.

Theron

 

[andrewfl]

not bad but all my tanks are at the same hight,so equal water return needs to figured out better,also the skimmer would not work that way.ball valve ajustment..Also my ceiling hight is the same through the house 10'. All tanks stand at 7' tall. good start !!!

 

[Theron]

Ok, Then this is how I might do it. It will require some control systems.

Again sump is higher level than the tanks. Each tank is individually gravity feed from the sump. Each tank has a pump with a motorised gate valve. A control system with a sensor that monitors the tanks water level accurately and adjusts the gate valve to keep the water at a set level.

Also, safety system in place that if water gets too high close a motorised ball valve to stop the incomming water. If water gets too low then shutoff pump. Then wait awhile and try again or start backup pump, set alarm, etc.

Probably add some backup redundant systems to make sure nothing bad happens.

Theron

 

[andrewfl]

sounds good, that might just work. Where do i get the auto valves and what moniters them,how about the skimmer return?sump now would be much higher.

 

[Theron]

I am not sure where or if you can purchase the valves. I am assuming that someone makes a motorized gate valve. It would be monitored by custom controller. You might have to hire a control/automation company to create the controller. If you have the skills it probably could be done with some hobby controller. This setup will be expensive.

I see your problem with the skimmer. You could lower the sump and use a pump to supply the tanks. The controller would need to shut off the pumps when the tank level get high.

Unfortunately this is not an easy problem to solve and will require some expensive, possibly custom components.

Theron

 

[andrewfl]

each tank was set up with two overflo returns,what if i use some sort of billge system in the overflows like boats have to send water back to the garage,too asist the syphin efect? just thinking out loud.im stuck on syphon type system,maybe????