Sump drain and gravity question

[dfm34]

I am contemplating upgrading and moving my tank to the basement. I want place the tank next to a room that would hold my sump and equipment but I can figure out how to properly get the tank to drain to the sump. My plan is to have the sump in the next room about 4 feet away but it is on the same level as the display tank so it can't gravity feed because it is lateral to the tank. Anyway this can be done??!

Thanks in advance.

 

[W1ngz]

As long as the water level in the sump is lower than the display tank drain, the water will flow into it.

With more details on your drain type people can make better suggestions. Drilled sides? bottom drain and overflow? Siphon overflow box?

 

[SFish]

U would have to run two pumps. One to fill the sump and one return.

 

[dfm34]

U would have to run two pumps. One to fill the sump and one return.

If I run the two pumps would they be equal size. I am looking at doing a 180 gal could you suggest the pumps??

Thanks

 

[gone fishin]

Running 2 pumps would be difficult they would need to balanced so the input equals the output constantly.

Why not just lower the sump?

 

[dfm34]

Running 2 pumps would be difficult they would need to balanced so the input equals the output constantly.



Why not just lower the sump?

I was looking to put the sump in a different room which is on the same level as the display tank.

 

[Xtc_link]

Put the display tank on a stand of any kind and put your sump on the floor.

 

[gone fishin]

I have my DT in the basement in my fish room and my sump is in the next room on the floor. same wall just opposite sides.

 

[Xtc_link]

If the display is on any kind of stand at all it should at a higher elevation then the sump. Drilled tank?

 

[dfm34]

The tank will be drilled if the drain comes down makes a 90 degree turn and goes 4-5 feet to the next room will the gravity be enough to feed the sump

 

[gone fishin]

I do not have any problems I have a similar setup. I used spaflex hose coming out of the drains through the wall and then into the sump with some 90's on the end. The hose lets you get some very gentle turns. forgot to mention I put unions on after the drains then the hose.

You can find it at depot, lowes, or menards. It can be glued just like regular PVC.

 

[E46Twist]

I am a little confused as to the situation. So is the tank going on the floor, or is there a ledge on both sides the tanks are setting on? Physics is a great thing, as long as the sumo has a lower water level it will drain fine. As for worrying about gravity not being enough for your drain, it won't matter how many feet away it had to flow. Your RP will be effected though

 

[SFish]

Running 2 pumps would be difficult they would need to balanced so the input equals the output constantly.

Why not just lower the sump?

Could use two pumps that you can adjust the speed on.

 

[SFish]

He could also drill the hole going through the wall on a slight angle but it doesn't sound like he needs to.

 

[billdogg]

Physics is Physics. If the 2 tanks are vat the same level, so will the water. Using 2 pumps WILL end in a flood, it's just a matter of when. Even 2 identical pumps will eventually flow at different rates, and unless you are there to monitor them 24/7/365 that idea will fail.

The only way you can use a gravity fed sump is if said sump is below the main tank. It does not matter if it is directly below or 20' across the room, as long as it it lower than the tank that is draining to it, but it MUST be below the DT.

My Basement setup consists of a 150DT, a 120 refugium, and a 50 sump. The refugium and DT sit at the same level but are separated by a wall. The sump sits under the fuge. The return pump feeds both the refugium and the DT through a manifold, gravity does all the work getting the water back to the sump. There really is no other way that I am aware of.

 

[W1ngz]

I'm totally confused, and believe others must be also, by this thread.

For this to be a problem one of these must be true, and is easily fixed:
-Either the Sump and Display are on the floor or;
-The sump and display are on stands.

The same "level" doesn't need to mean the same floor of the house, in the event that this is the mis-communication that's happening here. You don't need feet of separation between the upper level of the water in each tank, just inches. More inches means more flow, but even so much as one inch will cause water to flow from the high to the low.

The OP really needs to specify the relative height of the water in each tank. Not the bottom of the tank, not the rim of the tank.

The height of the water, in relation to each other is what will determine the flow. This will be true regardless of whether the tank is drilled on the bottom or sides, and regardless of the height of the tanks.

 

[SFish]

Physics is Physics. If the 2 tanks are vat the same level, so will the water. Using 2 pumps WILL end in a flood, it's just a matter of when. Even 2 identical pumps will eventually flow at different rates, and unless you are there to monitor them 24/7/365 that idea will fail.

I disagree. With two pumps that you can adjust the speed on the tanks don't have to have the same level in them. If the output is faster then the input the sump will run lower. Also if the pumps run at the same speed you won't have an over flow the level will stay the same in the sump. As far as drift in pump speed you could calibrate the pumps and use flow meters. Level sensors could be used to prevent over flow and stop the pumps. A computer could monitor the system the same way people use computers to track PH and ect. The only way your going to run with two tanks level is by using pumps. Trying to say it has to be below is a load of BS. It's 100% a better set up but it does not have to be done that way. You don't have to gravity feed all systems. In fact most places that use tanks with liquid don't.

 

[dfm34]

Sorry for all the confusion the tank will be on a stand aprox 36" above the sump. The sump will be in the next room 4-5 feet away but below the Dt. My ignorance is telling me the water will drain hit the 90 degree turn and start to back up and not move the 4-5 to the next room.

 

[W1ngz]

Sorry for all the confusion the tank will be on a stand aprox 36" above the sump. The sump will be in the next room 4-5 feet away but below the Dt. My ignorance is telling me the water will drain hit the 90 degree turn and start to back up and not move the 4-5 to the next room.

If the water line in the DT is 36" above the sump water line, then the water will always flow to the lower water line. This is true, even if your plumbing forces the water to flow upward a few inches, so long as the water line in the sump is below that of the DT.

Flowing the water upward WILL reduce the flow rate, but I guarantee you, it will still flow.

Edit: This will remain true so long as the plumbing never travels higher than the waterline in the DT. I can't imagine why that would happen, but...

 

[SFish]

You can pump the water any way you want and not have it over flow in the sump. You could set it up to pump 90• if you wanted to. We do that with some of the tanks at my job where the pipe on the out put is straight up. It's just a ? Of money and setting up the system right.