Tank drain line question

[JakeK]

I have a question about drain and sump plumbing.

My new tank stand is 22 inches tall off the ground. The tank and stands were gifts. Old tank and stand no longer needed. The drain pipe extends out of tank by 6 inches meaning it is 16 inches off the ground. My sump will be an old 55 gallon that is 21 inches tall. This means my drain hose will have to go up over the top of the sump before it empties into the sump. I cant place the sump directly below the DT but i can put it right on the other side of the wall from the DT. Is having this set up bad? Said another way will i have problems with a drain line having to make an upside down U and go higher than the exit of the drain pipe?

 

[thegrun]

Why don't you shorten the drain line?

 

[ericarenee]

i would shorten that drain line some as well as get a Sump that is not so tall. It will be almost impossible to work on anything under there...

 

[BrettDS]

As long as the exit of the drain is lower than the start of the drain then you'll be fine... doesn't matter how many ups and downs you have in between. It could get complicated if the line goes up higher than the start of the drain pipe, but it sounds like that won't be a problem for you.

The only potential concern I can see would be to make sure the end of the drain line is firmly secured so it doesn't come out of the sump and start draining onto your floor.

 

[JakeK]

Even if i mount an elbow joint flush with the bottom of the tank i get a zero inch difference between top of sump and drain. Also the sump will be in laundry room and DT will be in finished basement on opposite side of wall from the laundry room.

So back to original question or do i have to buy a sump that gives me more clearance? Either it wont work, it will work just fine or it just isnt advisable because of reasons x,y,z.

Thanks.

 

[JakeK]

As long as the exit of the drain is lower than the start of the drain then you'll be fine... doesn't matter how many ups and downs you have in between. It could get complicated if the line goes up higher than the start of the drain pipe, but it sounds like that won't be a problem for you.

The only potential concern I can see would be to make sure the end of the drain line is firmly secured so it doesn't come out of the sump and start draining onto your floor.

BrettDS, thank you for the information. Your response was while i was responding to the other respinses so i didnt see it till afterwards. You are right that the drain exit will always be lower than the top of the drain. My main concern was issues with the drain exit being lower than the lip of my sump and having to push water up over that lip to drain into the sump.

 

[ericarenee]

Sorry i just assumed your sump was under the stand with no over head room..
If you can turn it drop into the sump it should work. I have seen people use elbows like that.
The other option would be to Build a platform and Raise the stand up a few inches. Maybe even a nice 2x6 box wrapped with 1x trim.... Then your issue would be gone..

option 2.. Drill the back of the sump(if it can be most 55 stand tanks are tempered from what i have read)

1..SO plumb as it and see how it goes. (will work if your return pump does not over power the drain

2.. Build a Raised platform for tank to sit on......

3. Drill the SUMP tank..... (check rather tempered or not) This will let you drop the return into the tank from its side or end a few inches or so down.


OPTION 2 Would be the best solution is what i am thinking....
even a 2x4 box painted to match stand would give you the clearance you need

 

[heathlindner25]

we actually use that method and it makes a very quiet drain, if I understand you correctly you're basically installing the P trap
this is actually a trade secret that if you run your drain line down below your sump and then up into it to drain,it will be dead quiet

 

[heathlindner25]

as long as the exit of the drain is lower than the start of the drain then you'll be fine... Doesn't matter how many ups and downs you have in between. It could get complicated if the line goes up higher than the start of the drain pipe, but it sounds like that won't be a problem for you.

The only potential concern i can see would be to make sure the end of the drain line is firmly secured so it doesn't come out of the sump and start draining onto your floor.

+1

 

[ericarenee]

we actually use that method and it makes a very quiet drain, if I understand you correctly you're basically installing the P trap
this is actually a trade secret that if you run your drain line down below your sump and then up into it to drain,it will be dead quiet

Yes

Until it gets stopped up..

 

[BrettDS]

Yes



Until it gets stopped up..

Yeah, but that's a potential issue for any drain. They aren't talking about restricting it, just running it down and back up.

 

[ericarenee]

Yeah, but that's a potential issue for any drain. They aren't talking about restricting it, just running it down and back up.

Detritus will settle in that trap.but I guess you could put a clean out in the bottom of it.

 

[JMorris271]

A caution;airlock

 

[ericarenee]

a caution;airlock

1+

 

[heathlindner25]

you can speculate all you want until you've set up a system using it,there's no Airlock there's no detritus build up,....

 

[heathlindner25]

If you don't want anything in the drain pipe you drill a 1/16 drill bit a quarter inch apart all the way around the circumference of the intake on the drain and lace it up like a tennis racket with some fishing line.