Sump location
- Thread starter Munch
- Start date
There's a lot of ways to do this, lots of variables and preference at play. If you plan your sump baffles so that 10 gallons can flow from your return pump without it running dry, then you could tap into the drain line and water changes would go pretty quick (by just valving off the return line then using the return pump to export the water change). Baffles could hamper this...which is why... I am a HUGE fan of baffle-less sumps. They let you do water changes of any volume (up to or greater than your sump volume), let you reconfigure your sump down the road without pulling it offline and cutting/replacing glass, etc. You can use eggcrate and zip lines to build platforms and set water lines, filter floss to get rid of bubbles and water line ripples, small rubbermate tote bins to contain DSBs etc. I think of baffle-less sumps as hot-swappable and reconfigurable on the fly. But that's just the way I'd do it.
NP. If you do put the WC line tapped off the return line, and shut off the return pump before starting the water change, then your sump will backfill with the transit volume (which will overflow your sump baffles), so you can expect that a WC using this method will drain the gallons in your return pump baffle plus your transit volume. You can roughly calculate this, but won't know for sure until the system is running. If this limits the WC gallons too much, you could always siphon the tank out with a gravel vaccum and 5G bucket once in awhile...old fashion way, but gotta the the gunk off the rock/sand every now and then...
I alsoi
I alsoi
Just seen this. First there is no way I would use a dart to go from the basement they just don't make enough head IMO. I use the dart to run our skimmer. Iwaki makes a good pump that is more than capable. If you wanted to go reeflo I think the barracuda would be more than enough. If you would like to look at our set up let me know. I have it so I can do water changes have a manifold to handle reactors and what not.
Hey guys, I'm back on the plum question. I'm running an ADHI sump, and thinking I want a dedicated bulkhead with valve to drain water. Any reason to do a side mounted bulkhead vs floor?
The bottom would essentially drain the sump if allowed, while the side would be 2" from the bottom, and thus unable to completely drain it.
Both pics are essentially looking down on the sump.
Both bulkheads on side near bottom, upper is to my pump, lower would be for drain.
[attachment=64814:name]
Drain on bottom of sump:
[attachment=64815:name]
The bottom would essentially drain the sump if allowed, while the side would be 2" from the bottom, and thus unable to completely drain it.
Both pics are essentially looking down on the sump.
Both bulkheads on side near bottom, upper is to my pump, lower would be for drain.
[attachment=64814:name]
Drain on bottom of sump:
[attachment=64815:name]
Re: Sump location
Tough one.....I like the fact that you could drain all the detritus and junk that settles on bottom of the sump, but for future resale might make an easier sale.
Although maybe if you had it on the side you could stick some flex hose and create a vacuum of sorts to vac the rest of the sump assuming gravity is already creating a suction.
Tough one.....I like the fact that you could drain all the detritus and junk that settles on bottom of the sump, but for future resale might make an easier sale.
Although maybe if you had it on the side you could stick some flex hose and create a vacuum of sorts to vac the rest of the sump assuming gravity is already creating a suction.