Plumbing an external return pump without drilling?

[fragit]

Anybody ever done this? Can and does this work?

 

[jsker]

I think you might what to be more specific on your question. I would just drape the return over the tank edge.

 

[TheEngineer]

Like jsker said, you can go up and over. That's what I do on my 50g. I did the same thing on my reef-ready 75g before this too. Most reef-ready tanks only have two holes and I need both for a herbie style drain.

 

[fragit]

Yes guess I should be more specific. What I meant was the intake to the return pump at the sump. Instead of drilling a whole for the return pump intake can you go up and over the sump with pipe to feed the return pump? Like making a "straw" for the return.

 

[TheEngineer]

You can do that, but you have to make sure the pump can handle having to pull water uphill on the inlet.

 

[ed wicks]

You be better off just drilling hole in sump,plastic? Hole saw and bulkhead fitting,I did it to mine to add external protein skimmer pump.just dropped the water level.

 

[dbrewsky]

yes, you can plumb a up and over configuration to feed the inlet of your external pump if that is what works best for your needs. What kind of pump do you have?

 

[dbrewsky]

you may run into priming issues however with this set up

 

[TaylorPilot]

I would be very hesitant of the pump loosing its prime. Can I ask what the purpose of doing it this way is. If we understand why the sump can't be drilled, we may be able to find a solution to that for you.

 

[ed wicks]

Correct ,when you have a power outage pumps are not self priming

 

[mfinn]

Not a good idea. Not many pumps have the ability to prime themselves in that situation and risky in power outages.

 

[fragit]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! I knew the answer, but just wanted to see. The only reason I was thinking about it is that I didn't want to buy a hole cutter to drill my sump for one hole. But I guess in the grand scheme of setting up a solid system $30 is chump change right? Guess I will bite the bullet and order me a hole cutter! Thanks for the input every one.

 

[dbrewsky]

its worth it, and you will find yourself using it more than once if you keep reefing. Another option is to reach out to your local reef stores and see if they have one you can borrow and/or have cut for a fee.

Out of curiosity why the external pump? do you already have an external pump, space issues, heat?

I have done both internal and external and have gone back to internal with the advancements in dc pump technology.

 

[fragit]

its worth it, and you will find yourself using it more than once if you keep reefing. Another option is to reach out to your local reef stores and see if they have one you can borrow and/or have cut for a fee.

Out of curiosity why the external pump? do you already have an external pump, space issues, heat?

I have done both internal and external and have gone back to internal with the advancements in dc pump technology.

Head loss, sump will be in the basement about 15' to the DT. Haven't been able to find any submersibles that will reliably handle that with the turn over I'm looking for.

 

[dbrewsky]

gotcha, well good luck! I would put some silicone tubing between the bulkhead and pump to reduce vibration noise and strain on the glass in case things arent lining up perfectly or you accidentally bump the pump during maintenance.

 

[dbrewsky]

gotcha, well good luck! I would put some silicone tubing between the bulkhead and pump to reduce vibration noise and strain on the glass in case things arent lining up perfectly or you accidentally bump the pump during maintenance.

 

[joekool]

Reeflo Is very energy efficient and powerfull. Check out there site then shop around. I use a super dart/snapper gold hybrid and love it. no heat soak either. I understand you are going up 15' so I think these reeflo pumps are where you want to be. Worth every penny. TB aquatics seems to have realy good prices on them but I would still look around. some places almost double the cost. don't know why but they do.

www.reeflopumps.com

 

[fragit]

@dbrewsky any suggestions on a submersible that would do the job?

 

[fragit]

Reeflo Is very energy efficient and powerfull. Check out there site then shop around. I use a super dart/snapper gold hybrid and love it. no heat soak either. I understand you are going up 15' so I think these reeflo pumps are where you want to be. Worth every penny. TB aquatics seems to have realy good prices on them but I would still look around. some places almost double the cost. don't know why but they do.

www.reeflopumps.com

I'm leaning towards an Iwaki I was thinking reeflo for a while but have read in a number of places that eventually the seals go and the pump starts leaking. Where as the Iwaki don't.

 

[dbrewsky]

I dont have a lot of personal experience with high head pressure applications, however my suggestion is spend quite a bit of time determine what the best option is from a reliablity, efficiency, and noise perspective in that order.