plumbing for water exchange

[sabor]

does anyone know how I can transfer water from my sump in a fish room to my bin which is located in the garage to host my rocks and flow it back to the sump? I am trying to figure it out, but am kind of stuck. Thanks.

 

[143MPCo]

Do you have an internal pump w/long hose you can use?

 

[sabor]

Do you have an internal pump w/long hose you can use?

I am using an external pump. My plan is to remove all the rocks in my tank and move it to the trash bin and allocate it in the garage and use a different type of rock for my scape. I was thinking about using 2 pumps to exchange it back and forth but someone told me that was a bad idea as the pumps do not provide the exact same flow rate.

P.S. I am trying to plumb it through the attic to the garage and back in the attic back to the sump so there is no expose piping.

 

[Mebeknob]

You’ll need to calculate the head pressure on your plumbing setup and make sure your pump can handle it.

They have online calculators to help you with this.

 

[Mebeknob]

I am using an external pump. My plan is to remove all the rocks in my tank and move it to the trash bin and allocate it in the garage and use a different type of rock for my scape. I was thinking about using 2 pumps to exchange it back and forth but someone told me that was a bad idea as the pumps do not provide the exact same flow rate.

P.S. I am trying to plumb it through the attic to the garage and back in the attic back to the sump so there is no expose piping.

What is the height difference for the tank and garbage can? You can use gravity and a pump instead of 2 pumps

 

[143MPCo]

but someone told me that was a bad idea as the pumps do not provide the exact same flow rate.

Well, they're right if you try that you'll more than likely NOT be able to sync the flow rates.

P.S. I am trying to plumb it through the attic to the garage and back in the attic back to the sump so there is no expose piping.

Online resource for calculating head loss.
Feature Article: Pump Head Loss Calculator - Easing System Design

 

[sabor]

What is the height difference for the tank and garbage can? You can use gravity and a pump instead of 2 pumps

my tank height is 4 ft off the ground and the garbage can will be on the ground in the garage. I am trying to plumb it to the attic which is about 8 ft from the ground up.

 

[SuncrestReef]

You could probably use two pumps connected to a controller and water level sensors, so if the water level gets too high in one or the other location, the controller could turn off or slow down a pump temporarily. But it really doesn't seem like a good idea.

 

[Mebeknob]

So you could do a siphon from the tank to the garbage. Then a pump back.

Issue1: if the siphon ever breaks you’ll have a flooded tank.

Issue2: you’ll have to reprime the siphon

A better option is two pumps and a controller like previously mentioned. Code it with float switchs so neither will ever overflow. I’d buy 2 quality pumps as well.

 

[143MPCo]

my tank height is 4 ft off the ground and the garbage can will be on the ground in the garage. I am trying to plumb it to the attic which is about 8 ft from the ground up.

It’s a little difficult to answer this question without seeing the layout of your tank in correlation to your garage, it might be as simple as drilling/punching a couple of wholes through an adjacent walls, running the tubing and a return to the display tank.