Plumbing in a Frag Tank

[JGT]

Looking to plumb in a frag tank to my main DT sump. Sump is in basement. Frag tank will be in basement near DT sump. DT is one flight up. Tricky part is the frag tank will be lower than the DT sump as I have the sump at eye level for ease of maintenance. Looking for some ideas on the best way to handle this. Thanks.

 

[Alex Cataldo]

Looking to plumb in a frag tank to my main DT sump. Sump is in basement. Frag tank will be in basement near DT sump. DT is one flight up. Looking for some ideas on the best way to handle this. Thanks.

Run a second return pump with lower power since the tank is smaller

 

[JGT]

Normally that would be a simple way to go but my DT sump is above the height of my frag tank so gravity is going to be an issue.

 

[Derrick0580]

Won’t work due to gravity and siphoning when you turn the pumps off. Best option is to raise the frag tank up so it’s slightly higher than the sump.

 

[JGT]

Won’t work due to gravity and siphoning when you turn the pumps off. Best option is to raise the frag tank up so it’s slightly higher than the sump.

Yeah, that’s the challenge. DT sump is about 4’ off the ground so the frag tank would look like it’s on stilts.

 

[Derrick0580]

Only need it 1” higher than the water level in the sump! Is there any way to lower the sump some?

 

[JGT]

Only need it 1” higher than the water level in the sump! Is there any way to lower the sump some?

I’d have to redo the table it’s sitting on as well as the plumbing. Would be a real PITA. Gonna have to come up with another alternative.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’d have to redo the table it’s sitting on as well as the plumbing. Would be a real PITA. Gonna have to come up with another alternative.

Can you put a pump In the frag tank and pump up to your sump? Gravity siphon back to the frag tank.

You don't need much water exchange, get your flow from power heads in the frag tank.

 

[JGT]

Can you put a pump In the frag tank and pump up to your sump? Gravity siphon back to the frag tank.

You don't need much water exchange, get your flow from power heads in the frag tank.

Yes, to get the water back from the frag tank to the sump. Think that’s about the only option.
But I don’t like the idea of gravity feed back to the frag tank though. If the frag pump dies or if there’s a power outage my whole DT could drain into and obviously overflow the frag tank.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

Yes, to get the water back from the frag tank to the sump. Think that’s about the only option.
But I don’t like the idea of gravity feed back to the frag tank though. If the frag pump dies or if there’s a power outage my whole DT could drain into and obviously overflow the frag tank.

Sounds like two pumps and optical sensors..

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I wasnt thinking overflowing the frag tank how much does you sump back up now with a power loss? How about a second empty tank next to the frag tank that will catch overflow, and have an float switch and pump in the overflow tank that pumps back when power restores.

 

[JGT]

It takes the overflow of my DT and that’s about it. Not much room for another tank overflow. The extra tank, float switch and pump could work. Just getting more complicated than I wanted..

I do have a manifold on my DT sump that my main return pump is tied into. So maybe run one of the manifold ports to the frag tank and have a small pump in the frag to bring it back to the main sump. Power outage both pumps go out so nothing drains.