Plumbing suggestions...

[Dom]

So I have a sump that I'd like to put to use on an un-drilled tank.

The plan is to secure an overflow box in the corner of the tank. Then using 3/4" PVC, fabricate a drain pipe that goes from the sump, up the back of the tank and hooks over into the overflow.

If ever there was a power failure, the siphon would continue only until the water level in the overflow drops down below the siphon.

My question:

Can anyone think of a way to restart the siphon when necessary?

Dom

 

[WVNed]

The trick is to always have water in the section over the wall of the tank. You would make the back section just like a DIY PVC overflow
like this

The rear section (on the right) breaks the siphon down to the sump and leaves the water in the section over the wall of the tank.
When water enters inside the tank it overflows down the drain behind the tank.

 

[Mastiffsrule]

Not sure,100% what you are looking for, but check out the aqualifter pump. I think that is what you want.. They are used a lot on HOB

 

[Dom]

Not sure,100% what you are looking for, but check out the aqualifter pump. I think that is what you want.. They are used a lot on HOB

The whole idea behind this is to make use of what I have and not spend.

 

[Dom]

The trick is to always have water in the section over the wall of the tank. You would make the back section just like a DIY PVC overflow
like this

The rear section (on the right) breaks the siphon down to the sump and leaves the water in the section over the wall of the tank.
When water enters inside the tank it overflows down the drain behind the tank.

This is an interesting idea...

Why the clear peace of tubing? Why couldn't I use PVC in that section?

Also, the piece behind the tank... there is a "T" connector with one side open and facing up. What is it's purpose?

 

[WVNed]

The clear piece allow you to see if air is in here and verify the flow. It has nothing to do with how it works.

The way this works uses a siphon only in the section of pipe over the side of the tank. It always stays there once it is started even if no water is flowing. The tee at the back breaks the siphon by allowing air to enter the drain there. If your return pump stops the water in the pipe going down to the sump drains out but water stays in the section over the side of the tank. As soon as water starts entering the overflow again the water raises in the back to the tee and starts going down to the sump again.

The tee on the back is doing the same thing the rear box of an external overflow does.

 

[New Jersey REEF]

Aqua lifter

 

[WVNed]

External overflows work fine without an aqua lifter

 

[Dom]

Aqua lifter

Wow.... thats impressive! Maybe I will spend a few dollars after all! LOL

 

[ca1ore]

Man that all seems unnecessarily complicated. Is the tank tempered, if not just grind a hole. Easy and cheap.

 

[Hemmdog]

Drill the tank

 

[cracker]

An hob drain would be compact & dependable . I used more than one over the years & never had a siphon failure . However it could happen. Drilling thru the back & installing and overflow is about as safe as one can make it .
More $ though.

 

[Dom]

Man that all seems unnecessarily complicated. Is the tank tempered, if not just grind a hole. Easy and cheap.

I just replaced the bottom after shattering it while drilling. It was tempered, but there was no indication on the tank. The new bottom is not tempered, and yes I could drill it. But I don't want to drill it.

 

[Dom]

This is just a "see if I could" project.

 

[Dom]

OK... so this is what I've put together. And I must admit; I do't understand how this thing works. Once installed, how is it primed to start the flow of water??

 

[WVNed]

Go to 2:20

It is somewhat important for you to understand how this works so you don't flood anything.
With DIY one size doesn't fit all.

 

[Dom]

Drill the tank

I don't want to drill this tank.

 

[Dom]

So I've finished building the PVC overflow using 1/2". I'm disappointed.

It works, but the flow of water only trickles out when I expected the flow of water to be the diameter of the 1/2" PVC.

Is it my build?


I did notice other examples of the build are deeper in that the PVC length on the inside and outside runs almost the entire height of the tank. Is that the issue here?

 

[DerekC]

Drill the tank. It is not hard.
I did the DIY king overflow and added aqua lifter, and various float switches to my apex to prevent overflow a few years back when I set up my tank. Aqua lifter failed 2 - 3 times over the past 2-3 years (algae or detritus inside, or simply dead), then the float switches gave false alarms (connections getting corroded, snail on the float etc.). Every time alarm went off, I have to troubleshoot because it is just not "KISS".
Drill the tank and "KISS".

 

[DerekC]

Drill the tank. It is not hard.
I did the DIY king overflow and added aqua lifter, and various float switches to my apex to prevent overflow a few years back when I set up my tank. Aqua lifter failed 2 - 3 times over the past 2-3 years (algae or detritus inside, or simply dead), then the float switches gave false alarms (connections getting corroded, snail on the float etc.). Every time alarm went off, I have to troubleshoot because it is just not "KISS".
Drill the tank and "KISS".