Reactor Plumbing

[cjrudy]

Current I feed my gac & gfo reactors from a pump in the sump right next to my protein skimmer. The effluent goes to the return section of the sump.

I'm building a new basement sump which will utilize an external pump and I'm thinking about how to plumb the reactors. Do I set it up the same way or can I feed the reactors using the external pump maybe off the return line. This would eliminate the need for the additional pump.

Any thoughts ?

 

[fragmatic]

I would think if your tank is in a room above the basement you would have plenty of pressure from the drop to branch off a portion of your return from the overflow and route it through your reactors.

I would run each and every reactor off a separate branch and a valve (ball valves are dirt cheap) between the branch tee and the reactor to control the flow or shut it off. My GFO and Carbon are plumbed together and at some point I'm going to separate them because I can't run them one at a time. And that is a PITA to me.

If you place a large ball valve near your sump in your main flow back from the overflow, you can then carefully control the back pressure to encourage flow through those branches. Just be sure never to close it enough to cause a back-up in the display upstairs. I would place a valve in the return from the sump to the tank too so you can isolate them. Be sure to have a branch of the pumped water to the display that will suck air if you have a power outage. I have small "fountains" at my nozzles over my tanks so I can monitor that they are working and know they will suck air instantly in a power shortage so I don't flood my sumps.

 

[cjrudy]

I would think if your tank is in a room above the basement you would have plenty of pressure from the drop to branch off a portion of your return from the overflow and route it through your reactors.

I would run each and every reactor off a separate branch and a valve (ball valves are dirt cheap) between the branch tee and the reactor to control the flow or shut it off. My GFO and Carbon are plumbed together and at some point I'm going to separate them because I can't run them one at a time. And that is a PITA to me.

If you place a large ball valve near your sump in your main flow back from the overflow, you can then carefully control the back pressure to encourage flow through those branches. Just be sure never to close it enough to cause a back-up in the display upstairs. I would place a valve in the return from the sump to the tank too so you can isolate them. Be sure to have a branch of the pumped water to the display that will suck air if you have a power outage. I have small "fountains" at my nozzles over my tanks so I can monitor that they are working and know they will suck air instantly in a power shortage so I don't flood my sumps.

That's a thought, although I also be feeding a fuge from the drain, not sure if there will be enough for all three

 

[fragmatic]

That's a thought, although I also be feeding a fuge from the drain, not sure if there will be enough for all three

Well, I feed my two fuges from my sump off a pump they share. Actually I feed my fuges and reactors off that pump with flow valves to each.

So, you may consider feeding the fuge with a pump in the sump.. and the reactors off that one too. This will KISS the project. (Keep It Simple Stupid).

Being you are overflowing from above, keeping that plumbing to the sump simple and clean with nothing but unions and shut off valves may have serious maintenance value.