Redundancy in AWC

[Seadoc]

Hi all,
While I wait for the arrival of a RS Reefer, I am planning my water mixing station and AWC setup. As of now the plan is to have the mixing station in the basement right underneath the DT, using peristaltic pumps for taking OSW out of the sump and bringing NSW in. So, here is the question: Is there a possibility where the peristaltic pump will stop in a position that would allow continuous siphoning of water from the sump to the basement? If so, are there any measures that can be taken to prevent this from happening?

 

[GabeM]

You could have the pump at the sump just empty into larger tubing with air between them then go to the basement - really the simplest siphon break.

 

[reefwiser]

Which pump are you looking to use a Stenner or DOS/Maxi style pump? Generally these designs pitch the tubing securely enough that it would not do this. You see more of an issue when the pump out line is far under the water to the point that if say a fitting failed it could cause a sipon of water out of a tank. So proper positioning of the input and output lines so that the are not fully under water is a good safety decision.
While do and a AWC one thing you will still need to clean your tank inside on the bottom and picking up the detritus from the tank regularly so that is one line of maintenance you will still need to do.

 

[Reefpuck]

I have an AWC setup on my DOS....doesn't siphon. The only way it would start a siphon is if something breaks on the peristalic pump.

 

[Seadoc]

Which pump are you looking to use a Stenner or DOS/Maxi style pump? Generally these designs pitch the tubing securely enough that it would not do this. You see more of an issue when the pump out line is far under the water to the point that if say a fitting failed it could cause a sipon of water out of a tank. So proper positioning of the input and output lines so that the are not fully under water is a good safety decision.
While do and a AWC one thing you will still need to clean your tank inside on the bottom and picking up the detritus from the tank regularly so that is one line of maintenance you will still need to do.

Great. Thanks. So far my plan is either a DOS or a BRS 50ml/min peristaltic pump. Cleaning of the sump floor detritus will be done by suction with a return into a filter sock.

 

[Seadoc]

...The only way it would start a siphon is if something breaks on the peristalic pump.

That is what I am concerned about.

 

[Waters]

AWC, IMO are always going to be a gamble. I recently set one up on my system using the DOS and I love it.....so far lol. All it takes is for one of the pump heads to fail and it will be disaster....either continuous pumping of water out without new water coming back in or continuous water coming back in with nothing coming out. I have programming in place to catch changes in salinity but it isn't foolproof by any means. I also use a DOS to handle my 2part and those heads have failed multiple times so I am constantly monitoring the water change system.

 

[reefwiser]

Great. Thanks. So far my plan is either a DOS or a BRS 50ml/min peristaltic pump. Cleaning of the sump floor detritus will be done by suction with a return into a filter sock.

The BRS pump is too small not made for that type of work.