Sump Design. Comments Welcome

[Joe_P]

U may want to measure the space given for the connection b/w your bulk head to the iwaki pump. With the true union joint and so on, it may take more than the <10" that you allocated for it.. If i remember correctly, just a 1" true union joint is already ~4" long.

Planetg,

Chanbi is right regarding this.... do your measurements properly....

and give some allowances cos you might end up with the ideal sump setup without the ideal pump...

[bawater]

i think everybody covered all the points

but abt the top up-

Mine is abt that size- it can run 48hrs before it goes dry, but i don't have a chiller so evaporation is higher, yours should run a few days- 3 or more.

For long trips- make do with a big toyogo container or pail in front of the tank and transfer the float switch & pump there. (yes it may look ugly but your not around to see it)

[chanbi]

It may not be that bad for that size. Assuming it is 12"x7"x24", it should be able to hold ~31.5ltr. From what i see on a 4ft tank with 500W + chiller + 4 fans (not directly blowing on the water surface), the evaporation rate is ~5ltr a day. So should still be able to last you for a few days at least. And i once did exactly what Bawater's recomment!

Btw, do confirm your measurement again since you are almost filling up even inch of the available space. I have seen most cabinets with the 4 corners (the 4 main supporting beams) "eating in" 2 extra inches... Have fun!

[planetg]

thanx you joe, chanbi and bawater on the top up issue.

it looks like i will continue to use my plan but the backup will be a temporary big toyogo which can be placed outside for top up if my entire family is away for long trips. return reservoir wise, i'll go as large as my mesaurements can hold, of course with some space to spare here and there.

thanx for the tip on the measurement from bulk head to pump. i will definitely not get this wrong!

cheers.

[yazid]

haha. i know!

What if i have no choice but to utilise my sump for chiller input and output? what shd be my best plan?

A. Use a little pump to feed the chiller from the intake area and then output to the return reservoir. Shd be the ideal way right?

I use this method. A dedicate pump to the chiller and back to the  sump.  Intake  of the pump is after the input drain and the output of the chiller is near the intake of the return pump to the main tank. This doesn't cause the chiller to on/off.

B. Tee-off from Return to feed the chiller and output to the return reservoir. Because majority of the water is pumped up the tank, it shd be ok. However, Morgan mentioned that it may cause a frequent chiller on/off. I will have to agree with Prof. This will possibly cause on/off. Return reservoir to small and cool water is the intake to the chiller.

*arghhh*

[planetg]

yah man.

the more i think about it, i'm gonna dedicate a pump for the chiller.

Question:

if i have a pump at the intake chamber, shd i tee-off to feed skimmer and ca reactor as well since it's slow flow for both? or shd i tee-off the return for the ca reactor? actually it's a 'waste' to tee-off return for ca reactor right? that will mean i'll have only one pump submerged in the intake chamber.

i've rearranged my proposed set up with the following in mind

1. reduce elbow for return pump. it's possible becoz i have access via the side snap door

2. increased the size of return chamber to hold more water

3. reduced size of refugium as compensation to have larger return chamber

4. place top-up reservoir for easy top up and nearer to kalk reactor. there's also a possibility of a larger top up container if necessary.

what do you guys think?

[planetg]

Any other comments? especially the new layout?