Things I should know by now VOL II

[SnowManSnow]

Ok so i have a grip on the rocket science that is sump to tank plumbing.

Now for initial setup.

to get things running and to set the sump water level I do this?

1) fill main display tank to overflow teeth.
2) Fill sump to desired level, leaving room for any drainage that might occur if the pump were to go out.
3) start sump pump.

It should be that the exact volume that is being pumped UP to the display is the volume that drains right?

Once these things are set the levels should remain constant correct?

Thanks,

B

 

[Nautilus1]

The levels will remain constant in an ideal aquarium but the level in the sump will decrease with evaporation

 

[Anonymous]

You have the idea..heck I had to ask here how to do the same thing I'd never had a tank with a sump before :lol:. You may have to tweak the level in the sump a bit once its running.

 

[Anonymous]

>...It should be that the exact volume that is being pumped UP to the display is the volume that drains right?

>...Once these things are set the levels should remain constant correct?

No, but should be close. Thee is a small "dynamic" or "buffer" volume that will be pump up before the water is drain down at the same rate. In hydrodynamic simulation, this issue is "solved" by putting a "lid" on the water surface. For real life situation, you will see a slight rise in the tank water level, and subsequent decrease in sump water level.

 

[Anonymous]

yes and if you have a strong pump you'll want a high enough sump water level (assuming submerged pump) so that the pump doesn't suck down a column of air then ... BUBBBBBBBLES!!!

oh just FYI you might want to start naming your topics something a little more useful to the readers than "things I should know" type variants

 

[SnowManSnow]

haha everyone wants to know what i dont know

ill try

 

[dgasmd]

Pretty simple really.

1. Fill the sump to the max it would hold.
2. turn the return pump on.
3. wait for about 5 min. for things to equilibrate.
4. Make a mark on the side of the sump where the water level currently is.

That mark above is the highest maximum level to put water in the sump or system ever. Above that and the sump will overflow when the power goes out. As water evaporates from the system, the water level in the tank will be exactly the same, but the level in the sump will go down. Replace water, it does not matter where you put it tank or sump, to make the level in the sump come up again to your mark.

That is it.

 

[Anonymous]

K, NOW I KNOW WHY THEY HAD THAT MARK ON MY SUMP.. HEHEHE!

I really need to fill my sump alot more. Mine evaporates fairly quick.

Anyone know why.

100 ga, i think it evaporates 1/2 ga every 3 days.

That sound right?

 

[dgasmd]

1/2g every 3 days is nothing. Evaporation is a normal and common thing. Setting up a container with a little hose and a drip to "sort of" supply as much as you evaporate will keep things a lot more stable. Your salinity for one.

 

[SnowManSnow]

haha i evap over that on my 37 g reef 1/2 g is very little.

 

[Anonymous]

ok, just making sure that's normal!

 

[Anonymous]

I evap 5 gallons every three days or so.

heheh.

Fortunately, my sump volume is kept small, so I can let it get low enough to blow bubbles as a warning without effecting salinity too much.

Sump volume ~= 40Gal but is only filled to 20 gals.

System Volume = 150 + 90 = 240 Gal.

The pumps start to blow bubbles at about 5- 7 gallons low.

I have about 20 - 25 gallons of overflow protection in case of a power outage. Tested it a few times too 8O

 

[jdeets]

I evaporate anywhere from 4-5 gpd on my 180, which has a 29 gallon sump. That's where auto-top-off comes in. I still have to fill the reservior every day, of course, but the float switch keeps the sump level constant.