SUMP Question - Possible for the Water to reverse flow back to the submersible?

Hi

Quick question - I switched off my submersible last night that was sitting in my sump (under the tank) and when I woke this morning half the water was missing... (bascially up to where the return flow was in the tank)

Noty a problem as it has been setup in my garage as a test - But is it possible for your submersible to suck the water back out

Like... cause a reverse pump when switched off?

 

Hi Dangerousd

The water from the return gets sucked up via gravity into the sump make sure that your return pipe is not to deep in the tank that's what caused the water to full up your sump.

 

The return pipe (from the sump to the tank) should end above the tank water level. I use a spray bar 1 cm above water level.

 

thanks - I thought so... could you also get a one-way flow adapter (name?)? cause I have split my return
1 spray bar along the top and 1 along the bottom

 

Non return valve. Depending on the size of the pipe line (From pump to tank) might be difficult to find

 

I suppose the pump will never be off - but need the backup JUST incase.... 1200l tank - most of the water gone is not funny

.... my g-friend will kill me if that happens in the house

I say - " If you don't do anything you can't do anything wrong "

---------- Post added at 10:10 ---------- Previous post was at 10:10 ----------

Hey Slimpiet - another sump question - What do you use for your Over flow
Is your direct into the Plumbing? or protected by a glass divide?

I need to figire an idea out so dead plants / fish / debris dont get stuck in the plumbing (mine over flow is direct into the plumbing 40mm I think)

 

I have a side draining overflow, directly into the pipe. a 50mm 90 degree elbow going through the glass, curved upwards.
I do have some mesh around it to stop big things to enter the pipe (including fish). i will take photo tonight and post as I am at work now.

 

GREAT thanks... exactly what I'm thinking - just some mesh....

Can you take a photo of your sump as well... just want to check out how people are doing it
(I'm going with 3 plastic buckets) - will also post a pic when done!

 

Or just drill a hole or two in the return pipe just below the water line as a siphon break. Non-return valves can get clogged

 

nice... thanks -that's much better idea

KISS - keep it simple stupid - LOL

 

Your return pipe is obviously sitting too deep in the tank. Either lift it up and test it... so that when the pump is off, the water only syphon to the height of the pipe. This is why it is always advised to have an overflow section in your sump to accomodate for this water. And never sat never... during a power failure this will happen.

Research how to make proper overflow and return systems.... if it works properly, you will never have a problem. If it fails... you will be sleeping in that wet patch!

Don't rely on non-return valves. If they get just a slight bit of dirt in them, they fail... and we all know the amount of dirt that goes through these systems.

 

Here goes:



Hope it helps

Gert

 

Awesome - thanks a lot...

 

hey DD dont use non return valves, jams or doesnt work, plus it increases the head the pump needs to overcome. either raise the return pipe to just below the water surface, or if you want the return to be low down in the tank, then simply just drill a hole (2 is better for safety) in the return line just below the water surface, so if the pump fails or something the air will break the syphon and the water wont drain back into the sump. Also make sure that your sump is not too full so that the little water that does go back to the sump does not overflow. hope it all makes soem sense

 

Hey Linga - thanks... this is exactly whay I'm going to do... going to post a pic in 5 - maybe you can let me know what you think of the setup

 

I notice the dividers over which the water flows in your sump is too high and your sump will overflow when the return pump is switched off as the sump tank cannot handle the amount of water.
You can check how many litres will overflow when your pump is switched off by measuring the height of the water above the overflow pipe x length x width devide by 1000. then do the same for the sump but use the height above the highest devider over which the water flows.
Hope this makes sense.

 

If you get a chance - you can check out loads of pics / some detila I posted here : http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?5039-New-Very-Large-Tank-)&p=76743#post76743

 

guys if you just drill a small hole just below the water level there will be no back syphon, no need for the sump to house extra water ect.