Basic Sump Design

[CroNiC]

I don't really understand how the third chamber works (the one with return pump)

Should my dividers be placed higher or something? And also to prevent an overflow I want to keep my pump near the surface water ... so how can I just get it to stand there? Maybe like connect it to a PVC pipe or something?

 

[ben1987]

my dividers are all the same level and it works fine. You could build a stand out of eggcrate to sit the pump on if you need to raise it though. Remember to use an anti-siphon on the return and id but some taps on the overflows so you can take the sump out of use if you need to

 

[CroNiC]

What do you mean build a stand out of eggcrates?? Just like stack eggcrates on each other and place the pump on there? Also I don't understand the whole anti-siphon part? It it like some type of wire connected to the pump?

What do you mean by taps on the overflows? I'm guessing a way to close the wholes so water doesn't enter the box?

O and do you think it's fine if the sump is glass rather than acrylic?

 

[xxBarneyxx]

What do you mean build a stand out of eggcrates?? Just like stack eggcrates on each other and place the pump on there? Also I don't understand the whole anti-siphon part? It it like some type of wire connected to the pump?

What do you mean by taps on the overflows? I'm guessing a way to close the wholes so water doesn't enter the box?

O and do you think it's fine if the sump is glass rather than acrylic?

Yeah just either build a box/stand out of eggcreate or do like you said and use a few bits of it stacked up.

For the anti syphon on the return basically you just need to make sure that if power is lost the water doesnt back drain down the return. There are a couple of ways to do this depending on how your return is setup. Personally I had my return just above the surface of the water so if it lost power it only syphons back what is already in the pipe and that is it.

For the taps, yes its a good idea to have taps on the overflows so you can adjust the flow rate into the sump or cut it off completely if you need to.

Its fine if the sump is glass.

 

[CroNiC]

Ok so anti-siphon basically means to prevent an overflow.
Yea I keeping it near the surface is probaly better (is it bad for the pump??)

Also how would this work for an external pump?

 

[ben1987]

You can buy an anti-siphon valve which is like a non-return valve. If there is a powercut and the return pipe is under the water in the top tank. The water in the pipe will run back to the sump. This iwll force tank water down the pipe causeing a siphon and a wet carpet if you dont notice. The anti-siphon valve will let water through one way. Or you can make a hole just on the water level which also does it but is less reliable.

For the overlfows i mean put an iscolation (sp) valve on the pipe work between the top tank abnd the sump so you can regulate flow or turn them off completely if you need to.

As for the eggcrate stand i would make a box out of it with cable ties. But i run my pump sat on the floor of the sump. Pumps dont like to be ran dry so you would have to be very careful with the whole evaporation thing having it on the surface.

 

[andywg]

I don't really understand how the third chamber works (the one with return pump)

This is the chamber that will have the water level vary as water evaporates. Have it too small and you will be constantly filling it up or even have the pump running dry. Always make it as large as you can. I now dedicate at least a quarter of the length of my sump to the return chamber.

Should my dividers be placed higher or something?

If you want to have a higher amount of water in the final chamber, have higher dividers. I try and keep mine about 2" from the top of the tank.

And also to prevent an overflow I want to keep my pump near the surface water ... so how can I just get it to stand there? Maybe like connect it to a PVC pipe or something?

How will having the pump higher stop the sump flooding? You need to have an anti syphon of some sort placed on the return, and adequate drain and a system that is not overfilled to ensure you don't have a flood.

You can buy an anti-siphon valve which is like a non-return valve. If there is a powercut and the return pipe is under the water in the top tank. The water in the pipe will run back to the sump. This iwll force tank water down the pipe causeing a siphon and a wet carpet if you dont notice. The anti-siphon valve will let water through one way. Or you can make a hole just on the water level which also does it but is less reliable.

The anti syphons you talk of are non return valves on plumbing. Many of these are not 100% rated meaning they admit on design that they will not stop all of the water from coming back. Drilling two or three holes at the surface (or just having the outlet above the surface) is far less likely to fail.