View Full Version : Power outage question/crisis
binaryterror
10/04/2008, 06:48 PM
My tank will most likely overflow my sump when the power goes out so what do you guys use to prevent this? Is there some sort of valve that will close when the power goes out or anything similar?
Rysam
10/04/2008, 06:52 PM
drill a small hole (1/8") in the return line just below the surface of the water to break the siphon when power goes out.
binaryterror
10/04/2008, 06:55 PM
Yeah but the overflow box will keep draining into the sump. That is the problem, the overflow box draining the tank alone will fill up the sump, let alone the time it takes to break the siphon for the return nozzles.
JCTewks
10/04/2008, 07:49 PM
If that is the case then you will have to redesign your system...If it were designed correctly, the sump would be able to handle the water in a power outage.
areze
10/04/2008, 08:41 PM
they make check valves, 1 way flow valves. but that wont help you because your overflow is strictly flowing 1 way. there is no valve that can cut off flow just because the power went out...
PERHAPS you could manage something with a solenoid that has a default closed position for when the power kicks it. but if it does exist Im sure it would be very expensive. redesign the sump is my guess also to reduce sump volume normally therefore leaving more room for when you lose power.
binaryterror
10/04/2008, 08:57 PM
The tank is 24x24 so I have like no room for anything bigger under there.
sjm817
10/04/2008, 09:08 PM
Which is what and how is it set up? A description of the setup would help.
If your tank is 24x24, that is 2.5G for every inch of water. If your display level drops 2" when power is off, you need to be able to hold and extra 5G in the sump. how much spare capacity does the sump have?
binaryterror
10/04/2008, 09:30 PM
The tank is 24"x24x24 60g cube. I only have about a 20" gap to fit something into the stand but the stand is 30" tall so I have height.
sjm817
10/04/2008, 09:31 PM
You dont have the sump set up yet?
binaryterror
10/04/2008, 09:38 PM
Nope I am in the process of setting up the whole tank.
sjm817
10/04/2008, 10:16 PM
Ok. The "Power outage question/crisis" part threw me. You can certainly design the system so that the sump will hold anything that drains back during a power outage. Not a problem at all.
I have the same (basic) sized DT and also have a tall stand.
I ended up finding a glass (AG) 15H which is the same footprint as a 10g but it is taller. There was supposed to be a 20extra high but I could not find one.
I don't know if your tank is drilled or not so I cannot offer anything there.
HTH
marcrunner
10/07/2008, 12:25 AM
you could always fit a bulkhead near the top of the sump with a hose to a remote resovoir. Then you could find an area to stick a 5 gallon jug with the hose going to it. This way when the water reached the top of the sump it would gravity drain into the jug. Or you could hook the return pump up tp a small battery with a trickle charger. Or retroactively buy a wet vac!
AZDesertRat
10/07/2008, 08:23 AM
Why does the overflow box drain, don't you have a standpipe in it? A standpipe will keep the level at the top. The other thing is you run the sump level low enough to contain a backflow, not clear to the top. My tank is a 100G and I only get a little over 3 gallons back down to the sump in a power outage, I can't imagine yours being any more than that if its set up properly.
Always design your system so you do not have to rely on things like drilled holes or check valves which will both fail and are a false sense of security. A standpipe in the overflow will keep the overflow full and returns close to the surface will maintain the tank level
binaryterror
10/07/2008, 08:32 AM
Well I plan on using a durso standpipe which will reach to the top of the overflow box. Is that what you are talking about?
AZDesertRat
10/07/2008, 08:37 AM
Yes, that way the overflow box will not drain. It will also operate much better and quieter. Without a standpipe you would get flushing action.
pelochas
10/07/2008, 09:07 AM
is this a standard U tube overflow box..if it is you may need to raise the overflow box if its possible. you have to check how high you need to adjust. what i did is i removed power to the return pump..let sump fill to a safe level then remove the u-tube, then adjust the box just a bit above the water level. you should be good then.
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