Pump Question (1 Viewer)

[Brad]

If I wanted to run a return pump externally but did not have my sump drilled can you plumb PVC from the return section of the sump, up and over the sump wall and have it feed into the pump?

My guess is no, becuase the pumps would not actually suck water up the PVC. Rather it must have the flow directly into it and it just pushes water.

Is that correct?

 

[ShaneV]

You can, but it gets ugly, when you have a power outage you will most likely have to reprime the PVC to get the pump to work again.

Could lead to a burned up pump

Do you have a glass or acrylic sump?

 

[decimal]

i have read that gravity will feed water through a 1" tube at 600gph (this was in reference to an overflow) but if a pump was hooked up to it, you can increase that amount. so i would say that a pump indeed sucks water. plus if the water has to go down on the other side of the sump it will equal out the amount of suction needed to lift the water ove the rim of the sump. so mount your pump at the same level as the sump and once all the air is out it should run as intended.

 

[AquaNerd]

if you decide to run it the way you described, you will constantly have to be paying attention to the water level. you won't have much room for evaporation.

 

[Brad]

The return section is on a auto-top off so I'm not worried about that. I was worried about the re-priming needs in the event of a loss of power. If the pump would not restart is own prime by sucking the water back out of the return section I would not do this.

My problem is that my return section is pretty small. I have a mag 7 that fits perfectly in the section with very little room to spare. I'm researching a replacement for the mag 7 and may just get another one (becuase it would be the easiest answer). It seems like most of the other return pumps (eheim, quiet ones, etc.) are all larger and would not fit.

I really don't want to take my sump apart, and out of my cabinet to get it drilled. But if I did... what are the advanteges as far as heat and noise of an external pump vs. an internal? I'd think they are signifiantly noiser.

 

[decimal]

i dont quite follow. i could be wrong, but i dont think water level plays a major role as long as the intake is underwater. i agree with shane that you might have some issues with having to reprime the pump in a power outage scenario, but since you are aware of it, it should be relatively easy to compensate by adding an air suction point that is easy accessible. if your only other option is tearing everything out and drilling, i would probably try the easier way first and see where that leaves me.

 

[decimal]

i dont even know if there would be a problem with power outages. in theory if the water drained backwards (because the pump is not working) wouldnt the sump level get higher and the return level out at the same level as the sump? if the pump is below that level, theoretically it should stay primed and not get any air in it. i say theoretically because i have not experimented or had that kind of setup before.

 

[ShaneV]

I have a feeling the falling water returning down the return line would drain back fast enough its going to get air in the line. I know when I unplug my tank theres quite a few air bubbles from my return line going back into my sump.

 

[AquaNerd]

yeah, if the power goes out or the pump is turned off then you will get air in the pump. the water rushing back into the pump will come back very quickly causing air bubbles to develop as Shane already stated. but if there is enough water pressure left in the pump you should be able to start it right up.

 

[Guest]

Hello,

I had the set up thet you described and as ShaneV said and gets rather discouraging even when I did water change and took me 10 minutes to prime the pump. Here is before and after of rerouting my return.
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb40/Lambianz/?action=view&current=Newpix004.jpg
http://s211.photobucket.com/albums/bb40/Lambianz/?action=view&current=reconfigure.jpg
It didn't take long to reconfigure the pump and drill the bulk head.

Lloyd, mobile#832-381-7008