Avoiding the Floods

[olsenjb]

I want to build a refugium/sump for my 55 reef. I will purchase an overflow box, and most likely a mag drive return pump. I keep reading terrible flooding stories. Obviously, I want to avoid this. It seems to me, if the power went out, water would continue to drain to the sump until the water level in the main tank was sufficiently low to break the siphon. So, to avoid the sump overflowing, I assume you just insure there is enough room in the sump to handle the additional volume? Now, if the siphon breaks, and the return pump continues to pump water back to the tank, then I assume the floods come? Unless, if the sump is small enough, the main tank could hold the volume in the sump? Could you raise the submersible return pump up off the bottom of the sump, so that it couldn't pump the entire volume of the sump back to the tank? Are there return pumps out there, that if they run dry, are not ruined? At this point, I am rambling, but any help/suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[a&m aggie 04']

Well as far as the overflow in concerned, when the water level drops to a pt. that breaks the siphon no more water will enter the sump. So if the sump can handle that amt of water you should be okay. My thoughts say that if the power goes out the return pump shouldnt be pumping any water back into the main tank since it needs power to run.
I do believe that the Mag Drive series is either submersible or In-line but you might want to check more on that.
HTH, Mark

 

[mr . salty]

There are a couple tricks to keep this flooding from happening.#1 is to drill a small hole(1/8-1/4") just below the waterline of the main tank in the return line.This way when power is lost the syphon will break as soon as the water level in the tank reaches this hole...Second is to keep the water level in the sump low enough to accomidate this back syphon..This is easily figured out by simply unplugging the pump and watching the level in the sump...As far as pumps go,I use(and highly reccomend) the QUIET ONE by rainbow/life reef. This pump has run dry on me four or five times over the years and is still performing as new...They are also the quietest pumps on the market...

 

[pbuckler]

First, you could get a battery backup for your return pump. I just bought one and two days later the power went out for 3.5 hours and the battery lasted for 2. I was glad it lasted as long as it did. Or you can get a check valve from Lowe's, you just have to make sure you have enough pressure from your pump to open the valve. The check valve keeps water from creating a siphon if the power goes out