Originally Posted by
2Quills
http:///forum/post/3294872
It depends on how you're going to plumb it. If you plumb it like I suggested then, no. But if you go with the other alternative and have all of your drain water flowing through your sump then, yes. Reason being is because you are going to get some back flow when ever you shut off the return pump, so whichever tank is going to take the bulk of the extra water is going to need to have the head room to handle it.
You have to watch the back flow in any case. The refuge tank is just gravity feed the sump tank. In a power outage or a pump failer the refuge is not going to hold any more water then it does while its running. We are already filling it too its max, that's why its draining into the sump tank. Its the sump tank that will hold all back flow. Its the lowest point.
Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3294872
You're going to need to minimize backflow as much as you possibly can so I sugguest you do these 3 things.
1.) Install a check valve on your return line.
2.) Adjust your return fittings on the inside of the tank so they are at the surface of the water line when the tank is runnin. You may have to get a couple of new loc-line fittings to reconfigure it...but they're pretty cheap.
3.) The drain pipe inside of the overflow, I think I read earlier in the thread that it has holes drilled in it, is that true? If so then you need to replace it with a new piece of pipe and don't drill any holes in it. Cut it so that it's basically the same height at the bottom part of the slits/opening/teeth as the overflow....actually maybe about 1/4" below that.
IMO a check vavle is usless. Life grows inside of them and when you need it most they fail. You also must find one without any metal parts. Placing the returns as high as possile is the best thing you can do for the return line. Just far enough under water so they don't pull in air.
Getting rid of the small holes that may or may not be drilled in the drain, will help to stop the flow more soon. But it only needs to be raised if the OF makes any noise. Making the drain pipe taller will not help a back flow issue. Just the cascading water fall sound for it to get to the drain pipe, if it makes one.
