question on my pump..thinking of switching maybe..

[crazybizzle]

so im running a 1200 little giant submersible inside my sump right now but its loud as hell an driving me crazy. i have a l.g. 4 mdq-sc external laying around and thinking of trying that instead only prob is my sump isnt drilled.  is it possible to run it ouside with a line into the sump then oviously back thru my return?? or does it have to be drilled inline. gotta wait for some funds to get a better submersible

 

[phi delt reefer]

You would need to ensure the pump always had prime for I don't think it's self priming. So in a blackout u could burn out the pump.

 

[Neopimp]

Would ned to drill or use check vlaves ... BUT if the valve fails and the pump fills with air then the pump is bugered when it tries to start back up

 

[Blob-79]

I think it was pulpfiction that posted a picture of a setup using an external pump without drilling your sump, it looked promising as far as being power outage proof and keeping prime.

 

[pulpfiction1]

and worked flawlessly for years

 

[Blob-79]

should post him a pic

 

[pulpfiction1]

ill look for one,its simple setup

 

[pulpfiction1]

only pic i could locate,the setup is simple to build with pvc

 

[Duke]

can you explain how this setup works? all i see is a picture of the pump.. if you lost power this would drain back and allow air would it not?

 

[Blob-79]

basically the external pump is below the waterline of the sump. the intake goes from the sump, up and over and back down to the pump. then from the pump up to the tank. once you prime it once, even if the power goes out, the pump is below the water line, so as it siphons back, and starts to suck air, it will only fill up with air down to the waterline in the sump. on the output side only.

 

[Krazykarl]

Hmm... My wheels are turning

 

[pulpfiction1]

this is how to build it,the shorter section is up and over into the sump,the longer section gets connected to your pump intake,the longer (higher) section needs to be capped,you fill this side then cap it with air tight cap,if power goes out it will drain to the cross over so the pump side will always have water

 

[pulpfiction1]

this can be done with a mag pump as well or any pump with threaded connections

 

[Duke]

hmm im thinking about using a snapper for my return and was just going to take everything apart drain and clean the sump and drill it which is why i havent done it yet, it'd be a big job.. but if this is fail safe i think ill just go ahead and do this.

 

[pulpfiction1]

100%,you might need to insulate the pump.i mounted mine on 2x6 piece of wood

if you have any other questions,pm me and ill send a phone number

 

[Duke]

sweet, i think i get the idea, im working the next few days but this weekend im going to see if i can piece it all together and get started. do you think a reeflo snapper is too big to use as a return pump?, im planning on running 3/4" dual returns into the tank with with 1/2" locline tee's so there will be 4 exits total into the tank. im also going to add 3 more outlets on the return down in the sump so i can run other things without adding more pumps in the future but for now 1 will be used for my reactor at a fairly low flow. Sound like a good idea? right now the return pump im using is only like 500gph and probably more like 200gph after all the pumbing.

 

[pulpfiction1]

sky is the limit ,make a manifold,plumb 5-6 outlets,have one just to run back into the sump to relieve some flow to the rest if need be,run everything,even your skimmer if possible in regards to rate flow it might need

 

[crazybizzle]

sweet thanks phil i think ima have to try this

 

[pulpfiction1]

anytime,this is how i used to do it for years till i got over the fear of cutting and drilling glass