tank overflow prevention?

[untamed]

Originally Posted by cwickham

that would work, but id like to keep the same amount of flow, just reduce how fast it flows from the main tank to the sump

That's impossible. Water always flows to the sump at the same rate it is pumped out of the sump. If something prevents this from happening, you have overflow.

[cwickham]

Originally Posted by untamed

That's impossible. Water always flows to the sump at the same rate it is pumped out of the sump. If something prevents this from happening, you have overflow.

water doesnt have to flow back into the tank as fast as its pumped up, you can restrict it to find a good balance between over flow and the perfect level.



I agree with all of you that restricting the overflow is a dangerous game, and eventaully will get clogged. I think im just going to build an electronic shut off. water gets to high for any reason, pump turns off, water drains out pump turns back on. Probably be the easyiest solution.

thanks for all your comments

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by cwickham

water doesnt have to flow back into the tank as fast as its pumped up, you can restrict it to find a good balance between over flow and the perfect level.

For all intents and purposes it does (have to flow from the display tank at the same rate it is pumped to it by the return pump). If it didn't you'd either slowly (or quickly depending upon the disparity) overfill the display tank --> too much water in the display tank --> wet floor.

The most efficient and economical solution is to add another emergency drain line a la the Herbie method.

[mark]

Originally Posted by cwickham

water doesnt have to flow back into the tank as fast as its pumped up, you can restrict it to find a good balance between over flow and the perfect level.



I agree with all of you that restricting the overflow is a dangerous game, and eventaully will get clogged. I think im just going to build an electronic shut off. water gets to high for any reason, pump turns off, water drains out pump turns back on. Probably be the easyiest solution.

thanks for all your comments

Seems a lot easier just to make a two standpipe Herbie, sort out a Durso or other, or even just reducing the flow into to tank. As for electronic control, switches etc fail and still might come back to a flood or if you loose flow long enough to a dead tank.

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by cwickham

water doesnt have to flow back into the tank as fast as its pumped up, you can restrict it to find a good balance between over flow and the perfect level.

Yeah it does.... if it doesn't, like mentioned, you will slowly overflow your tank.

Yeah you can have a float switch that shuts off your pump... but once the drain gets a little backed up your pump going on and off ever few minutes. Not sure why you would want that

The only reason why you put a valve on you drain is to reduce air in the line... ideally the water flow should stay the same... unfortunately it is almost imposable to achieve this which is why you need a back up drain.

[Doug]

This is my take on this topic, so take it for what its worth.

1. I would never valve a drain.

2. I would never use a check valve.

3. Make the drains large enough to handle any volume or two drains or use an overflow drain as many have suggested.

4. Use a herbie, duraso or stockman overflow, to silence them.

Sumps & overflows are a very simple thing to not complicate and make them fool proof.