Common Level Remote Sump

whatevva · 07-10-2006, 02:01 PM

I'm toying with the idea of adding a tank in the family room in the basement. I'd like to have a 100 gallon common sump in a wet room that's located about 25 feet away. I know that I'd have to pump water in both directions and this just seems to be a recipe for disaster. Has anyone done this with any success?

reefBoyDc · 07-10-2006, 04:57 PM

hey butch, i don't see why that would be a problem. you can use one big return pump, or two smaller ones. My tank is on the 1st floor and my sump in the basement. I also have a fuge in the basement, which is basically a second tank using the same sump.

What are the potential problems you are foreseeing?

whatevva · 07-10-2006, 05:01 PM

Quote:

What are the potential problems you are foreseeing?

The sump and tank are on the same level, just 25 feet away from each other, so the water has to be pumped up and over FROM the tank to the sump, and up and over to return back to the tank, so there are pumps pumping in both directions. Any deviation in flow could be a disaster, no?

reefBoyDc · 07-10-2006, 05:08 PM

OH! yea, I see what you're saying. that's asking for trouble. You need your tank to be above the sump so the water can overflow into the sump. Hmmm, I'm not sure how to do it, but pumping both ways will never work since it's very difficult to get a precise output from a pump. You'd need to match the output of each pump and that's hard. I'm not sure how to do it, sorry.

Dagrape · 07-10-2006, 05:15 PM

Not quite sure why you would have to pump both ways? I must not fully understand what you intend to do. As long as the sump is lower (even a couple of feet) than the display there should be no pumping required for the trip to the sump.

whatevva · 07-10-2006, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dagrape

Not quite sure why you would have to pump both ways? I must not fully understand what you intend to do. As long as the sump is lower (even a couple of feet) than the display there should be no pumping required for the trip to the sump.

I would have to pump up over a ceiling. It's a finished basement.

reefBoyDc · 07-10-2006, 05:43 PM

if your sump can be a couple feet below the tank(s), at least, you can drill a couple holes in the wall. your wife won't mind.

whatevva · 07-10-2006, 06:16 PM

I know it can be done. I'd have to put a collection sump under the tank with redundant high and low floats, and redundant high and low floats at the main sump. With a bit of PLC, I can build in safties for all pumps and tank levels. I was just hoping there was an easier way. Drilling through walls to travel 25 feet is not an option.

Geoff · 07-10-2006, 10:00 PM

i would not do it. PM Tom for his oppinion, but he would prolly agree. to many things to rely on.

G~

Dagrape · 07-11-2006, 09:17 AM

With some creative plumbing you might be-able to make it work by turning the line to the sump into a giant siphon. You would definetly need a pump to prime the pipe, a check valve or two, and probably some sort of air lift pump like the ones used on HOB overflows to keep air out. Simpler than PLC programing and crap loads of electronics, but still quite complicated. Just my 2 cents! And they are only 2 Canadian cents at that!