pump/sump question

[toefu]

ok, i have a question that i guess everyone knows the answer, but it's never posted anywhere or on any webpage because it is probably too easy to figure out, but here goes.



i have a setup like above with sump, now, if electricity goes out (thunderstorm/failure) my water does a backward gust back down that very same tube.. back into the pump. how do i stop it from doing that? or is there a way, should i just get a UPS for my pump? i don't even have a UPS for my computer. hehe.

[Rick O]

Good question. You have to have a syphon break. I have my return nozzles just under the surface of the water so that is as low as the water will get as it syphons back into the sump. You'll have to experiment to see how high the water gets in your sump during a power outage. You may have to maintain a lower water level in your sump so that it can hold all of the water that syphons back.

HTH, Rick

[jegel]

in the spray bar or whatever type of tubing you have that the water is coming out of in the tank, you should drill a small hole, about 1/8 inch drill bit, just under the water line, this way when the water starts flowing back into the sump when the water reaches this hole it will break the siphon, The hole should be just under the water line to avoid spraying when the pump is on.

[ 05-11-2001: Message edited by: Wookaka ]

[toefu]

i seeeee.. thanks alot wookaka.. i get it now. that pretty much answers it.. i knew there was a simple solution.

[Rick O]

Originally posted by freshwater_guy:
i seeeee.. thanks alot wookaka..

What? My answer didn't help?

Rick

[toefu]

sorry rick-o...... your answers are always helpful. There are many names here that i forget to give thanks for but forget. rather than the usual (doug, alice, bill) the other people on this board such as rick-o, horge are of extreme help as well... again, i apologize if i forget names.

it's just that i had the idea on the tip of my tongue, and wookaka basically put it into words for me, which was exactly what i wanted. and now that i reread your post rick, you basically said the exact thing, but i was too stupid to understand the post after reading it only once.

[spethick]

would a check valve work in this area? they make pvc swing check valves that would stop the reverse flow. http://www.nerdworld.com/cgi-bin/jum.../bulkhead.html

[ 05-13-2001: Message edited by: spethick ]

[Doug1]

There are check valves that will work, but its an added expense and a frequent failure point. All it takes is a little debris to keep the valve from sealing. A couple of 1/8 holes as a siphon break works well(clean em with a brush) add no cost. If I had a return line lower than just under the surface no way would I trust a oneway valve to keep all that water in the tank if power failed