need sanity check on drain plumbing...

[Blorton]

Gang,

I finally got enough RO water in the tank and sump early this morning to run an actual test of the setup. Looks pretty good, but I'd like to optimize the drain rate. (Who doesn't?)

Here's the setup:

Effectively a 1" drain with ball valve directly under the glass and a straight hose barb adapter threaded in. I've got clear 1" id vinyl hose clamped to that and dropped over the rim of a brute trash can behind it. The top of the brute is at about the same level as the bottom of the tank. I did it this way just to get things going and know I need to change it to improve the flow. (Also so I could leave the ro fill-up going without worry.)

Issues I think are hurting flow:

1) Straight hose barb means the hose has to drop upwards of a foot before arcing back up over the rim of the bucket. Would a 90 degree barb help?

2) Should I do a bulkhead on the brute at the same height as the return?

3) Should I drop hose and use straight pvc?

Currently, I'm testing with just a 13" piece of pvc inside the tank in the drain bulkhead. When I tested with a 90 stuck on top of that, the return seemed to overpower the drain. Well, actually, I ran out of water on the sump before I could really be sure, but it looked to be heading that way.

The return pump is an Ocean Runner 6500 with ten feet of 3/4" hose connected to a similar vertical piece with just a t screwed on top. I know it's likely too much for this drain as is, but the outflow I'll end up with will be more restricted and will minimize that risk.

I'd appreciate any pointers,
Dan

P.S. I've also got ten feet of each hose in the loop. I'm sure that's not helping.

[Geoff]

could you post a pic?

G~

[Blorton]

Originally Posted by Geoff

could you post a pic?

G~

Sure thing. It'll be a few hours before I can get home and put it up, though.

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. What kind of beer is that? looks tasty.

[Geoff]

Originally Posted by Blorton

Sure thing. It'll be a few hours before I can get home and put it up, though.

Thanks,
Dan

P.S. What kind of beer is that? looks tasty.

that is a Guiness! the shot was taken just after it had its finish pour. if you look close there is a shamrock in the head! not only is this a Guiness, but a Guiness at the Gravity Bar at the Guiness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland.

G~

[Blorton]

LOL! You know, from the head I was going to guess Guiness, but the lighting makes the body of the beer look too light. And no, I hadn't noticed the shamrock. Very cool! I'll have to stop by one day and have one.

Nothing beats a really good, really fresh beer from the source. The missus and I have made several trips to Munich and one to Pilsen just for that. Beergrimages, we call 'em.

Oh, and I got the drain issue straightened out last night. I came to my senses and pulled that hose junk off and threaded a 90 degree slip fitting into the drain bulkhead, then did a straight shot with a very slight decline into a hole in the trashcan. Works MUCH better that way. Duh.

Now the drain works so well I can close it off, let the return pump fill the tank to the brim, then open the drain and watch the level sink down quickly. Naturally I had to do that several times just for the entertainment value.

So now I can finally leave the return pump running unattended. I actually have the ball valve on the return bulkhead roughly halfway closed to keep the tank from being too choppy while I finish up the interior return plumbing.

I'll post up pics "real soon."

Cheers!
Dan

[Geoff]

glad you got it figured out!!

you need to start always thinking in PVC and nothing else.

G~