in_a_days
Member
Well I got everything up and running last night, but I didn't trust it overnight. The sump has been running all day today without any kind of problems. I think it's a pretty safe set up. When I cut off the sump the 10 gallon still has maybe 3/4 of and inch from being full before the water level drops below the line of the overlow. And even after the flow stops it maintains the siphon in the overflow, so I can't imagine how the main tank could possibly overflow.
No problems today, like I said, but I'm not going to let it run when I'm asleep or not at home until my plumber buddy comes and gives it his stamp of approval. I did have a couple amusing experiences over the course of putting this all together. I had to go to Home Depot twice and Lowe's once to get the correct parts that I needed.
I also learned that I do NOT want to put the return feed in the water as when the pump is cut off the reverse suction pulls the water from the main tank back to the sump.
I also had a couple hoses pop lose on me spilling large volumes of water on the floor. Fortunately, I keep a bunch of towels close at hand for just such an emergency. One time the return hose (flexible plastic tubing) wasn't secured and started dumping water (think fire-hose), the other time the hose disconnected from the bottom of the ball valve. Very exciting.
When I first put the return hose in the water the pressure was a little stronger than I expected and caused a minor rock slide; no major damage.
Other than that I think everything is going well. I did a water change and between that and the water I added I probably introduced about 12 gallons of new water to the system today. The nitrates tested at 20ppm about and hour and a half ago. I pulled my little bits of algae from the main tank and put them in the 'fuge. I'll try to get some pics, but it's kind in cramped quarters and it's also kind of a mess right now. But I'll come through.
No problems today, like I said, but I'm not going to let it run when I'm asleep or not at home until my plumber buddy comes and gives it his stamp of approval. I did have a couple amusing experiences over the course of putting this all together. I had to go to Home Depot twice and Lowe's once to get the correct parts that I needed.
I also learned that I do NOT want to put the return feed in the water as when the pump is cut off the reverse suction pulls the water from the main tank back to the sump.
I also had a couple hoses pop lose on me spilling large volumes of water on the floor. Fortunately, I keep a bunch of towels close at hand for just such an emergency. One time the return hose (flexible plastic tubing) wasn't secured and started dumping water (think fire-hose), the other time the hose disconnected from the bottom of the ball valve. Very exciting.
When I first put the return hose in the water the pressure was a little stronger than I expected and caused a minor rock slide; no major damage.
Other than that I think everything is going well. I did a water change and between that and the water I added I probably introduced about 12 gallons of new water to the system today. The nitrates tested at 20ppm about and hour and a half ago. I pulled my little bits of algae from the main tank and put them in the 'fuge. I'll try to get some pics, but it's kind in cramped quarters and it's also kind of a mess right now. But I'll come through.