tank overflow prevention?

[wickedfrags]

Why not just leave the ball valve all the way open???

If you are concerned about the level of water in your sump, you can create a siphon break by drilling a small hole in the return line, about 1/4" to 1/2" below the level of your water. This will allow air into the return system faster, resulting in more water staying in your tank and less being directed to the sump.

Also, avoid using ball valves to regulate water flow, that is what gate valves are designed for. Ball valves should be open or closed.

Originally Posted by cwickham

hey

i use ball-valves to limit the return from my main tank to the sump. I adjust the level of the tank so that the return is completely under water to reduce micro bubbles and noise.

The problem is that if the power goes out and the tank level drops, air gets into those pipes and when the power comes back on, the air gets trapped at the ball-valve and limits the flow even more cause my tank to overflow if im not there to release the air.

is there any way around this, is there somthing that will shut my return pump off when the water gets to a certain level(just for emergency if im not home)

i have tryed to find a normally open float switch to make somthing, but can only find normally closed ones.

thanks for your help
craig

[superduperwesman]

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

Why not just leave the ball valve all the way open???

I think he wants to minimize noise

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

If you are concerned about the level of water in your sump, you can create a siphon break by drilling a small hole in the return line, about 1/4" to 1/2" below the level of your water. This will allow air into the return system faster, resulting in more water staying in your tank and less being directed to the sump.

His problem seems to be too much water in the tank?? So much so that it's overflowing... so I don't think he wants "more water staying in the tank.

Originally Posted by wickedfrags.com

Also, avoid using ball valves to regulate water flow, that is what gate valves are designed for. Ball valves should be open or closed.

I wouldn't say that gate valves are design for flow control... but yes they will do a better job then a ball valve in this application