Got new toy, but where to put it?

[nbd13]

Hey guys, well as most of you know i got a 1/2 HP JBJ acrtica chiller, it should be here next week some time. I also got a pump to remote locate it over 100 feet away. I decided to splurge and get a sequence UNO Tarpon pump. This thing is HUGE!





ok now i do not have a bulkhead for this pump, so i have basically 3 opitions on what i can do to plumb it into my system.

1. i can use a "hook" and just thow some PVC together and put it over the edge of my sump and make it so its down into the sump. then leave a spot where i can prime it. that way i dont have to drill my sump and i can just put the Tarpon on a piece of 2x6 and throw it on the flow. this would be the easiest thing to do.

dont mind the wires, but heres where the pump would be, only thing is it would be elevated on top of a piece of wood that would sit on the ground. as you can see the plumbing would come up by the dart and then over about 4" then down into the sump. i would leave an opening so i could prime it.



so as you can see it would go up and over alittle then down into the sump.

2. I could basically build a platform to make it even with the darts that you see in the above pics. but still leave a spot to prime it.

3. this is the opition with the MOST work, haha. I could drill a new hole in my sump and plumb the tarpon with that. as you can see i would drill the hole right behind the tarpon heres the pic.



heres a diagram of the sump, you can see by the red dot where i would drill the hole. that area is right where my drain lines come into the sump. and i would return the chiller down stream somewhere.



anyway this would require me to drain my WHOLE sump i think. or as you can see in the pic above, could i just drain the section with the red dot in it? this is where my BK is. i could drain that section and then leave the other sections filled? would that work? or does that increase the chance of breaking the sump? if i choose to do this, should i use a hole saw, with a drill bit in it? and should i put a piece of wood behind it to drill into?

anyway let me know what you think guys.

it would be a ton of work to drain the sump and drill it, and i think that "hook" thing could work, heres a link to it, scroll down to plumbing, and then "hook" plumbing.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...ighlight=prime

anyway let me know guys.

thanks.

Nick

[moonpod]

Well yes you're right. You have two options. Option one, drain the sump (at least that section), drill, clean up and plumb the bulkhead--the more "elegant" solution, but yes, a pain in your behind.

Option two, use an over the top loop.

6 half dozen of another really.

BTW, this is why I always have an assortment of "odd extra" bulkheads drilled into my sumps....

[nbd13]

Hey thanks Chuck,

could you explain "6 half dozen of another really." maybe i am just stupid today and am not getting it, haha.

so you are saying i only need to drain that 1 section, right? not the entire sump?

do i even need to put wood behind the spot i want to drill it? i mean because the drill bit, will have the acrylic to go into, right?

or should i put a piece of wood behind there for safety?

i am not sure what i want to do..... i will have to think it over.

thanks.

Nick

[nbd13]

i just remeasured and it looks like i would have to go up then over about 14" then back down into the sump.

are there any negatives to doing that over the top loop?

also as you can see in this pic



i only have limited room, between the 2x6s (the wood you see in the pic) and the top of the water line. i measured how much room i have and its about 4" from the top of the wood to the top of the waterline.

exactly how far below the surface of the water should the bulkhead be?

thanks.

Nick

[moonpod]

Drilling acrylic is easy. You don't need wood behind it. That's for when you are enlarging an existing hole. It makes a mess though.

6 half a dozen of another=it doesn't matter. You can call one 6 you can call the other a half a dozen. What's the difference.

Bulkhead should line up with the pump inlet when possible. How far below the water line? Ideally several inches, but you can always place an oversized elbow on the inlet to keep the pump from vortexing and sucking air.

[nbd13]

oh man, now you have me thinking, maybe the bulkhead would be better.

i could put the pump on some wood so it will line up with the bulkhead, thats not the problem.

if i go that route (drilling) i think it would be alot easier in the long run. espically not having to prime it all the time!

maybe i will just have to stick an elbow on it like you said so it sucks from the bottom of the sump.

i think it would be about 1" or 1.5" under the waters surface without anything on it like an elbow. i think it would be best to put an elbow on it just to be safe and throw some pipe on it so it will suck from the bottom.

couple of questions though, as it sounds like drilling might be a better opition.

1. should i empty the whole sump? or can i get away with just emptying that section only?

2. i can build a platform for the pump to sit on so it lines up with the bulkhead, thats not a problem, but should i glue that elbow onto the bulkhead so it will suck water from the bottom of the sump?

or should i get a street elbow and just shove it in there good?

thanks again Chuck

Nick

[OUinLA]

I think what chuck is saying is 6 in one, and half a dozen in the other. It just means either way is the same

[nbd13]

Thanks,

i am just thinking that drilling would not be that hard and it might be easier in the long run.

i just dont know about this "hook" thing.

i am not sure if i have to drain the whole sump in order to drill it though, or just that one section.

Nick

[Detritivore]

nick, if you use the "hook" the pump needs to be lower than the water level of the sump.

tell us how you like the new pump once you turn it on.

[nbd13]

i think i am just going to drill it,

but do i need to empty the WHOLE sump? or can i just empty that section of the sump?

thanks

Nick

[moonpod]

just that section.

[nbd13]

ok thanks. i just measured, and the bulkhead will be pretty close to the surface of the water. there will be like .5" to the top of the water.

so should i just throw an elbow on the bulkhead so it pulls water from the bottom of the sump?

thanks.

Nick

[moonpod]

yep

[OUinLA]

that's what i'd do. Just make sure that the intake will always be lower than the sump level and you'll be in business.

[nbd13]

Thanks both of you.

i will drill it next weekend.

i will just have to throw and elbow on it so it doesnt vortex and suck air from the surface. since it will be close to the surface i am thinking a longer elbow might do the trick.

thanks guys!

Nick