Why do I fear SUMPS :)?

You fear them because they are new to you and unfamiliar. When I plumbed up my first sump, I was sure exactly how it all worked. But it is really simple, push-pull thing. What goes up must come down. Just make sure if return pump stops there is enough space left in sum to hold the water returning to in until it is below the overflow and drill a safety hole in the return spout in the tank so water cant keep reverse flowing through the stopped return pump too. That's it.

 

Keep the good input coming guys, I'm getting a clearer picture of what type of maintenence and knowledge I will need if I do get one. Thanks!

 

Logically,your tank can't keep dumping water after the level falls below the overflow,ball valves can help with small miscalculations by tweeking output vs input,and as long as there is room in the sump to accomodate that extra water from the display,there really shouldn't be any worries.But that doesn't make me any less leary of them.lol

 

going to have to agree with facfeofdeceit

 

My only worry is something clogging the line from the oveflow and having the return pump keep dumping water into the DT and causing a flood. but will see if setting the pump higher will keep that from happening I rent so I'd rather replace the inexpensive pump than pay for damages from a flood onto hardwood floors.

I don't need a strong pump as the one I'm getting ready to install (this thurs or sat.) is for my 46 and the fuge is beside it not even 2 ft lower.

 

Ummm...mine totally scares me. However, I know that if a pump were to fail, once the water in the DT falls below the intake in the overflow, then no more water will go into the sump. The sump fills up with about 6" left at the top, so I will be fine!

I still freaks me out though. lol

 

I haven't had one but I'm considering one. If I do, I'll use the Bean Animal method partly for the silence but also because it has the emergency pipe so the dt tank won't overflow and I'd get a tall plastic bin and make sure it could hole way more than what should drain if the power goes out. Also, I'd probably drill it at the top of the tank instead of the bottom in case the overflow somehow started to leak, just to be extra safe (especially considering I'd probably make my own).

I feel that it's partly math and partly overdoing everything and of course testing it by turning the pump off.

 

Again, thanks everyone for helping me with your own experiences. I'm glad I'm not the only one that worries, and I do my best to go into anything responsibly with a large base of knowledge.

In terms of "clogging" is it possible that a snail or something could find it's way into piping and cause problems?

 

i used to be in your exact shoes a while ago. To relax your tensions, the only big thing you have to worry about is connecting PVC the right way. Use the primer and glue and then test for leaks. If leaks are good, then you've reached a big milestone. bulkheads and drilled tanks are a nightmare.

as for the general setup of the sump, its less scary once you look it over several times. For your returns, make sure they are near the water surface so you don't end up creating a siphon during a power outage, in which the return lines will siphon water from the DT to the sump until the siphon has been broken. In this case, if your return lines are deep in the water, then it will siphon out all the water till it reaches an air escape. So drill a tiny hole in the return line close to the water surface of your DT OR keep your return lines close to the water surface.


your other nightmare is gurgle/toilet noise but this can be solved using a number of methods (gurgle buster, stockman, etc)

 

For my 113 gal tank I'll be doing the bean animal style of overflow for the silence and safety (as in won't overflow) aspect. That tank is already drilled, for my 46 I'll be using a CPR type overflow.