Return Line into the Tank

mikelush78

mikelush78

AC Members
Jun 30, 2006
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I am having my tank drilled next week. I have the overflow all figured out now but I am stuck on the return. Does it matter how high or low the return into the tank is? Lets say for instance if the pump is off and the overflow is not flowing, and the return is still submerged in the water....
Will the water flow down the return line into the sump and flood it?
I have the Mag Drive 950. Or do i have to have a special valve that only allows the water to flow one way? Or will the pump stop the water from coming back if the pump is off?

Lots of questions but all the same one lol thanks for the input.
 
You can make the return at any level in the tank as long as you put a syphon break in the line. This is as simple as one or two 1/8" holes drilled just below the water line. This will break the syphon of water back into the sump as soon as the water level reaches down that far. Just make sure you don't have water squirting out of the tank when the pump is running.
 
That would probably work as well, but yes it may slow down flow through the pipe. Besides, why spend money when you can accomplish the same thing for free?
 
I just thought about something...is your return going to be drilled as well? I was thinking you'd have either something hooked over the back and returning the water there, or drilled from the bottom with a bulkhead and a piece of pvc coming up to the surface of the water. In either of these scenarios, the hole would work. If your return is drilled into the back of the tank, halfway down, the check valve would be the only way to stop backflow from that. Without that, the water will continue to flow back down the return until some portion of that pipe is above water level with a syphon break hole.
 
OK then check valve it is. My tank is going to have the return drilled so ill have to put the check valve in. Thanks a bunch.
Mike
 
Check valves can and do fail.

Put the drilled return up a high as reasonable possible. Ensure the sump has as much "safety" volume as possible in case of a failure. Consider building a small internal overflow box around the return to minimize the amount that will drain back into the sump during a failure.
 
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