Cheap PVC canister manifold for two tanks

[CWO4GUNNER]

Hey Gunner, how bout just buying another fx5, you know you want another one ?

Too easy and I already have plans to build a sump out of 3 Serilite containers all concurrently stacking smaller within one another leaving plenty of room for water flow and drainage and the pond pump. A 55qt, 25qt, and 12qt, the outer container reinforced by a wood slip inside frame. This way can use cheap Sterilite containers like disposable liners that wont deform. The hard part will be turning an old 15 gallon power filter (Aqua-Tech 15) I have never used into an over flow box with the bottom drilled out, the motor in the power filter will act as an auto prime and siphon booster. So no easy buy FX5.

Back on subject though this Toms auqua lift pump which I happen to use as part of my PS4 sump, I have seen work very well lifting all the air and water out of the overflow box to restart prime after a power out is pretty impressive and iZ think is the answer to the large siphon pipe problem I was trying to avoid. So I may order an extra aqua lift pump and end up splitting the hoses on my FX5 between the tanks and using a large U shape 4" pipe to balance the tanks with the aqualift pump pulling air and water off the top of the upside down U never allowing prime to be broken, Just like Toms uses in their maintenance free water bridge. The little pump is disigned to run wet or dry 24/7 about the size of a small air pump.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Well I picked up my 2'X9' piece of black ABS piping and two 90 degree elbows plus ABS glue to create my large siphon equalizer, all total costing $9 and change. I never knew that Lowes & HomeDepot both offer 10% discount to veterans all year 24/7 but only advertise on Veterans day. A veteran in line who saw my USS Midway Cap pointed it out but the crasher seemed perturbed at the disclosure becasue she has to get an override from the manager each time a veteran claims the discount except on veterans day.

Anyway the whole key to this project is to join the tanks utilizing one FX5 filter and pipe siphon and whether 2 major obstacles can be overcome using some basic cheap technology.

(1) will the siphon pipe size of 2" inner diameter be sufficient to equalize water between two tanks of equal dimensions and volume at a rate of 400 GPH from a 1" source out flowing into one tank and in-taking from the other tank. We will find out.

(2) Sine a rigid 2 " pipe with a 180 degree bend 1.5'X3'X1.5' is almost impossible to prime in two separate tank simultaneously, will a vent hole at the top of the pipe connected to the Tom Rapids Aqua Lift wet/dry pump be able to not only lift the volume of water in the pipe (2 gallons) 31 inches but maintain siphon by keeping the pipe air free.

I will be borrowing the Aqua Lift Pump that is on my PS4 overflow box before committing to buying one for this system if it works. The Aqua Lift Pump potentially being able to solve the inharent problems with a large single equalizing siphon tube, problems that made me plan my original and more complex drawing posted above. If the Aqua Pump works as well as it dose on my overflow it will be the answer to a much simpler solution.

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Here is an updated drawing. whether it works or not I will provide photos once it either works or fails, probubly sometime tonight or tomorrow depending on when the glue is cured for both the assembled ABS pipe and the Aqua lift hose tap.

 

[dundadundun]

3/4" copper pressurized feed to bathtub... 1 1/4" to 2" passive drain out of tub... end result... every tub i've ever seen eventually fills faster than it empties... i'd go at least triple the diameter personally for my passive equalization... fx5's are powerful. EDIT: also keep in mind you'll be covering the passive pipes to keep fish out therefore restricting free flow more... and gradually increasing restriction starting the first time you power it up.

ps... love the new revision! good for you for thinking outside the box!

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

You make a good point and why I ague when people say that their 1 drain 1.5 inch sump is rated at 600-1000 GPH. I have a 700 GPH rated sump pump with a single 1.5 drain and there is no way that its draining at 700 GPH, maybe 250 GPH tops. All this GPH rating which is not regulated is a buch of bunk numbers.

Anyway I digress from the subject. The passive drain as you call it is sound and 2 inch is about as obnoxious and I want to go unless I double up but that would not work with 1 aqua lift pump.

So if it does have a drain issue I plan to split the canister lines with two adjustable Y-gate valves and extra hose about an additional $10. Even though the inflow and out flow to each tank will not be perfectly matched. It should be close enough to take 90% of the drain load off the passive ABS drain and give it a big margin of tolerance against possible flooding.

 

[nc0gnet0]

3/4" copper pressurized feed to bathtub... 1 1/4" to 2" passive drain out of tub... end result... every tub i've ever seen eventually fills faster than it empties... i'd go at least triple the diameter personally for my passive equalization

Not many tubs have a straight shot down to the main, every 90 degree elbow and length of horizontal pipe have a big effect on drain capacity. And the theres that thing called a trap

 

[nc0gnet0]

Interesting idea gunner, I have no idea what an aqualift pump is so good luck and interested in hearing how it works.......

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

Not many tubs have a straight shot down to the main, every 90 degree elbow and length of horizontal pipe have a big effect on drain capacity. And the theres that thing called a trap

The scale drawing is way off the length only 18" and the elbows gradual not right angle. The Aqua Lift is an air/water pump designed to start, maintain and brake the siphon of an over the rim siphon pipe siphon for a wet/dry system when siphon is broken by air accumulation, power outage, and auto restart when power is restored.

Got it

 

[nc0gnet0]

I got the jest of it but will it work in a 2" pipe? Wouldn't you need to fill the entire length and depth of the 2" pipe to have siphon?

 

[CWO4GUNNER]

I got the jest of it but will it work in a 2" pipe? Wouldn't you need to fill the entire length and depth of the 2" pipe to have siphon?

Not being disrespectful but this is the second time I noticed after I explained something pretty clearly, you ask the question following the answer. Anyway here is the answer again in bold encase you missed it LOL.

"The scale drawing is way off the length only 18" and the elbows gradual not right angle. The Aqua Lift is an air/water pump designed to start, maintain and brake the siphon of an over the rim siphon pipe siphon for a wet/dry system when siphon is broken by air accumulation, power outage, and auto restart when power is restored.

Got it"