sump/refugium accessories

Any ideas on float valves for the return line out of the sump/refugium. I just want to be able to have the pump shut off automatically in case the there is some sort of hang up with the level of water in the return area of the sump/fuge.

 

[quote author=dx7fd2 link=board=Refugium;num=1086020607;start=0#0 date=05/31/04 at 09:23:26]Any ideas on float valves for the return line out of the sump/refugium. I just want to be able to have the pump shut off automatically in case the there is some sort of hang up with the level of water in the return area of the sump/fuge.[/quote]

I don't understand exactly what you are wanting here.

 

Are you talking about a check valve?
A float valve is for water level in the sump or storage area.

 

I think I found what I need...it's a floating shut off solenoid inside a short pipe. If the level inside the sump return area gets too low the pump will shut down.
When the level goes up again the return pump will turn back on. Then I think I should use a siphon break at the return line into the display tank.
Am I on the right track? I'm just trying to avoid burning the pump up if for some reason the input side of the sump isn't getting any input. [smiley=confused1.gif] I was planning on using a weir out of the display tank.

 

float switches and float valves are used to keep the water level in the sump at the same height.
I use a 5 gallon bucker full of ro/di water and sit beside the tank.
I put a small rio 600 or 800 in the bucket with rigid tubing to the sump area. my float switch is in the sump and when the level starts to go down this triggers the pump in the bucket to power on and pump fresh RO/DI water into the sump till the float switch raises back to the level I have it set too which then powers off the pump in the bucket.

Do a search here on auto top off or float switch as we has several pages on this subject and instructions.

 

Drew, the same float switch from grainger that I used to turn on my top off pump when the level is low can be inverted to turn off something else for the same reason. so in one orientation it is normally open in the floating position, for the top off, and if you invert it it will become normally closed in the floating position as for your return pump.
When the water goes down your top off pump will turn on, and the inverted switch will turn off your return pump. you adjust the depths at which these occur. ;D
Good luck