Finished my DIY Sump/Refugium. Need some feedback

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It's online

Hi Guys
I got it online yesterday and had to change a few things. The 1st was I shortened the intakes so they are now only a few inches below the chamber levels to reduce the back pressure and surges (Thanks for the heads up BigMike, I understand what you meant now), and the second was to reduce the intake of water. With out these changes it was nearly impossible to keep a constant level in the sump. The other thing is that the blue valve I installed on the T doesn't work well to start the siphon unless the pipe is completely empty. I'm going to install a second valve on the back 1" 90 on the intake to start the siphon which will work 100% better. The blue valve on the T does have a new label (Water sample/drip acclimation supply valve), I'm happy when a mistake has a positive result.

Sump Online
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Intake before mod
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Intake after mod
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I haven't completed the pickup in the DT yet, but is going to operate as a direct U tube from tank to sump via the manifold so i can independently control the flow into each compartment. Here is a pic of the DT intake which may change to a straight down tube with a siphon break.

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i meant the back side of the plumbing
 
"It seems to me that if you set the sump in place with the DT level at the bottom of the overflow, so no water is running through it, then fill up the sump all the way and fire it up, you will never have a problem with the sump overflowing if the power goes out. Is there something I'm missing in that logic? Newbie to SW for please forgive my ignorance."
To answer that question, it would depend on the flow rate of your return pump. If it pushed to much water into the DT it would overflow from the DT. If it's the other way around then the sump might overflow.I may be wrong in this logic,but that's why I call it a hobby...it's a learning thing.......
It definitely is a learning experience. I calculated for both flow into the DT and from the DT into the sump to make sure the capacity was there on case of a power failure or a siphon failure.
 
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