There will be a momentary power loss if there is not a battery installed between the circuit and the generator. As for the flood problem, just install an overflow drain on the sump and an appropriate sized container to capture it. You can add a leak detector to alarm in the container and even pump the water back when the return pump restarts.
It seems like some changes to the plumbing may by most helpful. If the pipe coming from your return pump is 6” below the surface you will get a lot of water back siphoning if there is no siphon break. If you have stand pipes anywhere tightening their connections to the bulkheads will keep the overflow boxes from slowly emptying. Every tank is unique, but looking at your plumbing is likely going to be most helpful in keeping your sumps from overflowing.
Neptune has level sensors now so you can monitor and allow the Apex to turn off devices like dosing pumps when your sump level is over a height you specify. That’s what I do now.
I would say I'm "shocked"... Keith... but it's exactly what I talked about when you posted that GFI video. Been there my friend. On my tanks long ago they would fail all the time.
I hear ya Burt but I really have no choice here in VT since it is code to have GFCI's installed for equipment used for some sort of water application like a fish tank. My electrician would not take out the GFCI's since he feared losing his license if I was injured. But as I said in the video, I would rather deal with the premature trips versus risking electrocution. Not a simple solution for this scenario!
@@ReefBum .... absolutely...there are no perfect "fixes". Murphys law if it can it will. You are still my favorite TH-cam channel and keep up the great work my friend. 🙏
Check valves work as long as something is not blocking them. I personally wouldn't rely on them. I know of at least 2 people that had snails stuck inside the check valve and therefore when they were needed they didn't work and overflows occurred. The best insurance is having enough capacity in your sump for when you're returns are off. Maybe he can add more capacity. That's going to be the best solution along with some sort of high level sensor in the event that only his returns stop working.
Most likely getting the sodium chloride bulk locally to save some money on his Captiv8 salt mix. Chris has thrown out there that this is a great option if you can source clean sodium chloride locally.
Nothing is worse than water on the floor from an overflow. Have you looked into breaker panel surge protectors? Those should take the brunt of the surge since it is upstream of the tank.
The best insurance is having enough capacity in your sump for when you're returns are off. Can you add more capacity via another container of some sort? That's going to be the best solution imo along with some sort of high level sensor in the event that only your returns stop working to shut off your kalk. Or just plug your dosers and returns into the same outlet. That way if it trips it'll stop the kalk doser as well.
Yes, I did initially make that change and plugged my dosers into the same GFCI as the return pumps but now the return pumps are on non-GFCI outlets. I don't think adding another container will solve my problem. Check valves are an option for the return lines but I am not a fan since they can clog.
Here in South Africa we have daily "load shedding". Our power is off for about 6 - 10 hours a day ( 2 hour slots usually), so any of us reefkeepers need to be able to cater for that. I have my tank on a 200AH Lithium Ion battery backup which will run my tank for about 12 hours straight if need be
I have GHL Profilux 4 controllers but I don't want to put all of my eggs in that one basket when it comes to power cut monitoring. Besides, I want to know when each GFCI circuit trips so that is why I am using the GFI Notify devices.
There will be a momentary power loss if there is not a battery installed between the circuit and the generator.
As for the flood problem, just install an overflow drain on the sump and an appropriate sized container to capture it. You can add a leak detector to alarm in the container and even pump the water back when the return pump restarts.
It seems like some changes to the plumbing may by most helpful. If the pipe coming from your return pump is 6” below the surface you will get a lot of water back siphoning if there is no siphon break. If you have stand pipes anywhere tightening their connections to the bulkheads will keep the overflow boxes from slowly emptying. Every tank is unique, but looking at your plumbing is likely going to be most helpful in keeping your sumps from overflowing.
Neptune has level sensors now so you can monitor and allow the Apex to turn off devices like dosing pumps when your sump level is over a height you specify. That’s what I do now.
I would say I'm "shocked"... Keith... but it's exactly what I talked about when you posted that GFI video. Been there my friend. On my tanks long ago they would fail all the time.
I hear ya Burt but I really have no choice here in VT since it is code to have GFCI's installed for equipment used for some sort of water application like a fish tank. My electrician would not take out the GFCI's since he feared losing his license if I was injured. But as I said in the video, I would rather deal with the premature trips versus risking electrocution. Not a simple solution for this scenario!
@@ReefBum .... absolutely...there are no perfect "fixes". Murphys law if it can it will. You are still my favorite TH-cam channel and keep up the great work my friend. 🙏
Great tip, Keith! I'm sharing this one.
U can lower the power of your return pumps as well. Most of the reefers run them to high and we don’t need to in most of the cases.
Keep it simple 😊
Put a check valve on your return pump. Water goes in to the tank but won't let it syphon back to the sump.
Check valves work as long as something is not blocking them. I personally wouldn't rely on them. I know of at least 2 people that had snails stuck inside the check valve and therefore when they were needed they didn't work and overflows occurred.
The best insurance is having enough capacity in your sump for when you're returns are off. Maybe he can add more capacity. That's going to be the best solution along with some sort of high level sensor in the event that only his returns stop working.
@@bluerider0988 I agree, I am not a fan of check valves for the reason you stated.
I always notice them massive bags of Morton Salt in the reef room....what's that all about? Homemade sea salt or something?
Most likely getting the sodium chloride bulk locally to save some money on his Captiv8 salt mix. Chris has thrown out there that this is a great option if you can source clean sodium chloride locally.
@@reviewit7974 The Morton salt if part of the Captiv8 4 part salt mix. The variety of Morton salt used is extremely pure....top notch salt!
@ReefBum copy that ....I may have forgot you do that
Nothing is worse than water on the floor from an overflow. Have you looked into breaker panel surge protectors? Those should take the brunt of the surge since it is upstream of the tank.
Yes, my electrician did just install one and said it could help with the premature trips. I should have mentioned that in the video.
The best insurance is having enough capacity in your sump for when you're returns are off. Can you add more capacity via another container of some sort? That's going to be the best solution imo along with some sort of high level sensor in the event that only your returns stop working to shut off your kalk.
Or just plug your dosers and returns into the same outlet. That way if it trips it'll stop the kalk doser as well.
Yes, I did initially make that change and plugged my dosers into the same GFCI as the return pumps but now the return pumps are on non-GFCI outlets. I don't think adding another container will solve my problem. Check valves are an option for the return lines but I am not a fan since they can clog.
Here in South Africa we have daily "load shedding". Our power is off for about 6 - 10 hours a day ( 2 hour slots usually), so any of us reefkeepers need to be able to cater for that. I have my tank on a 200AH Lithium Ion battery backup which will run my tank for about 12 hours straight if need be
Brilliant video 👍🐠🐟💦
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
When my power goes on and off, my GFCI will trip and will not come back on. Because of that, I take my system off the GFCI when I go in vacation.
Get a darn apex with power monitoring on it lol
I have GHL Profilux 4 controllers but I don't want to put all of my eggs in that one basket when it comes to power cut monitoring. Besides, I want to know when each GFCI circuit trips so that is why I am using the GFI Notify devices.
A simple change to your return nozzles or get an Apex would have prevented this. 🤷🏻♂️
Tell him to use frag tiles instead, staggered and stacked so they form a pointy pyramid "O towers" patent pending 😂