Pump question

[ansonluna]

Can an external pump draw water from two locations? I currently have mine drawing directly from the main tank, can I add a Y and have it draw from the sump/fuge and control how much is taken out? An example is in my drawing.

[GaryP]

I think you would have a hard time regulating how much came from each source because of the difference in head pressures. Even with the control valves most of the water would come from the main tank because head pressure was working to its advantage. I can see what you are trying to do, have a closed loop without buying a seperate pump. I just don't know if it would be practical. I'd be afraid you would end up with water on the floor if one of the valves got blocked.

[ansonluna]

thanks, just wanted to ask before i tried. i guess it will be a no-go.

[GaryP]

Someone else might give you a different answer. I just don't see it as being practical.

[ansonluna]

after you said that I realized that it was a bad idea. I could run into syphone problems.

[dow]

The only way that you might make it work is to put a check valve on the lower tank so that water couldn't back-flow into that tank. However, the way check valves work, they really need water pushing through them rather than being drawn through. Of course, if the two tanks were on the same level, and if both of them had check valves, then it might work.