"The Madd Hatter" wrote in message
...
Ok, the title sucks....

I am working on my multiple tank system (6 tanks on a rack)... I just
bought a Medo AC0602 Linear piston pump to run my sponge filters and
everything else in 6 to 8 tanks that are between 14" to 18" in depth..
This pump is powerful enough that even if I ran 15-20 outlets at those
depths, I'd have to bleed air off to avoid turning my tanks into mini
hurricanes. Here is my idea... The tanks are all drilled w/
overflows.. I was planning to filter them with a common trickle style
sump system. This type of system usually has a water pump to return
the water back to the tanks.. I want to use my air pump. I plan to
make the return pipe a vertical pvc pipe (around 2" ID) w/ a hole near
the bottom to attach my air line... I figure this will function
similar to a lift tube in an undergravel filtration system, whereas
the water will get pulled up the tube, right to the top where I will
have a connecter routing it through another pipe w/ ball valves to
dump water back into the tanks... I realize this wouldn't work w/ a
conventional air pump, but i tested the lift tube idea in my buddy's
180GAL tank by standing up a 5' piece of 2" ID piping in his tank,
with my air pump output tube (1/2") shoved through it... As soon as we
turned the pump on, the water gysered a good 3' into the air... We
only left it plugged in for a split second.... though I think it would
have gone over 5' if left longer...

I figure the pressure will be there.... What I want to know is, will
this work? Does anyone know of anyone using a system like this? Good
idea, bad idea? Any ideas welcome at this point!\

thanx


Sure it will work....you already have the pump and its going to pump
your water or you bleed off all the extra....

It would of course be in your interest to have a spare....
These new linear air pumps are cool......