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    jlisenbe's Avatar
    jlisenbe Posts: 5,020, Reputation: 157
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    #1

    Sep 16, 2009, 03:33 PM
    Float switch for holding tank
    I'm considering pumping into a holding tank for a residential well. I need a float switch to cut on/off. Who knows of a good one? I'm not wildly familiar with them. It will need to cut on/off a 1/2 HP submerged pump, 240 volt. I'm looking at a 60 gallon tank with hopes of having a twenty gallon or so cycle on my pump.
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
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    #2

    Sep 16, 2009, 03:42 PM

    Sorry jlisenbe, not real familiar with holding tanks either. Hope to hear from some pros on this one. I could give you some of my own theorys, but your looking for hard facts, not my crazy theorys. Good, luck. Lee.
    jlisenbe's Avatar
    jlisenbe Posts: 5,020, Reputation: 157
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    #3

    Sep 16, 2009, 04:10 PM

    Oh, come on. Let's hear the theories! I'm still looking for a few ideas on this thing anyway. My idea is to pump into a holding tank to aerate the water and let the dissolved iron oxidize. That way, it can be filtered as a solid. Then I'll use a booster pump into a pressure tank. Thoughts??
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
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    #4

    Sep 16, 2009, 05:00 PM

    I found a pic of the exact thing I was thinking of. Three separate floats, one for cut in, one for cut off, one for high water alarm(which would also cut off pump if first cut off float switch failed). And then there is the control box that ties all three float switches together to make them do their functions as necesarry. Hope this helps. Lee.
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    jlisenbe's Avatar
    jlisenbe Posts: 5,020, Reputation: 157
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    #5

    Sep 17, 2009, 08:41 AM

    Looks and sounds great. Where did you find it? Do you have a website?
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
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    #6

    Sep 17, 2009, 03:40 PM

    Watertanks.com,, I just looked under Google images, and found this. I typed in water storage tank float switches. The pic is on the first page, as well as their website. Please let me know how it all works out. Lee.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #7

    Sep 17, 2009, 04:14 PM
    What youi've described is a water storage tank not a aeration tank. Here in Florida we have lots of aeration tanks to remove hydrogen sulfate . Click on; Residential Whole House Oxidation Systems
    For more information. Regards Tom
    jlisenbe's Avatar
    jlisenbe Posts: 5,020, Reputation: 157
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    #8

    Sep 17, 2009, 04:33 PM

    Thanks to both of you. I've tried one of the potassium permanganate filters but it's been nothing but trouble so I'm a little "gun shy" on these units. What you linked, SB, is a different approach. Do you have much experience with these things actually working? It looks good IF it works.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #9

    Sep 17, 2009, 04:50 PM
    Am,
    I have no experience with the system I put up. My experience has been with home built aeration tanks that consist of a large open holding tank with a battery of 4 or 5 sprinkler heads mounted a few feet above the tank. The tank has a simple mechanical float valve on the inlet pipe. This tank's located in a covered open shed and has a separate pump to supply the house. When the tank level drops so the float valve calls for water it sends the water through the sprinkler heads and that takes the stinky out of the water. The sprinkler grid is piped in 3/4" PVC. These tanks are real easy to build and they work. Regards, tom
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
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    #10

    Sep 17, 2009, 05:25 PM

    Toms on top of this one. I was looking more into your float set up than your aeration. A storage tank will not aerate water, as you need air to mix with water to aerate. Ive seen a few in-line aeration filters on wells, usually have taken them out because they fail and you get a lot of air out of the faucets. Haven't had any experience with the new models. Sounds like Tom has had some experience with home made sytems that work. Im just going to stick around and try to learn a thing or two.
    jlisenbe's Avatar
    jlisenbe Posts: 5,020, Reputation: 157
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    #11

    Sep 17, 2009, 05:54 PM

    SB, that is something of what I had in mind, the difference being that I am especially targeting iron. As I understand it, when dissolved iron is exposed to oxygen, it oxides into rust, a solid, which can then be filtered out. But we do have some problem with odor as well.

    What size tank do these people use? Mine would need a electric float valve to turn on the pump when the water level falls, which is what prompted this whole thread to begin with.
    speedball1's Avatar
    speedball1 Posts: 29,301, Reputation: 1939
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    #12

    Dec 24, 2011, 12:09 PM
    Hi Aquatech and welcome to the Plumbing pageat at AskMeHelpDesk.com. You piggybacked on an a 3 year old dead thread. In the future, before you post, look in the upper left hand corner for the date.
    Good post, very informative. We need more posters like you. Regards , Tom
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