Filling sump from scratch

[GrayJ]

O.K., we've been reading and researching and learning a lot from this site. We got a sump and the extras that go in it (sand, skimmer, pump chaeto, live rock, etc..) and it will be ready to install next week. What we can't find out how to do is start it from empty to up and running. Do I..

1. - lower level in DT to below overflow and return pipe?

2. - fill sump/fuge up to the level that I want it to be if a power failure was to occur?

3. - turn on return pump and slowly adjust flow rate with valve?

By the way, how deep should my return line be in the DT and which is the best direction to point it? It will be a 3/4" pipe elbow. Please help because we only get one shot at this. If I flood the Living Room, my wife is gonna want new carpet and I can't afford it now that I've bought all this aquarium stuff. A step by step instructional would be great. Thanks!

 

[inachu]

As the old timers say......"Picture would help."

 

[GrayJ]

I don't have any pictures because it is not assembled yet. I'm trying to get ahead and get some information and have time to think on it before I put it all together. It really is just a basic set up. 25 gal tank set up like..Sump-fuge-return... in that order. Overflow is a single u-tube with a Durso that the people at txholeyrock build and sell on Ebay. What i need to know is what did you do the very first time you started putting water in your sump? What where the levels on your sump and DT? Thanks.

 

[Playa-1]

The way that I would do it:

1) Fill the tank to the point where it spills over into the overflow box and fills the over flow box.

2) fill the sump/fuge to the level that you expect it to operate at.

3) Adjust the return nozzles in the display tank, so that the hole in the end of the nozzle is half in and half out of the water at this level.

3.5) Research and properly prime your hang on overflow box

4) Turn on the return pump. You will now need to add some additional water to the sump as the water in the return chamber begins to drop. Add enough water to bring the level back to the point is was before you turned on the return pump. Make a note or a mark of the water level in the return pump area of the sump, A piece of tape works well for this. This is your normal water level. This is the level that you want to set your ATO to maintain or you will need to manually add top-off water daily to maintain this water level in the return area of the sump.

5) If your pump is oversized for your drains you may need to have a ball valve inline between the return pump and the display tank to slow down the flow rate thru the system. You will know pretty quick that you need to reduce flow if your display water lever gets too high or if your getting lots of drain noise. Just partially close the ball valve to slow the flow rate if necessary.

6) Now you need to test to make sure your system can handle the back flow when it looses power. If you set your baffles at the correct height then your sump should be able to handle the water volume that will backflow into your sump when you loose power and it should not overflow. The way to check this is to unplug the return pump and watch the sump carefully.

What should happen here is the display tank should drain down to the top of the overflow box or to the holes on the return nozzles (which ever is lower in the display tank water). It should then stop draining.

During this draining process if the sump looks like it's going to overflow before the display stops draining, then just plug the return pump back in. This should not happen but if it does then you will need to take some water out of the system and then make a note of the new water level in the return portion of the sump and repeat the process until the power can be shut off to the return pump and the sump can handle the back flow without overflowing.

Keep in mind, the lower you have those overflow nozzles in the tank, the more water is going to back-flow into the sump during a power outage. It's not a problem if your sump is set up with plety of space for extra water, but It could be a problem you your going to be running your water level high in the sump.

Good Luck
:thumbsup:

 

[GrayJ]

THAT'S IT PLAYA!!!!! That's exactly what I was looking for. A play-by-play, easy to follow check list. Thank you so much. YOU DA MAN!!!!

 

[Playa-1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13024457#post13024457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GrayJ
THAT'S IT PLAYA!!!!! That's exactly what I was looking for. A play-by-play, easy to follow check list. Thank you so much. YOU DA MAN!!!!

:lol:
No!!
U Da Man!!!
Don't forget to have lots of towels handy

 

[Playa-1]

Just a side note. I did not realize you were using a u-tube style overflow. I've never used one of those things so you might want to see if there's any special proceedure for priming those things. I'm sure It came with directions.

Aww man !! That could screw up my whole plan

Here's a link to a quick search I did for priming overflow boxes. It looks like your going to need to add a step or two and make sure the overflow box is properly primed.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/s...owresults&searchid=9898979&sortby=&sortorder=