Help me set up this sump

[squeakymcmurdo]

Ok, I got this 60 gallon tank, stand, canopy, some of the rocks, and this sump 2 weeks ago for free. I have no idea how to get the overflow to start, well, overflowing into the sump. My husband is an electrician and plumber, so I'm going to post a lot of pictures of all the parts so you guys can say what needs to be done and he can understand what you mean and figure out the rest. (He fixed a broken [crappy] Rio for me over the weekend so I could pump water from the 30 into the 60 instead of siphoning into a bucket and pouring. Lol

The sand, snails, hermit crabs, and some of the rocks were moved from my cycled 30 gallon. The anemones and stuff are fake.

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

Well shoot, I can apparently only upload 2 pictures.

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

Is that a built in skimmer? There's a piece of plastic that looks like it connects to air hose.

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

I want to put chaeto in here. Is that ok? The middle part doesn't sit on the bottom, there is eggcrate under it, so I cut a piece of thin foam to sit on top of it so these tiny coral rubble pieces would stay put.

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

The taped on paper says "fill to here" so which side do I fill from? The intake or output side? The intake side was still empty when I filled it from the side with the pump.

And of course the whole thing emptied into the display tank as soon as I plugged it in. Oops.

 

[vhuang168]

https://youtu.be/X__TEuUaZTI

Not a good system. Will cause floods if for eg you get a power outage and then it's restored.


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[squeakymcmurdo]

Just the size, the brand, or because it's a HOB overflow? I don't think it can drain once the water level is below the teeth on the black part and there's room for at least 6 gallons to drain into it above the line she taped on.

There hasn't been a power outage here in years.

The lady I got it from is coming tomorrow to show me how it works.

I live in a small town 2 hours from any city, there's no way I can get this drilled. It's over 30 years old, so I don't know that anyone that cuts glass would even be willing to take it on unless I agree to hold them blameless if it breaks.

 

[vhuang168]

If the return pump stops for whatever reason, the siphon will break. If the return comes back on if you are not there to reset the siphon, the return will continue pumping water into the tank possibly causing an overflow and a flood.


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[Arnallop3]

I have an eshopps overflow and I have tested it just in case the light goes out. The siphon stays as long as the utube has not been pulled out of water. (Keeps suction of water) I've left it for several hours just to see what happens. Turned on my return pump and continued to work as normal. Not saying it can't happen but if you monitor the utube you should be fine. IMO

 

[Arnallop3]

I made a small hole on the return pumps u-tube return. So tank can drain in case something goes wrong w pump.

 

[squeakymcmurdo]

I got it running! I'm happy except the overflow makes that slurping sound that is apparently a common issue. The end of my return is flexible and I have it arched up so it is above the overflow and right at the surface of the water, I think that does the same thing as drilling a hole.

Looks like I can upload another picture today. Here it is with the canopy and lights on. I just left my HOB filter that was running in my 30 gallon to try to help speed the cycle it will probably go through.