Is a sump possible?

[cartman5579]

I would like to set up a 40 gallon sump underneath my tank in the stand. Right now i have a HOB fuge cause my tank does not have a overflow or drilled holes in the tank.

Is this possible to do without an overflow. Can i somehow set up a pump going down to the sump and then a pump sending flow back into the tank? If this is possible can someone show me how, or show pics. I would like to take the fuge of the back.

????????

 

[dwd5813]

it would be near impossible to get the pumps exactly matched. supposing you do figure that out, what will you do if one gets a calcium buildup or something gets caught in it, but the other one keeps on pumping? i would look into either getting your tank drilled or using a hob overflow.

 

[cartman5579]

crap

 

[cartman5579]

Now this is probably a stupid question, but if i use a HOB overflow box, won't i still have a problem determining the pump to use so that the flow coming back into the tank isn't more than the amount of water flowing out through the overflow?

 

[cartman5579]

Ok, this sounds like a good idea for me and i think i have it figured out.

I'll use a CPR HOB overflow, and then my sump. It will still save me a lot of room in the back that i need.

Now the question is? Who sells ready made acrylic sumps...? No more than 23 1/2 inches in length.

 

[shabreeson]

all you need to make one is to buy a tank that will fit underneath that is to your specifications, cut some class(glass cutter 6 bucks) to fit whatever design you find online and use dap clear caulk (not #2).I did it and it will save you potentially hundreds.

If you want to go the ready made you can probably find one in http://www.drsfostersmith.com

 

[dwd5813]

u tube hob overflows are said to be less problematic. companies like lifereef make good ones.

 

[dwd5813]

http://www.lifereef.com/frame.html look for "prefilter boxes"

 

[uscharalph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10988104#post10988104 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cartman5579
Now this is probably a stupid question, but if i use a HOB overflow box, won't i still have a problem determining the pump to use so that the flow coming back into the tank isn't more than the amount of water flowing out through the overflow?

Actually the pump determines how much flow goes thru the HOB overflow, unless the pump is too strong for the HOB overflow's capacity.

 

[boiler_2000]

The water will overflow at the rate you are pumping into the tank, assuming that the drain for the overflow can handle that capacity. So the drain size is what will be critical.

Think of it like this. You begin filling a bucket with a hose, once the water level reaches the top of the bucket it will begin to overflow and spill out over the rim. If you increase the flow from the hose (higher gpm from the return pump in your sump, i.e. bigger pump) the water will flow over the rim faster/greater volume. If you decrease the flow from the hose it will overflow slower/lesser volume. This is how your sump/tank will function. The overflow box is the rim of the bucket and the sump return pump is the hose.

 

[dendro982]

There could be DIY PVC overflow, for narrow spaces:
1 , 2 , 3 , 4.

 

[Hop]

Unless you need to mop your floor on a regular basis I would stay well away from the c-channel overflows like the CPR. You can find a quality used U tube overflow for about 40-60 bucks here in the for sale forums or maybe a local reefer would be willing to give you one. They are less prone to failure and I ran a lifereef for a long time without issue.

 

[dendro982]

Hop:
Sideline question: I'm currently using just U-tube, without overflow box - the sump stands beside the tank, same water level. Collection of particles in not good.
I'm planning to replace it by Quietflo overflow box, with U-tube, and move the sump on the floor - hopefully, the gravity assisted pull will be stronger.

What do you think, will it help? Or just the stronger pump will do the same?

It will be highly inconvenient to do maintenance at the floor level, but if this is the only way to do that...
Thanks.