Makeshift sump for my 26-gallon reef?

[marillion]

Basically, what I want to do is get a small garbage can next to my 26-gallon reef tank for more water volume/rock. Can I do this with just some tubing & a couple powerheads, or do I *have* to have an overflow box attached?

Another reason for this is to slowly add a new piece of dry or live rock each week until the rock in the can is cycled (with the help of the established reef) and then it'll be ready for my 150-gallon once I can set that up.

Any thoughts?

Peace,

Chip

 

[dvmsn]

2 powerheads is a wet floor waiting to happen. The one pumping downhill will always run faster then the one pumping uphill and will never be able to catch up resulting in an overflowing sump. If you get a stronger pump to run uphill, the one coming down will not be able to keep up and the aquarium will overflow. Additionally, if the power goes out both power heads will create a siphon and you will have a wet floor.

So yes, you need an overflow

 

[chad508]

just drill a hole in the can put in a bulkhead and allow the can to gravity feed back to the sump. are you coul drain the main tank to the trsh can then to the sump and one pump back to the main tank. thats how i have mine done with no problems.

 

[marillion]

Chad, there is no sump....the can will BE the sump.

Okay, anyone have a used small overflow?

Peace,

Chip

 

[chad508]

i see. no i do not have any overflow boxes sorry.

 

[marillion]

No prob, man.

Peace,

Chip

 

[marillion]

Okay, here's what I'm thinking :

Rubbermaid Brute 44-gallon trash can
Mag 3 pump
300gph overflow box

That should be good for what I want to do, right?

Thanks peeps.

Peace,

Chip

 

[dvmsn]

I would rather have too much overflow box capacity than not enough. 300 gph is not a whole bunch.

 

[marillion]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12958116#post12958116 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dvmsn
I would rather have too much overflow box capacity than not enough. 300 gph is not a whole bunch.

I'm worried about the velocity coming back into the tank. I don't want to have to throttle back a pump.

Peace,

Chip

 

[dvmsn]

Wouldn't that depend on the pump, not the overflow?