Mount the return pump above the sump?

[mkarston]

So I plan on re-designing my sump / fuge setup, and really won't have much left over room under my tank.
The question I have is:
Is it possible to mount the a return pump above the sump and below the display tank (about 24” off the ground) and have it suck water from the sump below and return to the display tank above? If so does it have any other ill effect?

I currently have a Pan World 100PX-X return pump.

Thanks,
Craig

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am thinking that when ever you turn off the pump that the pipe/pump would not have any water in it -- not too sure how great those pumps are at sucking up water.
At best it would, but you would have a ton of microbubble at first, when it is purging all the air.
At worse -- it would run dry.

 

[mwhite]

In order for this to work the pump would have to be a self-priming type. This is not typical of aquarium pumps. These pumps create a suction that will bring the water up to the pump and remove the air in the line.

 

[mkarston]

ahh.... yes.... priming. I knew there was something I wasn't considering... and why this isn't done more often instead of drilling your sump. Thanks.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Actually, if you use the "over the top method" you can still have an external pump and not drill your sump. 2 out of 3 of my sumps are set up that way.

Edit, and before you ask how that works, look here, I explained last week.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1121148&perpage=&pagenumber=2