plumbing

[rale2001]

Hello alabama... I just inherited an empty 55 gal with a nice stand for 100 bucks. But this is my first attempt on a DIY sump. The questions I have are is there a difference between a intake pump and a return pump?? If so do they have to match gph?? And the over flow box, does it have to match gph??

 

[walkerbrody]

There shouldnt be an intake pump. Just a return. The overflow box will gravity feed the same amount of water the return is pumping as long as it isnt in excess of of the overflow box capacity.
If the glass isnt tempered I would suggest you have the tank drilled for an overflow. It isnt very expensive and will save a lot of headache in the future. Siphon overflow boxes are prone to loose syphon and spill large amounts of water. If you choose to use a syphon overflow I would use a Tom's aqualifter pump (arround $20) to keep the syphon tubes clear of bubbles.

 

[rale2001]

Ok good so I only need to shop for one pump. Now u say I should get the tank drilled?? What does that mean anyways why not a HOB overflow box?? And what does the tube from the overflow connect to to go thru the section of the sump. I seen plenty of diagrams but I don't know what it connects to

 

[Tomoko Schum]

You can use HOB overflow box. If the overflow box is designed well (against the siphon break), you don't have the dreaded water on the floor problem. A lot of people opt for an internal overflow box with Durso standpipes (a silencer) to avoid the water on the floor problem. The drain tube from the HOB box goes to the sump and either just dangles inside the sump or is placed inside a filter sock secured to the sump.

I suppose that you need a primer on sump. Here are two good articles (part 1 through part 3) for that:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/gt/index.php
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-07/gt/index.php

Some tanks can be drilled for an internal/external overflow. However, many larger glass tanks are made of tempered glass on all sides to reduce the weight of the tank and cannot be drilled. You need to find out if your tank is drill-able (tempered) or not. Some people opt for drilling holes on the bottom. Some do it in the back (for shallow overflow box across the back of the tank). It depends on the type of overflow box you want to have.

 

[rale2001]

I wish one of our LFS could drill the tank. I think i'm leaning towards just making my 38 the reef and making the 55 a semi agressive tank. I'll just add the DIY sump to the 38. Ha Ha i just got my first couple starter corals over the weekend i'll post pix tonight. I'm so excited. I got a xenia covered rock a little mushroom and some kenya trees.

 

[Tomoko Schum]

Coral Reef Aquatics and K&M Glass can drill tanks as long as the glass is not tempered. I know that H@rry used HOB overflow boxes on his tanks without any issue for many years. You just have to make sure that a siphon break does no happen. Some HOB overflow boxes are designed well so that siphon breaks do not occur. Some use an Aqua Lifter vacuum pump to avoid it.

 

[walkerbrody]

Its the cpr HOB boxes and knockoffs of that style that work much better than the normal
U-tube type. The CPR boxes have a airline fitting at the top to allow for bubble collection