Sump design

[mr.maroonsalty]

I sandwiched two 1/8 panes together with silicon.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

Drill the tank and put an overflow box in the tank.

if you use a hang on overflow make sure you use a tube type (lifereef style) and not one of the cpr weir style ones.

Please describe why. I use a cpr, and the way it fails is when the hole that air is pumped from gets clogged; the water flow gradually slows as air displaces water at the top of the syphon, keeping an eye at the water level in the overflow chamber will give you a heads up this is happening.

 

[toddmh]

Please describe why. I use a cpr, and the way it fails is when the hole that air is pumped from gets clogged; the water flow gradually slows as air displaces water at the top of the syphon, keeping an eye at the water level in the overflow chamber will give you a heads up this is happening.

That bubble is why..I hear lots of people say that bubble caused them trouble with CPR overflows..Drilling is the best way to go,but I can not so I am going to use a "U"tube type of box..

Lots of people say they are way more reliable..

 

[captain7359]

Please describe why. I use a cpr, and the way it fails is when the hole that air is pumped from gets clogged; the water flow gradually slows as air displaces water at the top of the syphon, keeping an eye at the water level in the overflow chamber will give you a heads up this is happening.

Todd got it. the water velocity is much slower through the weir style, due to the greater cross section area, and allows more bubbles to rise out and collect in the top, eventually breaking the siphon. Relying on a little pump is right up there with check valves in this hobby, unfortunately. I ran a lifereef single overflow for years and luckily never had a problem. I ran as much water through the overflow as it could handle just to keep the velocity up and keep the air out of the u tube, but still always to have a small pocket of air that formed once in a while.

 

[mr.maroonsalty]

I use the venturi on an in tank ph; I get a few bubbles, but like mj's the aquaclears run for years. I would much rather have an over-the-back overflow, and will likely never use a hang on again.

 

[Paradiddle7]

Cardiffgiant gives excellent points, especially since most of that advice is learned the hard way when starting out in this hobby. Redundancy and safety is super important. I've come home to wet floors and of course had things malfunction while out of the country and tried to explain to my parents how to fix things!

Float valves and optical sensors are your friends. Invest in them, not only to automate tasks but as double redundant checks. Make sure you use a dual float valve ATO or one with optical sensors because they do not fail as often as floats. Having an ATO with dual sensors is also great because you will not screw up your salinity either. The upper sensor stays new and dry and will most likely not fail before the lower one.

I use check valves only as a convenience. It keeps my sump from filling up all the way when I turn off my main pump for feedings etc... This way my skimmer doesn't overflow. It's also nice to keep the pump primed for easy restarting. Use the clear kind with the unions so you can easily disassemble it and clean it, inspect it and replace it. Nonetheless, make sure that your sump can hold all your siphoned water from your return plumbing.

Since my new tank is built into the wall and I have hardwood floors, I will be hooking up a float/optical switch in the display tank as an emergency backup to shut the main sump pump down so that my tank will not overflow on the hardwood floors.