sump return overflow problem

[Aidan123]

I think i am almost ready to start building my sump after a couple of weeks of looking around and research. Just a few things id like an additional opinion on.

In terms of preventing a flood(in the event the output tube(to the sump) is blocked for what ever reason) will housing the return pump in a small chamber in the sump prevent the entire sump volume from being pumped back into the display tank?

ive also read alot about this other issue, opinions differ greatly on each side. So the dreaded question....refugium or no refugium?

 

[spieszak]

To the first question... if the compartments are well sealed, yes. Your return pump will likely burn out, but you shouldn't flood as long as that compartment will not cause a flood. Something to look into if you have a "standard" reef ready tank though is to use the return pipe as an emergency drain and run your returns over the top. This means two pipes have to clog before you get into that scenario.

As to the fuge, its more about what you want, and what you want your sump to do for you. My first reaction to the question is always "why not?" Not because there aren't valid reasons to not have one, just because it tends to help focus the discussion...Also, to note, I don't think I've read anyone say fuge's are "bad", although I have read "not useful".. What I have read are lots of arguments on are how to stock and maintain one. That argument may never end, and that is where I stand in the process... trying to decide what I want to do with mine....

 

[Aidan123]

Thanks for the info Im unsure what you mean though about the return pipe being an emergency drain though

i dont think I'm going to bother with a fuge at the moment. I'll leave a space in my sump for one incase in the future i have a use for it. If I have problems in the future which can be resolved with macro-algea in the sump then i'll be glad i left a gap! I just dont want to over complicate things at the moment as its my first larger scale marine tank (my other is only 60 litres, the tank the sump is for is 260)

 

[spieszak]

You have two holes drilled for you overflow, correct? One larger one that is a drain, and one that comes up and out the side to return water to the tank? Rather than having your water return to the tank using that line/hole, use it as an emergency drain. Just plumb in a tall pipe that is taller than your regular overflow pipe, and run some pvc/flex from it back to the sump. Its dry 99% of the time, except if something clogs the main overflow. Hope that makes sense, it took me a while to understand it from reading, but I wouldn't run a single overflow tank any other way.

 

[Aidan123]

This is a picture of my tank(not mine, but i have the same one )

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/4/dscf1341k.jpg/

Note, in my tank both of the tubes are the height of the tallest in the picture.

Im unsure if your idea would still work considering this...

 

[spieszak]

I'm not either, considering I'm working based on the idea of an overflow box.
But, if one pipe is taller than the other, and one pipe stays dry all the time except if the first pipe gets clogged, then it seems to me the concept is the same.
That whole setup scares me though, as it doesn't appear that is anything that will stop the water from draining, well, ever. An overflow does that as it will not allow water to continue to drain once the water is below the height of the overflow teeth.

 

[spieszak]

Wait, I take that back. Looks like water will only drain until it is below the level of the shorter pipe. so, the ever part isn't valid. I assume if there is a check valve on the lower pipe that might work out, but I'm not sure how much I would trust it...

 

[Aidan123]

Aw yeah! i get you now! Took me a while hah

The tube to the sump is exactly the same as the one in the picture except it is taller. 3/4 of the attachment(on the end) is out of the water