Canister blues :(

Whatnow · Nov 26, 2015

75 gallon glass tank on black standard wood cabinet.

Well my Marineland c530 filter assembly gave me a terrible scare the other day and after I did my water change it wasn't pumping much after I started it and was just making noise. The primer button has been stuck for a while and won't work so I have to use my powerhead to pump water down to it to prime it.
Now for my question is I want a sump but the tank is setup and working and it has not been drilled so I'm guessing I would have to go with a Hob overflow....... now this scares me cause I have no knowledge of sumps and I've heard stories of hob overflows flooding your tank or draining your tank. So if you guys can give me some leads on how to do this properly I'd be forever grateful....
OH and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!

twilliard · Nov 26, 2015

I use an overflow with the aqua lifter pump.
The only thing i have to do is clean the tubing twice a month.
Easier than cleaning a canister

Whatnow · Nov 26, 2015

This scares me
http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/3-pieces-of-equipment-you-should-never-use/

twilliard · Nov 26, 2015

Whatnow said:
This scares me
http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/3-pieces-of-equipment-you-should-never-use/

That is a valid point
Where the problem occurs is when the siphon breaks, the return pump just keeps pumping.

Now when a method is applied to keep that siphon from breaking then there is no issue.

Ok so you ask what happens when the (for instance the aqualifter) fails.
Well that is the one risk i see when we dont want to drill the tank.
NOW here is my safety against that. Use a dc return pump that will shut down when the return section of the sump runs out of water.
So there are are ways to control this with todays technology

Whatnow · Nov 26, 2015

twilliard said:
Use a dc return pump that will shut down when the return section of the sump runs out of water

You use a float switch (to the pump) in the outside part of the hob?

Whatnow · Nov 26, 2015

Would you use a check valve in the return hose assembly so if the return pump fails it wont siphon back down and flood your sump?

Waters · Nov 27, 2015

I have always used HOB overflows for years (aside from my current tank). I have never had any issues with the siphon breaking or not restarting even with shutting it off once a week to do water changes. I never used any additional lifter pumps....never saw the need for them. As long as it is setup properly, they are pretty bulletproof. I had good luck with the eshopps models.

big deddy · Nov 27, 2015

I also use the eshopps hob overflow. I actually have watched mine during feeding and maintenance, pumps off, and during power outage. While I'm sure anything can happen, mine has always performed flawlessly. I have a 150 I'm am fixing to setup. After my experience with the eshopps on my 75, I haven't decided to drill or just run the eshopps. No complaints from me.

Whatnow · Nov 27, 2015

so here are a couple of pieces I'm looking at please tell me what else I'm missing
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eshopps-PF-...7f7d05&pid=100010&rk=1&rkt=24&sd=131394311104
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Eshopps-Ref...793334?hash=item1e9f0301f6:g:yIMAAOSwBLlVNt2Y
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-S...689634?hash=item3f571146a2:g:crQAAOxy3NBSoYAS
Plus 2 shutoff valves and tubing, a led for the refugium

3dees · Nov 28, 2015

or you can dump the canister and go sumpless.

twilliard · Nov 28, 2015

Whatnow said:
You use a float switch (to the pump) in the outside part of the hob?

Sorry for the late reply!
DC pumps will automatically shut down when it has no water.

Cleo642 · Nov 28, 2015

I don't see why people bash canister filters. I see them as basically as almost an enclosed sump. If I end getting a smaller tank, 55 gallons or less, I may get a canister filter. You can fill the trays with rock rubble, chemipure blue, and filter floss. And then you would not have to worry about floods either.

twilliard · Nov 28, 2015

Cleo642 said:
I don't see why people bash canister filters. I see as basically as almost an enclosed sump. If I end getting a smaller tank, 55 gallons or less, I may get a canister filter. You can fill the trays with rock rubble, chemipure blue, and filter floss. And then you would not have to worry about floods either.

So true!
I ran the reana xp3 for many years

until i went with such a huge skimmer then i had to set up a sump lol

Cleo642 · Nov 28, 2015

twilliard said:
So true!
I ran the reana xp3 for many years until i went with such a huge skimmer then i had to set up a sump lol

You can put anything you want in a canister filter. Ceramic rings.
I was about if people used crushed coral as a substrate, why wouldn't an undergravel filter work? That would be a huge amount of surface area for bacteria to grow.

twilliard · Nov 28, 2015

Cleo642 said:
You can put anything you want in a canister filter. Ceramic rings.
I was about if people used crushed coral as a substrate, why wouldn't an undergravel filter work? That would be a huge amount of surface area for bacteria to grow.

It would work if ran in reverse flow.
You almost lost me there!
Remember i am blonde

Cleo642 · Nov 28, 2015

twilliard said:
It would work if ran in reverse flow.
You almost lost me there!
Remember i am blonde

Poor twilliard

reeferKen · Nov 28, 2015

There are many examples of eshops overflow not breaking siphon on youtube. Here are tips on how to keep is silent

Whatnow · Nov 28, 2015

Its not that I dislike my canister filter I run carbon & phos-out bags, ceramic rings and instead of bio-balls I run the Seachem matrix. I basically pull all the trays and dump and clean the canister change my polishing pads and clean the black sponge material at the bottom then lower all the trays back in so all of my bacteria stay on the matrix and ceramic rings.... My deal is that its getting old and refusing to start sometimes and the primer button no longer is functioning- so I'm trying to get a the parts for a sump together before it fails..........