Custom sump help

[Knight420]

I have a 40g breeder, and a 10g standard. What my plan was to use a hang-on-the-side overflow from my display tank down to the 10g for a sump. I would then use another hang-on for the return.

hang on the side overflow
10g sump conversion kit
hang on the side return?
return pump

any suggestions would be great

 

[T-J]

Yes, all of this can work. Not my first choice, but yes, you can do this.
FYI, that pump is rated at 400gph with a 6 ft head max. If you have your tanks over each other and on a stand, you'll be somewhere around 4 feet of head. You'll get nowhere near 400gph at that point.

 

[dedragon]

if the tank isnt running right now, you are better off drilling the tank and using a regular overflow box. The hang on back or hob (i dont think anyone says hang on side, lol) overflow box you were looking at is probably one I would go with if I had to add on to an existing tank because it looks like you can attach a toms aqualifter or similar pump to the hob overflow so the siphon doesnt break. The thing I always worry about with this is if the hob overflow box does lose siphon like in a power outage, when power turns back on the return pump will add too much water to the tank and you will have to deal with saltwater on the floor in your home

 

[Knight420]

Yes, all of this can work. Not my first choice, but yes, you can do this.
FYI, that pump is rated at 400gph with a 6 ft head max. If you have your tanks over each other and on a stand, you'll be somewhere around 4 feet of head. You'll get nowhere near 400gph at that point.

would you recommend a different return pump?

 

[Knight420]

if the tank isnt running right now, you are better off drilling the tank and using a regular overflow box. The hang on back or hob (i dont think anyone says hang on side, lol) overflow box you were looking at is probably one I would go with if I had to add on to an existing tank because it looks like you can attach a toms aqualifter or similar pump to the hob overflow so the siphon doesnt break. The thing I always worry about with this is if the hob overflow box does lose siphon like in a power outage, when power turns back on the return pump will add too much water to the tank and you will have to deal with saltwater on the floor in your home

yes, the tank is going right now. Even if it was empty I don't feel comfortable drilling through glass. 1 mistake and I lose the tank.

 

[dedragon]

would you recommend a different return pump?

so many options there, probably the lowest cost but still widely used and works fine would be jebao pumps. For these dc pumps i get the largest size that fits and adjust the flow using the controller. idk if tj knows any lower priced ones that are trusted but these are about the lowest priced ones that i still feel relatively safe recommending

 

[dedragon]

yes, the tank is going right now. Even if it was empty I don't feel comfortable drilling through glass. 1 mistake and I lose the tank.

in that case i would just check with any glass shops nearby, they can usually cut a hole for you for cheap, just need usually 1 or 2 holes max for any of these overflows. a siphon break is something that can happen at anytime and is a much more costly mistake when it does, especially if you have carpet or wood floors nearby

 

[Knight420]

in that case i would just check with any glass shops nearby, they can usually cut a hole for you for cheap, just need usually 1 or 2 holes max for any of these overflows. a siphon break is something that can happen at anytime and is a much more costly mistake when it does, especially if you have carpet or wood floors nearby

I could add a switch like for an auto top-off, for the return pump, that way if the water gets too high the return will turn off.

 

[dedragon]

thats not a bad idea at all, did the same when i ran one, but imo really no point as it would be just as cheap to pay for a hole to be cut. hob overflows arent the best in general, i havent used one in over 15 years but i remember it was hard to keep the water levels from fluctuating in the wet/dry filter (old sump tech), which wasnt the best for a skimmer. they arent terrible but if you have the option to not do an hob overflow, i strongly recommend not to just too many headaches

 

[Knight420]

thats not a bad idea at all, did the same when i ran one, but imo really no point as it would be just as cheap to pay for a hole to be cut. hob overflows arent the best in general, i havent used one in over 15 years but i remember it was hard to keep the water levels from fluctuating in the wet/dry filter (old sump tech), which wasnt the best for a skimmer. they arent terrible but if you have the option to not do an hob overflow, i strongly recommend not to just too many headaches

little late since it already has water, fish and coral. I will just stick with my current drop in sump. It works fine, I was just trying to see if I could make more room. since I have a 10g laying around. I think I will do that with the next set up. Thank you.