How you calibrate the water flow in a sump return using an overflow box?

[Gunzen]

Okay, so there is the deal. I have 13.5 fluval and love it. However, I am disabled. I can still do most things but MS slows me down.

I want to add a 5 gallon bucket filled with 4 gallons so I can change water often and without effort, simply switch the buckets. I will also add a light and macro algae to the sump. I figure the extra water would help with stability too.

So I want to use a nano overflow from Marine Depot and run it down to a bucket that will be in a cabinet directly next to my tank just the ( the return pump would sit less than a foot below the tank itself) I was just wondering how you keep the pump from flowing too hard and the slimmer box from drying out?

Do you simply put a ball valves and wing it? And if the pump dries out will it burn? I really don’t need it to too strong.

Any suggestions would be great, thanks.

Here is the height of the bucket. I will build a cabinet this to size.

Just wanna make sure it is plausible.

 

[McArcher]

The overflow box works on a siphon. It will only flow as much as you put in it. Just make sure the pump you use doesn’t pump more than the rating of the box and you’re good to go. I would use safety factor of at least two to make sure.

 

[Gunzen]

The overflow box works on a siphon. It will only flow as much as you put in it. Just make sure the pump you use doesn’t pump more than the rating of the box and you’re good to go. I would use safety factor of at least two to make sure.

Okay, when I get the overflow, I will let you know, thanks.

 

[Gunzen]

Okay, when I get the overflow, I will let you know, thanks.

So I am getting the ehopps nano overflow, that say 200 gallons per hours, and suggestion? Something that pumps back at 100 at 6 feet, as mind as I put a ball valve I should be fine if I slow it down no?

 

[Gunzen]

Okay, I admit it, I am lost. I just need to know what side pump to pump 3-5 feet up with this overflow for my fluval 13.5.

It’s rated up to 200 gallons an hours and has a 3/4 inch diameter hose.

Thanks

 

[NeedMoreReef]

most small submersible pumps have a max head height of about 6' . the maxijet 1200 might do the trick. I would suggest scratch a mark inside the bucket indicating 4 gallons; this will let you know when and how much evaporation to replace.

this is a great idea by the way. It will make water changes super easy.(just not sure I'd have anything else like macro in the bucket though)

 

[Gunzen]

most small submersible pumps have a max head height of about 6' . the maxijet 1200 might do the trick. I would suggest scratch a mark inside the bucket indicating 4 gallons; this will let you know when and how much evaporation to replace.

this is a great idea by the way. It will make water changes super easy.(just not sure I'd have anything else like macro in the bucket though)

Yeah, I basically want to be able to remove the bucket and place a fresh one in with the same amount of water. I thought I would use macro in it so I could cultivar copepods in it. I want a mandarin and I don’t want him to starve.

So basically, if you add a ball joint you want a pump with a little higher of gph? I am so confused. I can build anything but math isn’t my step suit.

I want to turn the tank over 5 to ten times and hours. The overflow is 200 gph so I will probably have to cut it down a little the elbows might do that along with the Pvc distance.

So any pump around 300 gph with a valve on the back to slow it below the overflow rate right? If it is slower than the overflow, the overflow will adjust accordingly right?

 

[McArcher]

I would go with something like the Sicce Syncra 1.5. By the time you plumb it, it will probably flow around 130 gph. It has a built in flow restrictor so you can dial in the flow.