Potentially dumb sump questions

[Nate1632]

Hello I will be setting up a sump in a few weeks and I just wanted to make sure I'm doing this right. It's just going to be a 10 gallon for my 55. The 55 has been running for a year now and I would really like to throw out my HOB. So that means I can't drill so I got a lifereef overflow.

Does this look fine I would like to keep it simple

Also what's the best way to prevent a flood if the overflow stops

Thanks

 

[twilliard]

Raise the return pump to just below the water.
Now remember that chamber will fluctuate with evaporation so this is the end you want to stay level with topoff

 

[twilliard]

Also remember if the pump fails you need room in the sump to hold the overflow water

 

[James7733]

The are two things we sump users question. What if the power goes out? What if I loose my sipohon? First let me point out that an overflow box will restart on its own when the power comes back on.

Secondly your return pump room will determine how much water makes it way to the main tank if for some reason your overflow box looses its siphon. I put my return pump just under the water line that can not go above five inches as the other chambers will not let it. I then played with the electric over and over again proving a power out means nothing. The I stopped the siphon. Again no flooding since I do not fill the main tank all the way during normal operation. I keep it
One inch below the rim. This a 55 main tank with a 25L x 16H x 4W HOB and a 20 gallon sump. The fact of the matter is if the system is setup right there is no possibility of flooding.

 

[James7733]

Also I want to point out that adjustable gph return pumps are best.
These will let you slow down the gph water flow where as a power head may prove to weak or to strong. In my case I use a 400 adjustable that I actually slowed down. Remember what counts is how much gph your overflow box can truley handle.

 

[James7733]

One last thing. You can be clever with the hose from the return pump meaning since we know when the power goes out if the return pump hose is two inches in the main tanks water your getting that two inches of water in the sump. I placed mine in the HOB refugiums output. That way I get almost no backwash to the sump.

 

[Nate1632]

Well hello again thanks for all the answers
I just set the sump up and tested it
It's running great. It's so much quieter than the hob I had on. I don't really know what else to say so thanks

 

[Nate1632]

Btw it had to be a 10 gallon tank under the stand since the stand it too narrow even for a 20