Sump Question

[Film]

So I have a 24g aquarium and since I'm not running a sump I have all equipment in the tank hogging room...

I've decided to add a smaller sump (Size Unknown) underneath it where I can store all the equipment. This will also add more water volume to my system so I can have a bit more lee way if I do something wrong in the future.

My idea is to get a PVC piping and run 2 lines to and from the tank. Of coarse one pipe will be sucking out the water and one will be putting water in.

I am afraid that my small fish may get stuck to the return pipe... But that can most likely be fixed.

Just wanted to know if anyone on here has done this before and if they can share tips with me. :tongue:

 

[rng_pw]

Can you add an overflow box or something?
Store Filtration Supplies Overflow Boxes | Siphon Tubes

Ricky,

 

[Wy Renegade]

So I have a 24g aquarium and since I'm not running a sump I have all equipment in the tank hogging room...

I've decided to add a smaller sump (Size Unknown) underneath it where I can store all the equipment. This will also add more water volume to my system so I can have a bit more lee way if I do something wrong in the future.

My idea is to get a PVC piping and run 2 lines to and from the tank. Of coarse one pipe will be sucking out the water and one will be putting water in.

I am afraid that my small fish may get stuck to the return pipe... But that can most likely be fixed.

Just wanted to know if anyone on here has done this before and if they can share tips with me. :tongue:

Wanna explain what you mean by having one of the pipes sucking? I've drilled tanks and added bulkheads and done the plumbing with PVC pipe, but I don't think there would be an effective way to suck the water out and return it. Doing so would require that you have two seperate pumps moving equal volumes of water, one to suck and one to return - if the pumps get out of wack, you'll have a huge mess on your hands. Just my $.02 worth.

 

[AZDesertRat]

You will need a hang on overflow box to siphon from the display to the sump and a pump to push it back up from the sump to the display.
www.melevreef.com has a good article on sumps and overflows. Places like eshops sell overflow boxes.

 

[Troylee]

Either you drill the bottom or back and use a overflow box or you can build a over the back drain not really pretty and not sure how well they work either... Check out glass cages they make nice boxes... If you don't use a box you won't get the nasty stuff off the surface... No surface skimming in other wards... It's a pretty simple design I can help ya with any questions you got...

 

[Film]

Wanna explain what you mean by having one of the pipes sucking? I've drilled tanks and added bulkheads and done the plumbing with PVC pipe, but I don't think there would be an effective way to suck the water out and return it. Doing so would require that you have two seperate pumps moving equal volumes of water, one to suck and one to return - if the pumps get out of wack, you'll have a huge mess on your hands. Just my $.02 worth.

Didn't really think about that. But I actually found a guy whose going to help me with it. Thanks for the information though guys.

 

[AZDesertRat]

Gravity down, pump back up. Two pumps are impossible to balance and will create problems.A drilled hole, bulkhead and screen will work but they have major drawbacks. One is they are noisy since it is not as easy to balance the air and water flows for a smooth suction. Another is they do not surface skim as well and yet another is the water level will drop to the lowest point when the power is off so can drain a large amount of water to your sump.
Overflow boxes are the way to go, internal is preferred but good hang ons work well too.

 

[beaslbob]

you could make an overflow of pvc and not have to drill the tank.

the input to the drain can have a screen or sponge to prevent fish and snails from entering.

The sump could be plastic storage containers. One larger on for refugium or skimmer and another smaller one for the actual sump. The level in the larger one would be constant whereas the sump area, the level would rise/fall opposite the display. the smaller area would make it easier to adjust.


my .02

 

[Wy Renegade]

Either you drill the bottom or back and use a overflow box or you can build a over the back drain not really pretty and not sure how well they work either... Check out glass cages they make nice boxes... If you don't use a box you won't get the nasty stuff off the surface... No surface skimming in other wards... It's a pretty simple design I can help ya with any questions you got...

Gravity down, pump back up. Two pumps are impossible to balance and will create problems.A drilled hole, bulkhead and screen will work but they have major drawbacks. One is they are noisy since it is not as easy to balance the air and water flows for a smooth suction. Another is they do not surface skim as well and yet another is the water level will drop to the lowest point when the power is off so can drain a large amount of water to your sump.
Overflow boxes are the way to go, internal is preferred but good hang ons work well too.

Surface skimming can be accomplished by using a PVC pipe overflow within the tank with a bulkhead, and is just as effective as an overflow box if you set it up correctly. Also if you set your PVC pipe up as a Durso type overflow it is neither noisy or hard to balance out.

 

[AZDesertRat]

The LFS by me has all their tanks with PVC pipe and screens in the tanks and they are noisy and unsightly. I would never do without an overflow box. A durso would look like a monster without being hidden.

 

[Wy Renegade]

The LFS by me has all their tanks with PVC pipe and screens in the tanks and they are noisy and unsightly. I would never do without an overflow box. A durso would look like a monster without being hidden.

I will agree with you that it can be unsightly, but a strategically placed island of LR on that side of the tank will hide it easy enough.

 

[Troylee]

i perfer ext. boxes just so they dont take up prime real estate but either get the job done... grab some black acrylic and silicone a little box with a wier on top and all issues are solved...