Chrisk's First Saltwater Tank (Journal)
- Thread starter ChrisK
- Start date
DIY Sump/Overflow
I've decided to convert a 10 gallon tank I had laying around to a sump. Even though my current water conditions are completely acceptable, (undetectable nitrate levels), i've decided to be proactive, not to mention the extra water volume will be nice. I made the sump last night, didn't get any pictures of the process because my wife had the camera with her will take shots of the finished product when I get home. I'm gonna use a pvc overflow, with a 230gph return pump. My question is what size pvc should use to keep up with that pump? I was thinking either 3/4 or 1 inch. Opinions needed.
I've decided to convert a 10 gallon tank I had laying around to a sump. Even though my current water conditions are completely acceptable, (undetectable nitrate levels), i've decided to be proactive, not to mention the extra water volume will be nice. I made the sump last night, didn't get any pictures of the process because my wife had the camera with her will take shots of the finished product when I get home. I'm gonna use a pvc overflow, with a 230gph return pump. My question is what size pvc should use to keep up with that pump? I was thinking either 3/4 or 1 inch. Opinions needed.
Well after a long weekend with family in and all I finally got a chance to test the sump, and amazingly not a single leak :thm: :lol: Here is a shot of the sump holding water to keep the thread alive. I will build the pvc overflow tomorrow and post some updates.
They are acrylic. I'm gonna have it set up as follows from left to right:
1.) Carbon/Bioballs
2.) Skimmer/Live rock pieces
3.) Bubble Trap
4.) 230 gph return pump
I've decided to use 3/4 inch pvc for the overflow I'm hoping that will be enough to keep up with the pump, the flow is adjustable on the pump anyway so I should be good.
1.) Carbon/Bioballs
2.) Skimmer/Live rock pieces
3.) Bubble Trap
4.) 230 gph return pump
I've decided to use 3/4 inch pvc for the overflow I'm hoping that will be enough to keep up with the pump, the flow is adjustable on the pump anyway so I should be good.
Either the 1" drain or the 3/4" drain would have worked well. There's no harm in having extra drain capacity. Are you building a DIY overflow box?
I hope your baffles hold up well. They appear to be siliconed in, and silicone does not bond to acrylic very well. Maybe it's just the angle, but they look kind of thin to me... If they start to bow from the flow of the water moving through once the sump is operational, that could strain the poor bond between the acrylic and the silicone, increasing the chance that they come undone.
I hope your baffles hold up well. They appear to be siliconed in, and silicone does not bond to acrylic very well. Maybe it's just the angle, but they look kind of thin to me... If they start to bow from the flow of the water moving through once the sump is operational, that could strain the poor bond between the acrylic and the silicone, increasing the chance that they come undone.
Thanks for the comments/questions. I've filled it up and emptied it multiple times with now bowing, or leaks I'll keep my fingers crossed they do not come undone. I looked at quite a few diy's using silicone to bond acrylic to glass, guess I should have asked for advice on that before I built them. Should I have used glass baffles, or is there something different I could have used to bond the acrylic? I'm bult a pvc overflow but no box, I'll snap some pictures when I get home. Again thanks for the comment and question
I have read about the lack of bond to silicone as well but have also read just as many posts about those that used acrylic baffles and have no issues/leaks for many, many years. Those success stories cite the limited flow and pressure in sumps. The other drawback I have read about with glass is that it breaks. I am just about ready to put my sump together but had to go to a 20H instead of a 20L because the 20L is too big to go under my stand 
. Still undecided on whether I will use glass or acrylic. Thinking acrylic.
. Still undecided on whether I will use glass or acrylic. Thinking acrylic.
I'm gonna stick with the acrylic baffles they are 1/4 inch thick, and I feel fairly safe with them. Here is a couple of shots of the overflow I built, one white, and one after I painted it black (still needs some touch up) to match the background of the tank. The black picture will be how it will sit in the tank, and the white picture would be if you were taking a shot from the back of the tank. Now just waiting on the pump to come in and the sump will be up and running.
^I have to admit... I don't quite understand how that type of overflow works. Please explain, as it looks like it could be a simple solution for anyone having a non-drilled tank that wants to add a sump / refugium.
How does it keep from breaking siphon during a power outage?
If the flow through your sump is not too strong, you really shouldn't have issues with acrylic + silicone. You could have used glass baffles -- I cut mine from old aquariums. As for a better alternative for joining silicone to glass, I'm not sure what that would be.
How does it keep from breaking siphon during a power outage?
If the flow through your sump is not too strong, you really shouldn't have issues with acrylic + silicone. You could have used glass baffles -- I cut mine from old aquariums. As for a better alternative for joining silicone to glass, I'm not sure what that would be.
