Overflow/Sump

[JinxXx0085]

At a smaller forum you may have to wait for answers occasionally. It would also help if your questions were more specific. "Please post about sumps and overflows" isn't a very specific question.

I suppose I'm used to the FW forum's speed of responses I'll be more patient then And also its hard for me to ask specific question if I know ZERO about SW, so thats why I was asking for general information and good links so now I've learned a tad more and I can ask a bit better question next time and maybe with time I'll be able to stump some reefers w/ my question? Ha ha.

To get back to your question, hang on overflows depend on siphons. Siphons fail. Then interesting things happen. You have to be a lot more vigilant to keep this from happening than if the tank were drilled.
It's not at all clear that you need a sump. If you want simplicity, skip the sump. If all you want is a place for a skimmer, there are some very good HOB skimmers out there.

Some people arrange the siphon so if the water gets to less than a certain point the siphon stops, this would help in the event of a power failure.

Yes, sump sounds like a bit more of complicated :thud: . I thought it would be great idea to have all of stuff hidden so I'm willing to go with complicated things. Or unless I haven't seen good ones that hangs on back that looks a-ok. As for powerloss, I've read through the link mogurnda referred me to. So, I'll be playing around with the water levels before I add any salt to water. I would unplug the power and see how much water drains and etc. I only hope I've understood what I've read so far. Thats why I'm here. I'm not setting SW anytime soon. It'll be when I move ~3years so the plan is to get parts here and there so by the time I move I'll have everything ready. I sure don't want to drill any holes in this tank, what if I want to go back to FW or whatever I might decide to do with it.

I can't think of anything else to ask at the moment, brain freeze! Feedbacks would be greatly appreciated. I know I don't really have actual question here. :huh:
Just throw something at me to think about. Thanks.


Jdellman, thanks for the link.

Wastememphis, I'll PM you.

 

[OrionGirl]

A couple things to consider--the sumps are great for hiding equipment, but as mentioned, can fail, resulting in the potential for water everywhere. Not great. But, with smaller setups, you can look at converting a HOB filter with a large, open media basket, like an AC 500 into a mini sump, for much equipment, a bit more water capacity, and less potential for flooding. The important thing--no matter how you set it up--TEST the system several times before trusting it! Spend some time thinking about the animals you want to keep, and see if they will be able to impact your system, and then safeguard against that! For example--snails can enter siphon tubes and slow the water flow, so make sure they can't get into them, or that the system will be okay with slower water movement (most won't be!).

 

[Swimfins]

Another thing Jinxx there is no law that says you need a protein skimmer, sump or refugium. If your willing to waterchange regularly. It can all work just fine.
The reason I want a refuge or sump is to culture amphipods, as my goal is to be able to keep a mandarin fish, which prefers live food...pods, so the necessity of providing a refugium for pods so my greedy wrasse will not eat all.

 

[JinxXx0085]

Thanks everybody for your comments!! I'm still looking into stuff! It helped. If I come across something I'm stumped about I'll be sure to use this thread (as long its about sump or overflow )