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JinxXx0085

JinxXx0085

AC Members
Jun 12, 2005
379
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16
Montana
:dive2: I'm doing my homework! When I move... I would like to buy a bigger FW tank and then turn my 29g into SW/reef.
So... any good info about overflow and sump? Keep this in mind... I have ZERO experience w/ SW.
A friend of mine is starting one up. WOO HOO, I'll be sure to soak everything in from her experience :) :bowing: I'll defintely be helping her out with whatever I've learned too so we both can avoid any diaster that might befall her :joke: LOL.
 
Any comments about overflow or sump? I'm hungry for more information.
 
What sort of headache would I get if I used an overflow?
 
Overflow and sump

:sad: :sad: :sad:
I was hoping that I would get bunch of comments about this.
I don't want to drill any holes in my 29g. I want to keep it as it is. So... like I said I am HUNGRY for information :rolleyes:
 
JinxXx0085 said:
:sad: :sad: :sad:
I was hoping that I would get bunch of comments about this.
I don't want to drill any holes in my 29g. I want to keep it as it is. So... like I said I am HUNGRY for information :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
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. In response I posted a link to melev's site because it is jam-packed with information from a very experienced reefkeeper. Have a look.

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.
 
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I have a 25g already set up, and I decided I wanted a 10g sump. Well, it would have been a tricky and not reliable feat since the tank is not drilled and I was not willing to unload it to get it drilled.
Some people use gravity, putting the sump higher than the display and letting the water siphon into the display from above, and then pumping from the display to the sump. But its very unreliable and can cause a huge mess if the siphon and pump are not synchronized well. I.E. too much water overflowing the sumpr or pourng into the display (what if power outage???) your siphon cntinues and your pump stops? 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.

I wanted a sump to setup a refugium, but....if your using a water pump to lift water from your display, the critters you want for your refuge will get chopped up by the pump and the health of your 'pods' is questionable.
Soooooooo, I will opt for a hang-on refugium, that can be picked up for less than 80 dollars, and have peace of mind knowing their will be no plumbing problems.
I will save the sump question for the next tank, that I will have drilled before I set it up.
welcome to the salty side :)
 
you can use a hang on back overflow kit. i have one that i never used for my 29 that was a cpr (i believe, from marinedepot.com) and i plumbed it so it would drian under the stand where you could fit a 10 gallon tank. i guess id be willing to sell it since i never used it. its more or less like this.... but older model

overflow box
 
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