I was thinking about building a small sump for my new nano reef and I had a question I know that a sump is just like a storage tank with a feed line and a return line my question is instead of using a overflow box could you use a just a plane peice of hose and start a suction on it like you would your siphon hoses for cleaning if you were only going to use a rio power head for a return pump? if so what rio pump would you need if you were only pumping the water back up like 2'-3' let me know you thoughts and ideas on this and if anyone has tried it before thank you. :dive2:
question about a DIY sump idea
- Thread starter amf82380
- Start date
reefrash
bartender another round of skimmate
The only problem with that method is if you break siphon and your pump keeps pumping, you'll overflow the tank. Best to have an overflow box, look in the DIY section for an easy fun project.
how about if you were to use a power head (being that is only a small nano reef) as the return pump and only put it so far into the sump so if the siphon breaks the pump runs out of water it will be plugged into a GF outlet so if it gets to hot or anything it will trip the circut so it wont catch fire or anything?
reefrash
bartender another round of skimmate
You culd do that, it just seems to me that replacing a pump is a lot more expensive than having a few pieces of glass cut, and half an afternoon of siliconing to make it right. If you want a walk through on the concept I'll help. I've ghettoed too many tanks, and trust me this is not the area you want to ghetto (unless of course you have very good homeowners ins.).
no definity dont want to do that and a walk thru process of making one would be great a question I have is what size should it be because its only a 5 1/2 gal nano reef and I will probably be using a rio or a maxi jet power head as the return which will be going up about 2 1/2 ' and what should the gph be on the return?
patoloco
De seguro no sabes lo que dice aqu
Hi. This is my first post in the marine section.
About this issue, gatting a sump system work based on a syphon creates at least 2 potential problems.
1- Flow control. It will be hard to set your pump at the exact same flow rate as your down line. If one excceds the other, you'll have an overflow in the tank or in the sump.
2- Dependability: power fails. If you have a blackout, the syphon wil keep on and the pump will stop. Also, when power returns, the pump begins to work, but the syphon might or might not restart by his own. If you are not home during the black out, you might have your tank unfiltered for several hours.
About this issue, gatting a sump system work based on a syphon creates at least 2 potential problems.
1- Flow control. It will be hard to set your pump at the exact same flow rate as your down line. If one excceds the other, you'll have an overflow in the tank or in the sump.
2- Dependability: power fails. If you have a blackout, the syphon wil keep on and the pump will stop. Also, when power returns, the pump begins to work, but the syphon might or might not restart by his own. If you are not home during the black out, you might have your tank unfiltered for several hours.
reefrash
bartender another round of skimmate
Take pics of your tank and let the games begin. Your job is to look at overflow boxes and look at why they are the way they are. We will integrate that concept into your tank. I'm having fun already.
Patoloco, Is that Rio Tarcoles in your avatar? AMAZING country you have. In fact my girlfriends parents are in Quepos/Manuel Antonio right now, and I'll be down there in May. (south swells...).
Patoloco, Is that Rio Tarcoles in your avatar? AMAZING country you have. In fact my girlfriends parents are in Quepos/Manuel Antonio right now, and I'll be down there in May. (south swells...).
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here are some other tank shots
LR
Yellow tail blue damsel hiding
BLue legged hermitt
Side View of Tank
Tank with Blue atinics on
Some more LR and a better pic of the damsel
LR
Yellow tail blue damsel hiding
BLue legged hermitt
Side View of Tank
Tank with Blue atinics on
Some more LR and a better pic of the damsel
reefrash
bartender another round of skimmate
O.K. it's glass, cool. Where do you want the overflow? corner? middle? Do you mind the box being mounted to your tank?