Sump and CLS question

J

justin42279

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Sep 6, 2004
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Hey everyone.

I'm looking to do some modifications to my 55 gallon tank. I want to look into adding a CLS to get rid of the powerheads in my tank and attempt to make my own sump.

I like the plans found on this thread

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70100&highlight=closed+loop+system

My questions are mainly about a sump. I'm looking for a setup big enough to place my heaters and aqua c remora HOB skimmer in. This 55 gallon tank is undrilled so I was looking into overflow boxes but after stumbling onto the previous thread about CLS, I was wondering what would prevent me from using an intake simular to the one found on the CLS instead of an overflow box? I know that it would require 2 pumps on my sump compared to having 1 and an overflow box. I have a very limited knowledge on this and have been doing some reading show I might be way off.

Give me some feedback on this to so I know what path I'm heading down

Thanks everyone.

Justin
 
The key thing about a closed loop is that it's, well, closed. That means there is never anywhere for the water to go but the tank. Pump stalls, no problem, all the water stays in the system. For an intake, all you need is a tube that goes under the water, and a strainer to keep it from sucking livestock.

Sumps are different. Sumps can overflow onto the floor. For this you need an overflow in or on the tank to feed water to the sump, but stop when the water drops below a certain level. That way, when the pump goes off, the water will flow to the sump, but stop before the sump overflows.

I use both. I have an overflow going to the sump where the skimmer and fuge are, and a closed loop for added circulation.

Let me know if this requires more explanation.
 
I understand the differnet between a closed loop system and a sump. Their completely seperate and I have no intention of trying to combine them.

I also understand the principles behind the overflow box protecting against flooding along with having a few holes under the return pipe from the sump because once the pump stops, it will start sucking water from the display and my sump floods.

My newbie mind is just wondering about the possibilty of using an intake simular to the one found on the CLS instead of an overflow box. Now, in my mind, if I want to prevent the main tank from flooding into the sump, I can drill a few wholes about 1/4 inches under the waterline and once the intake starts sucking in air, it stops like it would for the return on the CLS

Does that make any sense or am I just completely out of it. My motivation for this is to stop myself from having to spend 70 bucks on an external overflow box. I can get ahold of two used mag 5's from a buddy to power this thing.
 
Oops, missed the point.

The problem with using a regular u-tube and drilling siphon breaks is that you would lose the siphon every time the pump stopped. Then it will restart, empty the sump, and possibly overflow the tank. The overflow box will stop flowing, but maintain the siphon. When the pump restarts, everything just goes on as usual. In theory.

Better answer?
 
ahh.. very true. I knew I was missing something.

I appreciate it mogurnda. I'll just stick with the external overflow box.

thanks
 
Something that comes to my mind is having a second mini-tank hanging on the side of the tank, THAT mini-tank has the overflow feed to the sump, and a siphen U shape doodad into the main tank.

Because of the siphen, both the tank and the mini-tank will always be at the exact same level.

Both ends of the siphen are well below the overflow, so if the pump stops, the overflow will go above water level, and stop draining water before the siphen is broken.

The U shape tube siphen would need to be large enough to flow however much water the pump is pumpingm having too small of one could overflow things nicely.



One thing to keep in mind though, i'm new to the aquarium thing, my 10g is my first tank, and i've never messed with the plans i'm suggesting, but i bet they'd work.
 
Nah, my whole goal was the prevent myself from having to buy the external overflow box but my newbie mind overlooked the fact that you have to prime the pump because there would be no water in the system. Adding a mini tank as you call it would be more of a hassle.
 
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