sump overflow question

[deg40]

I have a 29g reef, I want to add a sump, but the tank isn't drilled. They make the overflow boxes that hang on the back of the tank like a power head and syphon water to the sump. Being a 29g, however, I can't fit much of a sump in the stand, I have a closet maybe 3 feet away from where I could set the overflow box so perhaps 5 feet of tubing. Does anyone know if the syphon out of the overflow boxes are strong enough to keep a sump running over that distance??? Thanks

Dan

 

[born2lovefish]

The sump will run at the rate the pump is able to refill the tank. The water goes in "circles"

 

[deg40]

Will it syphon fine even if the sump is around a corner from the tank?

 

[stingray4540]

It should, I syphon water from my tanks during water changes to my bath tub through a 25ft hose, and it syphons like crazy. as long as what you are syphoning to is lower than what you are syphoning from, water will syphon no problem, just be sure you have a pump that can pump water back into the tank as fast as the water is being syphoned from the tank.

 

[dorkfish]

just be sure you have a pump that can pump water back into the tank as fast as the water is being syphoned from the tank.

With an overflow box, the water will only siphon as fast as the pump returns the water, so you don't need to worry about the pump not being fast enough.

deg40, everything will work as long as:

• You plumb the overflow box to drain into the sump.
• You have a pump plumbed to move water back to the tank, that gives you your desired GPH at that head pressure.
• You fill the sump with water (saltwater).
• You prime the overflow.
• You start the pump.