sump question

[nico]

Hi all
I've just finished setting up my new 6x2x28 tropical/cat tank, which is running a 3 foot sump. Currently 2 x 1 inch gravity feed hoses down into the sump with a King 4 4200 LPH pumping it back up.
Now my question is, im not having much luck with the spray bars so was wanting to know if the rotating arms are a better idea or using a drip-plate.

Cheers
Nick

 

[OrionGirl]

Are you talking about in the return? I use the flexible joint arms, with flat heads, and it works very well. Rotating parts are nifty, but a PITB--they tend to require frequent cleaning to remove bio-film and algae growths that clog them and slow them down or stall them.

 

[nico]

Im using two hoses that gravity feed the (dirty) water down into the sump, on the end of those hoses are a length of hose with small drilled holes in it to spread the water out over the filter wool, trap pieces of food etc and to collect as much oxygen as possible for bacterial growth, under the wool are about 500 bio-cubes and then under that is 20 rolls of gutter guard. In the other compartment is where the submerisible pump is with one hose pumping the (clean) water back inot the tank.

Thanks in advance

Cheers Nick

 

[OrionGirl]

AH, okay, so where the water hits the sump. The drip plates are very effective at spreading the water out, but I just used a plastic box, drilled a hole in one side for the hose to go into, and then filled it with sponge. The open part is on one side, so the water hits the sponge, flows through them, and out the side into the main compartment of the sump. Sponges are easily removed and rinsed.

 

[nico]

Hello OrionGirl

Thats a good idea thanks heaps, im going to get some plate this mornin.
Just one more thing, how do you take out the hissing or girgulling noise or do i just live with it.

Thanks again
Nick

 

[OrionGirl]

There are a couple of methods. I don't have the plans for the method I used off hand, and this is for the water going into the sump from the overflow. It involves running a length of PCV up with a hole drilled at the top --not easy to explain. Google Quieting overflow, and there are lots of plants out there--that's how I found the method I'm using.

For the water coming into the sump, I just make sure the end of the hose is below the water level--there's still some gurgling of bubbles, but much quieter than the water dropping into the tank.

 

[nico]

Hi OrionGirl

Im not using a overflow box, ive got 2x1'' hoses attached to bulkheads and strainers.
Im putting in the drip plate today hop for the best.

Cheers
Nick

 

[OrionGirl]

Well, without an overflow box, you best bet is to cover the strainers with a sponge--muffles the sound, but also slows the water down, and gets worse as waste accumulates in the sponges.

Using a smaller diameter tubing might also work if there's too much noise--the noise is usually worse when more air can mix with the water. Adapting the 1 inch strainers down to 3/4 tubing should be enough to see an improvement, if there is still too much noise.

 

[nico]

Hi OrionGirl

It started off with 2x 3/4 hoses but could not feed enough water down into the sump so i upgraded to the 2x1". Thanks for the idea about the sponge over the strainers. Drip plates does work alot better. I was thinking about putting a b/valve on each hose to raise the level of water in the tank and reduce the amount of air being sucked into the hose.

Thanks again.
Nick

P.S will post pics soon