55g reef tank wet/dry system

ok i started my 2nd salt water tank and for the first time im trying a wet/dry filter... yesturday i set up the 55g tank, i put the rock in, then sand, then water and used to little top fin 55 filters to help cycle and get the sand 2 settle. i woke up the sand was settled then i headed to the store to get my filter system, i bought the whole wet/dry system with a ViaAqua 4900 pump. i just dont have the whole over flow kit and i dont have a predrilled tank....what should i do? do i have to go buy the overflow kit or can i make somthing my on my own?


THANKS!,

DAVID

 

well you could do a diy overflow with pvc but if there is a power outage it wouldnt restart probobly ending up with a burnt out pump

or you could build a weir (basicly like an overflow box you would buy) if you are good with acrylic work

or you could buy an overflow.

 

You can by something that hangs on the back of the tank called an overflow. There usually 60$. you an attach your plumbing to it. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578 3579 3642&pcatid=3642

 

Just a word of warning. Overflows will eventually collect air bubbles at the top of the U tube. If you pay attention or have an aqualifter you wont have a problem. If you forget you get to clean up salt water from your floor.

I just had to clean up about 6 or 7 gallons off the floor when my overflow from my fuge to my sump broke while I was at work. It sucks so pay attention to overflows.

 

dang man... that kinda scares me now lol

 

so should i setup my overflow thing just under the water level so if the power goes off the syphen breaks?

 

even with overflows nothing should overflow onto your floor
the ones you buy should just stop when the power goes out and then restart when the pump turns back on

if it lost siphon the water in the pipes shouldnt be anywhere close enough to overflow the sump
or if it kept going when the power went out, eventually it wouldnt have enough water to overflow, and you should have enough sump space to accompany that water anyways.

the most likley thing if the siphon broke, water in the return chamber would pump into the tank but it shouldnt overflow because the water level in the tank went down when the overflow kept going until it ran out of water to overflow.

so your just gonna end up with a burnt out return, or nothing and it just keeps going normal when it turns back on