question about setting up a sump

I currently have a 55G tank and would like to add a 10G sump. My plan was to make a siphon to provide intake water from my DT to the sump, but i don't know what kind of pump i would need to move the correct volume of water back to my DT, i don't want it overflow my DT and i don't want the sump to go dry. can anyone recommend a pump that is adustable, incase i get a larger tank for a sump or something that will work for what i'm trying to do? i didn't want to guess and do trial and error as that could get costly.. i'm not sure if it matters but my DT top sits 3 feet above where my sump will be positioned.

thanks

 

Well, you would have to figure out how many GPH your overflow would be capable of. Once you know that as long as the pump isn't moving more GPH than the overflow you are good to go. Like a 600GPH overlfow and a 500gph pump would be fine. A 600GPH overflow and a 1000gph pump would not. You can use a ball valve to restrict the flow also.

 

ok i thanks i'll decide off my overflow

 

You really don't want to siphon directly into the sump. Even if you could get the flow adjusted perfectly (which is highly doubtful), you would still end up flooding the sump in the event of a power outage. I use an overflow box for mine. You can get one for about $40 from an online store.

 

sweet thanks for the advice i'll get a pump based on the size of my overflow.

 

Agree with the above. Get an overflow box.

U-tube or lift pump. U-Tube is vulnerable to air bubbles breaking the syphon but as long as you have a strong pump the water should force the bubbles through. Lift Pump avoids the air bubble problem.

Once you get a overflow rated at for example, 1200GPH, buy a pump that is rated at 80% of that... say 1000GPH.

Sump will never overflow.

Hope that helps.

Here is what I used on my 55gal
CPR CS Overflow Boxes
Aquarium REEF Sump / Koi Pond Pump 1000 GPH w/13ft Head - eBay (item 330403619101 end time Feb-16-10 21:12:15 PST)

I bought a lift pump also.

You can spend much more. I chose the less expensive and it is working fine.

Mark

 

can i butt in here just to complicate matters even more?when you refer to billy boy working out his "overflow", how do you do that exactly and what is meant by it???

im a newbie to this and am just starting to grasp the sump/tank ideas/designs so thought it appropriate to ask as i have only heard the term "over flow" used in the sense of over flow weirs and over flow boxes? could you perhaps fill me in on this void in my knowledge,i would appreciate it!! sorry for butting in the thread here BILLY BOY(top name) and sorry i cant help to much on it!!! good luck and get us some pics up when its done(or before and afters!!) thanks guys

 

Siphon overflow boxes are not constant siphons. They are drains capable of handling up to a maximum amount of flow, in gallons per hour. You will know either by checking with the manufacturer of your overflow box or just by putting a valve on the output of your return pump and dialing it back until it doesn't flood.

I personally don't trust overflow boxes. There are people who have used them for years without problems and then there are those who end up with the siphon breaking for some reason and they end up with a flood. I think drilling the tank and putting on a proper drain system is much more safe and really not that difficult to do if your tank is not all tempered glass. Also unless you want to buy 2 overflow boxes you have no redundancy there, with drilling a tank you can easily fit redundant drains in there in case something happens with one you have another one to keep draining and you don't get a flood, if it's designed properly that is.

 

Good explanation. The overflow flow rate determines how big a pump you can buy. I recommend 20% margin on the overflow. Overtime "gunk" gets in the overflow and impedes its flow to a small extent. Pump performance can vary. Having some performance margin between the two is only smart.

Drilled tanks are the hands down the best option if you don't have tempered glass which I do. Thus I had to do a overflow. Next tank will be drilled.

M