Ack! Overfloooow

asid61 · 08/04/2011, 10:43 AM

OH NOES MY AQUARIUM OVERFLOWED!

The return pump on my sump was too powerful by like 0.2 GPH, so it took 3 days for it to happen, and I knew it would happen, so I asked my mom to take me to the Home Depot to get a ball valve and supplies for the Hofer Gurgle Buster every day. There was not enough space in the aquarium for everything, so I couldn't eliminate the sump.
Then, last night it overflowed.
My mom is going to force me to take it down unless I can get good reasons for having a sump! Anybody give me reasons!

Lynnmw1208 · 08/04/2011, 11:20 AM

So I'm confused... do you have a sump or don't you? What kind of set up are you running? over the top overflow box? drilled tank with overflow box? canister filter? A little more information will help us determine what is wrong.

On a 29 gallon tank an aquaclear hang on the back filter would be plenty imo.

Bama Man · 08/04/2011, 11:23 AM

A sump is a great addition to have for several reasons. First it gives your system a larger amount of water. This is a benefit in that when you have parameter changes in your system the changes don't adversly affect the tank as quickly. With a smaller tank without a sump the bad parameter changes QUICKLY affect the health and life of your tank inhabitants. So the sump is beneficial for your livestock. Another benefit is that the sump gives you a place to put a lot of your equipment such as heaters, etc. to make your tank look better. You can enjoy your fish and/or corals without seeing all the equipment in the DT. A sump also makes for easier water changes.
These are a few of the benefits. Once you get it all set up properly you will find a sump is a great asset to your system. You might find another local reefer or reef club that can give you advice and help gettingg it set up correctly. Good luck with your sump.

asid61 · 08/04/2011, 11:33 AM

I have an overflow box (Iwasn't allowed to drill the tank), a 60 gallon power filter, the tank is a 44 gallon pentagonal corner, and the sump is a 10 gallon.
The hood doesn't give a lot of space though for a filter and skimmer, so I l couldn't move my stuff to the DT from the sump.

SneakyPete · 08/04/2011, 11:35 AM

Sounds like you need to T off your return line and put a gate valve on the T and send it back into your sump.

See picture.

Then you can adjust it so that it doesn't overflow your DT.

Sumps are nice. They increase water volume (making water more stable). Offer a place to put pesky individuals. They also offer a place to hide equipment. Keep the sump, set up a T and a gate to send some return back to the sump.

LOTUS50GOD · 08/04/2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakyPete

Sounds like you need to T off your return line and put a gate valve on the T and send it back into your sump.

See picture.

Then you can adjust it so that it doesn't overflow your DT.

Sumps are nice. They increase water volume (making water more stable). Offer a place to put pesky individuals. They also offer a place to hide equipment. Keep the sump, set up a T and a gate to send some return back to the sump.

I agree + 1

papagimp · 08/04/2011, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SneakyPete

Sounds like you need to T off your return line and put a gate valve on the T and send it back into your sump.

See picture.

Then you can adjust it so that it doesn't overflow your DT.

Sumps are nice. They increase water volume (making water more stable). Offer a place to put pesky individuals. They also offer a place to hide equipment. Keep the sump, set up a T and a gate to send some return back to the sump.

+1 This is a quick and very easy fix. Not one worth taking the sump out completely for. Tell your mom a good reason for having the sump is your trying to do this tank the "right" way and not settle for taking the easy bare minimum road. Then you add "didn't you try to raise me to do the best I can?"

Lynnmw1208 · 08/04/2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asid61

I have an overflow box (Iwasn't allowed to drill the tank), a 60 gallon power filter, the tank is a 44 gallon pentagonal corner, and the sump is a 10 gallon.
The hood doesn't give a lot of space though for a filter and skimmer, so I l couldn't move my stuff to the DT from the sump.

i hope your overflow box doesn't stop siphon

you should have told your mom that drilling would've prevented floods. The water would have been gravity fed if it were drilled right into the tank.

The sump is definitely worth it though. You could always dial your pump back if it's pushing too much water up into the display. I used a simple ball valve on mine.

SneakyPete · 08/04/2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lynnmw1208

i hope your overflow box doesn't stop siphon

you should have told your mom that drilling would've prevented floods. The water would have been gravity fed if it were drilled right into the tank.

The sump is definitely worth it though. You could always dial your pump back if it's pushing too much water up into the display. I used a simple ball valve on mine.

The problem with using a valve on your return line is that it puts unnecessary strain on your pump. It's better to just T off your return line, but your valve on the output of the T and put the output of that back into your sump. That way your pump doesn't have to be limited and no unnecessary strain.

jimmy frag · 08/04/2011, 02:59 PM

i agree that T, ing off the return is great for more flow through the sump but a valve on the line will not put strain on the pump by any means. in fact you will save energy

plasmacon · 08/04/2011, 03:00 PM

I would bump the volume of the sump up as well. 10 gallons does not leave much room for error, or equipment. A 20 long would be ideal if you have the room.

pmrossetti · 08/04/2011, 03:43 PM

What is the capacty of the overflow box? What is the flow of the pump?

Sounds like you're not too sure about your setup.

If that's the case,I would nix the sump and get a hang on skimmer and an Aquaclear for carbon/gfo. Sumps are nice, but if your not sure how to run one can be trouble. Can it hold backflow for instance?

Dr Colliebreath · 08/04/2011, 07:25 PM

Are you saying that your pump pumped water just a little bit faster than your overflow can handle so over 3 days it pumped so much water from the sump to the tank that the tank overflowed? If so, I would get a less powerful pump so you are sure it cannot pump enough water to overwhelm your overflow setup.

That said, if you are using an overflow setup that relies on a siphon, you will still be at risk of losing the siphon and having a flood/overflow. As said above, drilling your tank would have permitted the tank to drain via gravity and avoided the risk of overflow so long as your pump didn't exceed the capacity of your overflows.

I personally wouldn't have a sump that relies on the siphon for an overflow and would switch to hang-on equipment.

08/04/2011, 10:43 AM	#1
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	Ack! Overfloooow OH NOES MY AQUARIUM OVERFLOWED! The return pump on my sump was too powerful by like 0.2 GPH, so it took 3 days for it to happen, and I knew it would happen, so I asked my mom to take me to the Home Depot to get a ball valve and supplies for the Hofer Gurgle Buster every day. There was not enough space in the aquarium for everything, so I couldn't eliminate the sump. Then, last night it overflowed. My mom is going to force me to take it down unless I can get good reasons for having a sump! Anybody give me reasons!

08/04/2011, 11:20 AM	#2
Lynnmw1208 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Brunswick, Ohio Posts: 3,306	So I'm confused... do you have a sump or don't you? What kind of set up are you running? over the top overflow box? drilled tank with overflow box? canister filter? A little more information will help us determine what is wrong. On a 29 gallon tank an aquaclear hang on the back filter would be plenty imo. __________________ equipment: Eshopps psk-200 skimmer, Mag 12 pump, 30gal sump, 2x 300w Finnex heaters, glass-holes 1500gph overflow kit with 3/4" return kits, 72" 8x36w t-5 AquaticLife light, 66lbs of LR, 150lbs of tropic eden reeflakes, 2 Koralia Evo 1400, JBJ ATO, BRS dual GFO/carbon reactors, Hydor smartwave Current Tank Info: 125gallon

08/04/2011, 11:23 AM	#3
Bama Man Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: N.E. Alabama Posts: 55	A sump is a great addition to have for several reasons. First it gives your system a larger amount of water. This is a benefit in that when you have parameter changes in your system the changes don't adversly affect the tank as quickly. With a smaller tank without a sump the bad parameter changes QUICKLY affect the health and life of your tank inhabitants. So the sump is beneficial for your livestock. Another benefit is that the sump gives you a place to put a lot of your equipment such as heaters, etc. to make your tank look better. You can enjoy your fish and/or corals without seeing all the equipment in the DT. A sump also makes for easier water changes. These are a few of the benefits. Once you get it all set up properly you will find a sump is a great asset to your system. You might find another local reefer or reef club that can give you advice and help gettingg it set up correctly. Good luck with your sump. __________________ Hello from Alabama !!! 72 g bowfront mixed reef with sump and fuge. 2 x 150 W MH's. Current Tank Info: 72 g bowfront mixed reef with sump.

08/04/2011, 03:00 PM	#11
plasmacon Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Western Kentucky Posts: 110	I would bump the volume of the sump up as well. 10 gallons does not leave much room for error, or equipment. A 20 long would be ideal if you have the room. __________________ Thanks Patrick Current Tank Info: 135 gallon Reef

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08/04/2011, 11:33 AM	#4
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	I have an overflow box (Iwasn't allowed to drill the tank), a 60 gallon power filter, the tank is a 44 gallon pentagonal corner, and the sump is a 10 gallon. The hood doesn't give a lot of space though for a filter and skimmer, so I l couldn't move my stuff to the DT from the sump.

08/04/2011, 02:59 PM	#10
jimmy frag Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: burlington ontario Posts: 845	i agree that T, ing off the return is great for more flow through the sump but a valve on the line will not put strain on the pump by any means. in fact you will save energy

08/04/2011, 03:43 PM	#12
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	What is the capacty of the overflow box? What is the flow of the pump? Sounds like you're not too sure about your setup. If that's the case,I would nix the sump and get a hang on skimmer and an Aquaclear for carbon/gfo. Sumps are nice, but if your not sure how to run one can be trouble. Can it hold backflow for instance?

08/04/2011, 07:25 PM	#13
Dr Colliebreath Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: DC Vicinity Posts: 1,813	Are you saying that your pump pumped water just a little bit faster than your overflow can handle so over 3 days it pumped so much water from the sump to the tank that the tank overflowed? If so, I would get a less powerful pump so you are sure it cannot pump enough water to overwhelm your overflow setup. That said, if you are using an overflow setup that relies on a siphon, you will still be at risk of losing the siphon and having a flood/overflow. As said above, drilling your tank would have permitted the tank to drain via gravity and avoided the risk of overflow so long as your pump didn't exceed the capacity of your overflows. I personally wouldn't have a sump that relies on the siphon for an overflow and would switch to hang-on equipment.