I need some help

dkol02 · 04/09/2007, 05:04 PM

ok so I want to Build my own sump for my 46 gal bowfront and i need some advice i dont want to drill the tank i was wondering if there is some way to do the sump also what size sump any info would really help right now i have a canister filter and i want to get rid of it and set up a sump for my protein skimmer and make a refugium

Shagsbeard · 04/09/2007, 05:07 PM

You do want to drill your tank... you just don't know it yet. Get it drilled with an internal overflow.

To let you know why... I just came to the forum to lament my overflow box, well, overflowing. I was trying to quiet it by tweeking the flow rate and it overflowed onto my living room floor... about a gallon, so not the end of the world. But boy do I wish that I'd gotten the tank drilled.

dkol02 · 04/09/2007, 05:10 PM

the problem with that is the the tank is currently setup so i cant drill it

Sk8r · 04/09/2007, 05:28 PM

And I'm betting that bottom is tempered glass, which will shatter if you touch it with a drill...
Best I can suggest is a HOB downflow box [hang-on-back] and send it to the biggest sump you can accommodate---with plenty of freeboard [space between waterline and top of sump] and some good WIDE u-tubes for connection with the tank. Protect those u-tubes from clogging as you value your carpet, because your return pump won't care as it sucks water from your sump and delivers it to your tank heedless of the fact the U-tubes have lost their prime and stopped removing water. You can build a box around them out of plastic embroidery canvas or gutter guard [both plastic] that will keep stray fishes and bits of algae and stray anemones from going up the tubes and stopping flow. You start them with a piece of airline tube---suck until water just NEARLy overtops the arch, withdraw tube sneakily without taking tube from water, and it should draw.

Second, get a water alarm: it's a battery powered device that screams bloody murder if water joins its two probes, which are stuck in the carpet at the base of your tank.

dkol02 · 04/09/2007, 05:36 PM

well i have wood floors so a flood would be very bad but i found and overflow with an automatic stop and i was thinking about a 20gal sump the overflow link is http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...tostopandstart
sorry dont know how to make a link just copy and paste thanks for all the help

dkol02 · 04/09/2007, 08:58 PM

is this a good choice for an over flow and would a 20gal sump be big enough

OrangeKoi · 04/09/2007, 10:10 PM

I don't want to steal your thread, but I have come into the same situation.

Finding myself brave, could you lower the water level temporarily and set up a sump with the chamber inside going down only 4-6 inches, just enough for the overflow? Cut the glass? Silicone the thing with the tank still up? Just keep the silicone out of the water?

I suppose that would be risky cutting it eh?

dkol02 · 04/10/2007, 12:45 PM

will a 20 gal sump work because I can't fit much more

WallyBackm · 04/10/2007, 12:51 PM

20 gallon sump will work. i have a 15 gallon on a 72 gallon display.

Yes, the larger the sump the better (antidote to pollution is dilution) but sometimes it just doesnt work out. When you put baffles in your sump remember to allow a good portion of it dry to allow for overflowing from tank.

04/09/2007, 05:04 PM	#1
dkol02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Key west Florida Posts: 68	I need some help ok so I want to Build my own sump for my 46 gal bowfront and i need some advice i dont want to drill the tank i was wondering if there is some way to do the sump also what size sump any info would really help right now i have a canister filter and i want to get rid of it and set up a sump for my protein skimmer and make a refugium

04/09/2007, 05:28 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	And I'm betting that bottom is tempered glass, which will shatter if you touch it with a drill... Best I can suggest is a HOB downflow box [hang-on-back] and send it to the biggest sump you can accommodate---with plenty of freeboard [space between waterline and top of sump] and some good WIDE u-tubes for connection with the tank. Protect those u-tubes from clogging as you value your carpet, because your return pump won't care as it sucks water from your sump and delivers it to your tank heedless of the fact the U-tubes have lost their prime and stopped removing water. You can build a box around them out of plastic embroidery canvas or gutter guard [both plastic] that will keep stray fishes and bits of algae and stray anemones from going up the tubes and stopping flow. You start them with a piece of airline tube---suck until water just NEARLy overtops the arch, withdraw tube sneakily without taking tube from water, and it should draw. Second, get a water alarm: it's a battery powered device that screams bloody murder if water joins its two probes, which are stuck in the carpet at the base of your tank. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/09/2007, 05:07 PM	#2
Shagsbeard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Morro Bay, CA Posts: 2,143	You do want to drill your tank... you just don't know it yet. Get it drilled with an internal overflow. To let you know why... I just came to the forum to lament my overflow box, well, overflowing. I was trying to quiet it by tweeking the flow rate and it overflowed onto my living room floor... about a gallon, so not the end of the world. But boy do I wish that I'd gotten the tank drilled.

04/09/2007, 05:10 PM	#3
dkol02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Key west Florida Posts: 68	the problem with that is the the tank is currently setup so i cant drill it

04/09/2007, 05:36 PM	#5
dkol02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Key west Florida Posts: 68	well i have wood floors so a flood would be very bad but i found and overflow with an automatic stop and i was thinking about a 20gal sump the overflow link is http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...tostopandstart sorry dont know how to make a link just copy and paste thanks for all the help

04/09/2007, 08:58 PM	#6
dkol02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Key west Florida Posts: 68	is this a good choice for an over flow and would a 20gal sump be big enough

04/09/2007, 10:10 PM	#7
OrangeKoi Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Va Posts: 556	I don't want to steal your thread, but I have come into the same situation. Finding myself brave, could you lower the water level temporarily and set up a sump with the chamber inside going down only 4-6 inches, just enough for the overflow? Cut the glass? Silicone the thing with the tank still up? Just keep the silicone out of the water? I suppose that would be risky cutting it eh?

04/10/2007, 12:45 PM	#8
dkol02 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Key west Florida Posts: 68	will a 20 gal sump work because I can't fit much more

04/10/2007, 12:51 PM	#9
WallyBackm Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 206	20 gallon sump will work. i have a 15 gallon on a 72 gallon display. Yes, the larger the sump the better (antidote to pollution is dilution) but sometimes it just doesnt work out. When you put baffles in your sump remember to allow a good portion of it dry to allow for overflowing from tank.