HOB Overflow to Sump recommendations needed

cabbage0709 · 09/06/2009, 11:16 PM

Im having trouble coming up with a drain system from my dt to sump that will equally distribute water to both sides of my sump. I have a refugium side and a side for my heater/phos. I am open to any ideas as mine have not sufficiently worked. Thanks a bunch!

-Steven

redseven · 09/07/2009, 02:02 AM

im a bit of a noob. would you explain "dt"? i think hob is "hang on back", and by that definition, would you consider my acrylic with a sump on the back to be an acrylic with "HOB"?

plyle02 · 09/07/2009, 05:29 AM

dt=display tank

returnofsid · 09/07/2009, 12:34 PM

Does your sump not flow into your fuge or vice versa? Can't you drain into one side and return from the other? If not, you could run into difficulties. Keeping a consistent flow, from one source, into 2 separate areas, and then keeping a consistent flow, back from 2 sources, into your display tank, might become a flooding problem. It's never a good idea to rely on 2 different return pumps, unless both, individually, can handle the entire flow.

You could drain your main drain into one area, and T off, with a ball valve, into the other area. I'd still worry about having 2 return pumps and keeping the flow "balanced." Even if you installed ball valves after each return pump, to adjust flow, as the pumps age, their ability will degrade and the valves would have to be opened up to compensate. They'd need constant monitoring.

cabbage0709 · 09/07/2009, 06:31 PM

My two end chambers, that hold my refugium with chaeto and dsb on one side and my heater/phos on the other side, both overflow into a central chamber where my single return pump is. I just cannot keep the T equally distributive with the flow to each side. I figured there would be a better way to plumb it.

returnofsid · 09/07/2009, 08:06 PM

Put most of flow into skimmer area, T off with a ball valve, into the refugium area, with less flow. Both areas will drain into the center area, where they'll return. Usually, water enters a sump/fuge through one end, flows through everything, to the other end, where it returns.

09/06/2009, 11:16 PM	#1
cabbage0709 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 264	HOB Overflow to Sump recommendations needed Im having trouble coming up with a drain system from my dt to sump that will equally distribute water to both sides of my sump. I have a refugium side and a side for my heater/phos. I am open to any ideas as mine have not sufficiently worked. Thanks a bunch! -Steven __________________ Get busy living, or get busy dying - Andy Dufresne (Shawshank Redemption)

09/07/2009, 05:29 AM	#3
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	dt=display tank __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

09/07/2009, 06:31 PM	#5
cabbage0709 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 264	My two end chambers, that hold my refugium with chaeto and dsb on one side and my heater/phos on the other side, both overflow into a central chamber where my single return pump is. I just cannot keep the T equally distributive with the flow to each side. I figured there would be a better way to plumb it. __________________ Get busy living, or get busy dying - Andy Dufresne (Shawshank Redemption)

09/07/2009, 02:02 AM	#2
redseven Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: ca Posts: 31	im a bit of a noob. would you explain "dt"? i think hob is "hang on back", and by that definition, would you consider my acrylic with a sump on the back to be an acrylic with "HOB"?

09/07/2009, 12:34 PM	#4
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Does your sump not flow into your fuge or vice versa? Can't you drain into one side and return from the other? If not, you could run into difficulties. Keeping a consistent flow, from one source, into 2 separate areas, and then keeping a consistent flow, back from 2 sources, into your display tank, might become a flooding problem. It's never a good idea to rely on 2 different return pumps, unless both, individually, can handle the entire flow. You could drain your main drain into one area, and T off, with a ball valve, into the other area. I'd still worry about having 2 return pumps and keeping the flow "balanced." Even if you installed ball valves after each return pump, to adjust flow, as the pumps age, their ability will degrade and the valves would have to be opened up to compensate. They'd need constant monitoring.

09/07/2009, 08:06 PM	#6
returnofsid Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 3,852	Put most of flow into skimmer area, T off with a ball valve, into the refugium area, with less flow. Both areas will drain into the center area, where they'll return. Usually, water enters a sump/fuge through one end, flows through everything, to the other end, where it returns.