DIY overflow suggestions?

[CPdude]

Hi everyone, I am trying to make a diy overflow for my 25 gallon tank. Recently, i made a horrible pvc overflow trying to overflow water from my sump that is on the floor up to the tank but turns out it sucks water from the main tank instead but the flow is too small and my return pump is too strong. I DO NOT WANT TO DRILL ANYTHING, so a diy hang on back and diy pvc overflow would work. Also is there anyway I can overflow water from my sump up to the tank while using the powerhead instead to intake water from the main tank into the sump. Any help and advice will be greatly appreciated I really want my sump to work, it overflowed twice already... Thanks!

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[CPdude]

Also my return powerhead can either be a 350 litre per hour or the 400 litre per hour one. But surprisingly the 350 litre per hour one is stronger.

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[norfolkgarden]

Have not done my idea yet but I am considering it. Probably a lousy idea.

I am considering taking a large clear specimen container (the kind with a ridge to hang on the tank edge) sawing into the top in multiple vertical slots to mimic a manufactured overflow box on the other 3 sides.
Have a pump inside the overflow box connected to PVC pipe with U bend down to sump.
PVC pipe inside the diy hob overflow from pump down to sump.

Keeping plenty of clearance inside tank and sump for extra water,
If I lose power the tank should only drain down to the bottom of the vertical slots in the overflow and the overflow will empty down to the bottom of the pump and loose prime.

Once power is restored the return pump in the sump should send enough water to the tank and then the overflow box long before the overflow pump burns up.
Having the pump in the overflow box means I should never lose prime. (in theory)

Please let me know if I'm crazy.



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[CPdude]

Originally Posted by norfolkgarden

Have not done my idea yet but I am considering it. Probably a lousy idea.

I am considering taking a large clear specimen container (the kind with a ridge to hang on the tank edge) sawing into the top in multiple vertical slots to mimic a manufactured overflow box on the other 3 sides.
Have a pump inside the overflow box connected to PVC pipe with U bend down to sump.
PVC pipe inside the diy hob overflow from pump down to sump.

Keeping plenty of clearance inside tank and sump for extra water,
If I lose power the tank should only drain down to the bottom of the vertical slots in the overflow and the overflow will empty down to the bottom of the pump and loose prime.

Once power is restored the return pump in the sump should send enough water to the tank and then the overflow box long before the overflow pump burns up.
Having the pump in the overflow box means I should never lose prime. (in theory)

Please let me know if I'm crazy.



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I heard you can never use 2 pumps or powerheads for sump systems. As they can never be the same even though if they are the same brand and type, either tank will overflow if you use 2 pumps.

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[jenkinscrew2578]

Right 2 pumps is not a solution. Can you post a pic of your sump configuration?

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[CPdude]

Originally Posted by jenkinscrew2578

Right 2 pumps is not a solution. Can you post a pic of your sump configuration?

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Whose sump? Cus the thread is a little hijacked

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[jenkinscrew2578]

Doh! No doubt!

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[CPdude]

I know my sump is horrible. But i rather do this than buy an already made one which is expensive! There will be no skimmer and i will use macroalgae in the fuge which is the middle. Either the left or right side can be either intake zone or return zone. My main tank is on the right of the sump.

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[jenkinscrew2578]

Here is one that looks promising
https://youtu.be/dVbBxi64J44​

Are your baffles in the sump the same height?

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[CPdude]

Originally Posted by jenkinscrew2578

Here is one that looks promising
https://youtu.be/dVbBxi64J44​

Are your baffles in the sump the same height?

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The baffles are not the same height the one on the right is the taller one.

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[jenkinscrew2578]

You will want to use the right side for the drain then and left side for return. If you have an ATO, you can keep the left return side water fairly low which will allow for water rising when return pump is turned off.

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[CPdude]

Im sorry but what is an ATO?

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[jenkinscrew2578]

Automatic Top Off, adds the fresh water back to your tank from evaporation so you don't have to everyday 😁

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[Mishri]

so your question is how to do DIY overflow?

So.. you are using a siphon method, which means gravity will always win for the direction.. so you need to siphon down to your sump and have the pump in the sump.

The simplest one simply uses a plastic tube, that goes into the tank and out the back. diameter determines flow rate. usually the tube is rigid plastic, not flexible and placed in an acrylic box with teeth cut out at the top to allow water to flow into it, and not your fish. The tube needs to be removable so you can fill it with water to restart siphon when it stops. The fancier ones have a pump that will restart the siphon if it stops... this prevents the problem of, it will overflow your tank if the siphon stops and the pump will run all of your water out of the sump and into the display tank, where it overflows. If the power goes off and the siphon still runs, then it will siphon water till it reaches the bottom of the teeth on your box, or the siphon tube if that is the highest point, which can overflow your sump, but if you have it setup right it wont.

-For what you are planning the sump for.. I wouldn't bother.... maybe a HoB fuge if you feel you really need macroalgae and don't want it in the display. But i don't think you'll get much value out of either the sump or fuge if you just want it for macroalgae.

meleev's reef has some info on them too