I recently bought a 180 gallon tank with a 30 or 40 gallon sump. I'm not sure if the drilled holes are on the correct position though. The intake is on the left side and acting as a surface skimmer basically and the outlet is on the bottom of the left side of the tank. Does this seem correct? Will post pictures tomorrow to clarify
Bought a drilled tank with sump...
- Thread starter FreshyNut
- Start date
It could be normal if there is or used to be an overflow tower there in the back left corner. Pics needed to confirm that though. Are both holes the same size? An easy rule of thumb is the larger hole is overflow, the smaller the return.
Depending on how high the tank water level was, the two drain/overflow pipes may have been used as siphon and not necessarily just surface skimming.
If the two pipes on the right are returns, interesting why they are set low. Perhaps the owner wanted to got flow towards the bottom?
If the two pipes on the right are returns, interesting why they are set low. Perhaps the owner wanted to got flow towards the bottom?
There isn't really any "correct" or "incorrect" way to do a sump, it is really just what you want.
I agree it looks like the previous owner wanted the returns near the substrate, maybe to keep detritus in suspension so it would be caught by the outflow, and end up mechanically filtered in the sump. And there appear to be check valves on the influent pipes (injectors) to stop any "back siphonage" in case of a power outage, IMO, very well thought out.
The two capped pipes near the top of the tank, are overflows themselves, just as they are, and there really isn't need for any over flow box of sorts, here's what i have used as an overflow.
Water is pumped into the tank from the sump, and falls by gravity to the sump as it flows past the wires cut in a PVC piece. Very simple, no siphon to break, because gravity does all the work.
I agree it looks like the previous owner wanted the returns near the substrate, maybe to keep detritus in suspension so it would be caught by the outflow, and end up mechanically filtered in the sump. And there appear to be check valves on the influent pipes (injectors) to stop any "back siphonage" in case of a power outage, IMO, very well thought out.
The two capped pipes near the top of the tank, are overflows themselves, just as they are, and there really isn't need for any over flow box of sorts, here's what i have used as an overflow.
Water is pumped into the tank from the sump, and falls by gravity to the sump as it flows past the wires cut in a PVC piece. Very simple, no siphon to break, because gravity does all the work.
