About Sumps?

[ragin_cajun]

The tanks have this overflow box, water in the tank passes over that and down to the sump below. Then, it looks like the return line from the pump is also in that box, right? So the outet of clean water and the intake of dirty water from the tank are in the same place? How come the sump doesn't just recirc the same sump water and leave the water at the bottom of the tank dirty? How does it insure that ALL the water passes through the sump?

And is there a way to run a sump on a tank without drilling holes in it? Can the overflow box and the drain and lines be rigged up outside of the tank and just hang off the back some kinda way?

ETA: Oh, and does anyone keep fry or separate problem fish by just housing them in the sump? Can the sump double as a quarantine tank?

 

[Rayne]

The return water coming back up your overflow box should be contained inside a pvc standpipe that goes up to the top, over the overflow and usually goes out a few inches from the overflow box via a locline nozzle, which shoots it back out into the tank. The return should obviously be pointed away from the overflow box so it doesnt just recirculate back in right away. It helps to have other forms of circulation in the tank so there are no dead spots, like a powerhead or air bubbler to get the water moving near the substrate. Every tank layout is different and you're going to have to play around to find out what works best for yours.

There are external overflow boxes but I dont recommend them. They are a flood waiting to happen because if they ever lose siphon the water being pumped into your tank from the sump has no where to go but over the top of the tank and onto the floor.

Depending on the configuration of your sump yes it can be used as a time out tank. I wouldnt use it as a 'quarantine' tank for new fish though.

 

[DIDYSIS]

You will want to do like this the one on thw right is the drian pipe and the one on the left as you can see is setup for water jets to really stir the water well.


View attachment 947802

Sent from Note 2 mini computer

 

[ragin_cajun]

Rayne --

Thanks! In your sig, a "75G SA Planted Community"? Any pics, or a link to a thread about it? I'd be interested to see what fish/plants work for you.