fail proof?

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benito1188

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Mar 22, 2008
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los angeles, california
google sketchup drove me nuts so i had to settle for paint :D

i really dont have experience with sumps so i was wondering if you guys can tell me if this will work.

what size pipes do i need and how big of a hole should i get them drilled?

i also need help on choosing a right pump(which one to buy exactly). external/internal...(i need a pump that will give me enough flow so i dont have to add another powerhead in the main tank)

details: 120g(4x2x2ft), sump(36x15x~20...50g?), i dont like overflow boxes so im thinking of getting clear pvc pipes if they even make em...or maybe some kind of black ones.

thanks guys :)

sump.jpg
 
looks good, you can always paint your pvc piping black, i'm assuming your planning on adding more than just a sock filter in there right? otherwise the sump will only be adding mechanical filtration, and more water volume.
 
Oh, and i would check out the stickies on overflows, just because you dont have a box doesn't mean you wont need an overflow, the stickies should have all the info you need on overflows, piping size, and where to put holes.
 
Depending on what you're going to stock the tank with, a filter sock may not have enough surface area to run for a reasonable period of time before it clogs.
 
its gonna be very VERY lightly stocked. mostly plants. thats is why im also trying not to have as much agitation in the sump. im also going to be using two filter socks. one for each overflow.

what if the overflow pipe are 2", and the return pipes are 3/4"....will that work?not sure what size pump to use though.
 
well the pump size will tell you if it will work or not, all you need is a ball valve on your overflow, and you can match your overflow to your return. I would definatly read the stickies so u understand everything about the sump. I wouldn't worry about trying to get as little agitation as possible, its gonna lose co2 regardless. I'm starting a planted tank this summer with a sump, and i'm just hooking up my co2 to exit at the return pump entrance and hope i have good enough.
 
i try to read and i cant figure it out. i suck at reading charts and graphs :(....:D

heres what i think i know.... 2x 2" pipes so thats 5000GPH? so i need a pump that has that? haha enlighten me MFK-ers
 
Overflows generally dont have the maximum gph that they claim to have unless they are made perfectly. I would strongly advise that you make sure u understand everything before you start. it took me a while before I understood everything about making a sump, but now that i've read everything i feel like i wont have a problem when i make my first one this summer. Generally speaking matching the overflows to the pump isn't something you worry about until everythings made. if you have a ball valve on your overflows you shouldn't be too worried, you can tinker with the speeds once its all set up. And you generally match the overflows to the pump, not the other way around.
 
Honestly, if you're gonna do a planted tank, and haven't begun setting up the sump, I would just go with canister filters. I would like at two, that way you can get the flow you want. I have a SunSun 304a and a wet/dry on my 75. If I had to do it again, I would just use the canister filter because I have a pressurized co2 setup. I have to turn my co2 up a lot to compensate for the off gassing that happens in the sump. If you are going with a pressurized co2 setup, and have your mind set on the sump, you will want to try and cover as much of the sump as possible.

Now, to make it fail proof, make sure the overflow's draining gph is higher than your return pump's gph. This makes sure you don't have to worry about over filling the tank. On the return side of things, the way your picture shows, if you have a power outage the tank will drain until it gets under the return pipes. Make sure there is enough room in the sump for this water to flow back in, and the remaining water in the overflows. A few tests of pulling the plug on the pump while it's running will help you determine the right amount of water to have in the sump.
 
im actyally running two canister right now but ive always wanted to try a sump. i would love to NOT top off water every few days from evaporation since the main tank has no lid. i guess 2x 2" pipes would work then :)
 
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