Good Step x Step Instructions on Sump builds?????

[Pharaoh]

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=246132

 

[jsodwi]

reefcentral.com has a good sump calculator that will tell you everything you need to know you just plug in tank size and how much gph you plan on and it will spit the numbers back out to you

 

[kallmond]

Could you use a solenoid valve that closes when there is no power? Grainger has a 3" solenoid valve for $120. Seems like cheap insurance for your fish and floor, especially if you don't have space for a sump large enough to hold 75% of your tanks water.

 

[SpeshulEd]

Just use a check valve. It'd save you about $110.

 

[scottydosnntkno]

Could you use a solenoid valve that closes when there is no power? Grainger has a 3" solenoid valve for $120. Seems like cheap insurance for your fish and floor, especially if you don't have space for a sump large enough to hold 75% of your tanks water.

well from your overflow pipe it should be set up properly so that it doesn't siphon the water but overflows it, so your sump should be able to handle the extra water on above the overflow if the power/pump goes out.

your intake line should have a small hole below the waterline so that when the power/pump goes it, it lets in air to the line and stops the back siphon effect, which overflows your sump.

one little hole saves you the cost of a fancy solenoid and a check valve

 

[Pharaoh]

well from your overflow pipe it should be set up properly so that it doesn't siphon the water but overflows it, so your sump should be able to handle the extra water on above the overflow if the power/pump goes out.

I agree with this.

your intake line should have a small hole below the waterline so that when the power/pump goes it, it lets in air to the line and stops the back siphon effect, which overflows your sump.

one little hole saves you the cost of a fancy solenoid and a check valve

This would depend on how the overflow is designed. If it is designed with a siphon in use, breaking the siphon could result in overflow should the power come back on. You really shouldn't have a siphon break on the typical DIY overflows. They should stop flowing water when the level drops in the tank.

You might look at having one when the intake is on the bottom, but not if it is a surface skimming overflow.

I'm not sure which check valve is being discussed at the moment. There are two;
1. Air check valve and a water check valve. Air check valves are a necessity for DIY overflows in most cases. They allow you to remove an air trapped in the "U" tube.
2. The water check valves can help eliminate some of the backflow to the pump/sump on the pressure line should the power go out.

 

[kallmond]

one little hole saves you the cost of a fancy solenoid and a check valve

I love people who are smarter than me.

Also, If you sealed your sump (IE water tight lid) then the pressure would regulate when the pump wasn't on and circulation would stop right?

 

[$INI$T3R]

I love people who are smarter than me.

Also, If you sealed your sump (IE water tight lid) then the pressure would regulate when the pump wasn't on and circulation would stop right?

Sealed sump would suck... How would you clean it?

 

[scottydosnntkno]

I agree with this.



This would depend on how the overflow is designed. If it is designed with a siphon in use, breaking the siphon could result in overflow should the power come back on. You really shouldn't have a siphon break on the typical DIY overflows. They should stop flowing water when the level drops in the tank.

You might look at having one when the intake is on the bottom, but not if it is a surface skimming overflow.

I'm not sure which check valve is being discussed at the moment. There are two;
1. Air check valve and a water check valve. Air check valves are a necessity for DIY overflows in most cases. They allow you to remove an air trapped in the "U" tube.
2. The water check valves can help eliminate some of the backflow to the pump/sump on the pressure line should the power go out.

I specifically said intake hose, not overflow setup. He was saying he was running 1/2" hose for his intake(or return to tank line), so in that case if he didn't have a small hole in it, when the power went out it would reverse siphon water back DOWN the intake hose into the sump, to whatever level the bottom of the intake hose/pipe is, most likely overflowing his sump.