Help with sump set-up

[GoldFinger]

Where do you guys prefer the water level in the main tank? I guess it's dependent on how high I get the guys to set my ghost overflow. Any suggestions? I'd like it to be relatively high of course. Then I would need to have both returns drilled in each corner. How high should they be ideally. I will probably use loc lines to direct flow so I guess they will be long enough to go under the water level regardless but I always appreciate your guys suggestions!

 

[Bigfishnut]

Where do you guys prefer the water level in the main tank? I guess it's dependent on how high I get the guys to set my ghost overflow. Any suggestions? I'd like it to be relatively high of course. Then I would need to have both returns drilled in each corner. How high should they be ideally. I will probably use loc lines to direct flow so I guess they will be long enough to go under the water level regardless but I always appreciate your guys suggestions!

Does the tank have trim? If so, I like to have the waterline above the trim and out of sight, yet still a bit of room till the top....just in case. If no trim then I guess it's up to you. I'd leave a couple of inches. Big fish make waves and splash sometimes. Good to have a little buffer zone so water stays in the tank

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Does the tank have trim? If so, I like to have the waterline above the trim and out of sight, yet still a bit of room till the top....just in case. If no trim then I guess it's up to you. I'd leave a couple of inches. Big fish make waves and splash sometimes. Good to have a little buffer zone so water stays in the tank

Exactly my thoughts. My 220 is a glass tank with trim on it. I keep my water level above the trim, but probably still at least an inch from the tip top of the tank.

 

[GoldFinger]

Exactly my thoughts. My 220 is a glass tank with trim on it. I keep my water level above the trim, but probably still at least an inch from the tip top of the tank.

Where are your returns?

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Where are your returns?

This is probably the best picture to show you, before I painted the back black.

There is a 1.5" overflow on each side, and a third offset in the middle. The two returns are the pieces in the middle with the loc line on them. They are 3/4" bulkheads with a pvc arch that allows me to put the siphon breaks up high so I don't get as much backflow into the sump. I run 1" clear vinyl tubing up to them.



Here is another picture of what they look like from the inside of the tank. I eventually took the white elbow off completely and attached the loc line directly to the top elbow. That is the elbow that I drilled siphon breaks in.

 

[GoldFinger]

View attachment 1250536

This is probably the best picture to show you, before I painted the back black.

There is a 1.5" overflow on each side, and a third offset in the middle. The two returns are the pieces in the middle with the loc line on them. They are 3/4" bulkheads with a pvc arch that allows me to put the siphon breaks up high so I don't get as much backflow into the sump. I run 1" clear vinyl tubing up to them.

View attachment 1250537

Here is another picture of what they look like from the inside of the tank. I eventually took the white elbow off completely and attached the loc line directly to the top elbow. That is the elbow that I drilled siphon breaks in.

Looks good. Where exactly did you drill the siphon break in the elbow?

 

[DN328]

If your tank has the trim, I would think your return bulkhead would be at least 1"-2" down from the edge. Your locline and nozzle would come out from there, pointed as appropriate.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Another thing to keep in mind with your sump, I think it's best to put valves on all of the lines going between the tank and the sump. All of the overflows and all of the returns. This gives you the capability to close off certain lines while the tank is still running. For example, I have changed the plumbing on the inside of my tank for my overflows and returns many times. I was able to keep my tank running by shutting off certain drains or returns, and then I was able to remove the fittings from the bulkheads, which are much lower than the drain height, without worrying overflowing my sump.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Looks good. Where exactly did you drill the siphon break in the elbow?

I drilled it straight into the side and just held the drill so that water coming out would be pointed down. You can put it right in the middle of the bend. I actually put holes on each side of mine. Again, redundancy is key in this hobby.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Looks good. Where exactly did you drill the siphon break in the elbow?

Here is a picture of how you want to drill the siphon break. This is a large stainless elbow because I'm at work and that's all I have to demonstrate with. However, when you drill the pvc elbow it should be the same look.



Imagine the nipple is my loc line. You just point the drill at an angle and drill it in right there. I used 3/32" for mine, but I drilled both sides. If you're only going to drill one side then I would go with 1/8". Also, be careful not to drill too hard and go all the way through.

If you want black pvc fittings, I recommend looking them up online. I got mine through PVC Fittings Direct. Then, for stuff like the overflow strainers I went to Bulk Reef Supply. I would make sure you order extras in case you make a mistake with any of them. They are dirt cheap but you will have to wait about a week for them to ship to you.