How to make a sump...

[SalmonAfrica]

Hey guys

I've recently bought a 5-foot tank that I'd like to try a sump on. However, it is a custom made tank, and has several oddly placed glass bars going across the top - this makes creating and using an overflow IMPOSSIBLE.

What I was thinking was maybe if I could get the water out of the tank via a pump, down into the sump, and then pump it back up into the tank once it's all filtered through?

Can it be done this way? Would there be any complications?

Thanks
SA

 

[Noto]

You would have to get the pumps exactly matched and keep them that way, which is a massive engineering problem.

Let's see some pics of your tank. An overflow may not be as impossible as you think. Is there any reason your tank cannot be drilled?

If all else fails you can place the filtration beside. behind, or above the tank instead of below it, so that the filtered water is gravity-fed back into the tank.

 

[SalmonAfrica]

Hm, I somehow thought there would be a problem....

Ok, I'll get some pictures up soon, you'll see why adding the overflow is impossible - the sides are blocked off with bars, and the back is up against a wall (can't be moved forward due to space constraints).

How would placing the sump beside the tank work?

 

[Noto]

Well, you would pump tank water into the sump, then a siphon would return the water to the tank. I think at that point it is no longer technically a sump, but it's the same principle.

 

[sbuse]

one of my filters is a pump that flows into a jug with meadia and a spout for the water to flow out to the tank the jug is on top of the aquarium...5min to make plus dry time...

 

[Noto]

On a similar principle but more labor-intensive, you could make an above-tank filter chamber with a little faux-stone waterfall for the return.

 

[bitteraspects]

OHF filters are very common in asia. its basically a failsafe sump that sits above the tank. the only "problem" with this type of a set up is that they tend to be ugly. however if you were to build it into a cannopy, you would never see it. i have built a couple of these, and they work great.

 

[bitteraspects]

 

[Pharaoh]

Let's see some pics. You could try to run the tubing down the side of the tank.

Where there is a will, there's a way!

 

[SalmonAfrica]

Thanks for the advice there guys, I'm going to try and grab some pictures now...

My problem lies in the fact there is ONLY room below the tank - maybe a little bit of space for pipes and wires behind and on the sides of the tank. I think there may be a way of creating a wierd kind of overflow if I can drill the bottom of the tank, but realistically I don't know IF it can be done.

PS: the pics are gonna show the tank as it is now, not where it will be placed eventually, where it will have one side to a wall, one side to a tank, the back to the wall and about 16" space above it, where I'll need to put up some lights.