With the glass inside the sump making the devisions into different compartments does the sump ever fill all the way up or does it just go enough to let the pump get water into the tank and continue from there?
I got a few questios that need answers
- Thread starter Oscarboyz
- Start date
Oscarboyz;2715311; said:
Well, see, if you use the PVC overflow then the sump can never overfill if you do things correctly. Same goes for the tank
The PVC intake tube sets the water level, obviously. You put it where you want the surface of your water to be (sometimes the water level is maybe an inch higher, but that's okay). Now, let's say the power goes out. The water begins to drain down the PVC overflow, but once it goes below the pipe it has absolutely no way to keep flowing out! (Unless it magically keeps jumping into the pipe.) Also, make sure the tube or pipe connected to the pump is also at the water level. I learned the hard way that water can also flow into the sump from this tube/pipe.
If you follow the design you were given in that little picture someone posted (except I put the T lower, just make sure the T isn't lower than the loop inside the tank) (also, that pipe that is attached to the T and going upwards is filled with air, DO NOT SEAL IT), then you won't lose siphon, and when the power comes back and the pump begins filling the tank up with water again as soon as the water reaches the level of the PVC intake tube the the system starts going round and round again. =)
PS: Someone pointed out that the gunk that grows inside the tubes can release little air bubbles, so its a good idea to put a check valve on the top loop so you can suck the air bubbles out every couple of months, otherwise the PVC overflow might lose its prime.
thanks and for the return should i use a little like python tubing and then clamp it to the outlet (pvc in tank) so i dont just have a tube randomly in the tank
Oscarboyz;2715311; said:
Depending on the design, water may flow over or under a baffle, the final stage where the pump is the water should a few inches over the pump.
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Oscarboyz;2715377; said:
Your pump will have a prerequisite size outlet and it you can avoid it don't reduce the size. You can use vinyl tubing for the return up to a PVC spray bar in the tank or just single or multiple outlets (a spray bar will help aerate the tank).
Dr Joe
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ight guys thanks for all the info it sure helped me alot i am going to head to the LFS today to see if the guys there have made any sumps and i want to see if i can look at them just to get an idea. Also, i am just starting this with a 10 gallon tank just to get it under my belt, it will eventually be filtering at 29, with the acrylic getting consecutivly shorter in the sump and for what i am using for it a drip plate really necesary?
