If your going to run a sump...

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Peter McFarlane

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Nov 22, 2007
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If your going to run a sump setup, it's worth noting, that the return pipe should be mounted OUT of the water (not underwater). As in, so it spits the water into the tank from above and drops in.

If it's underwater, and you turn the return pump off, it will back siphon, over filling your sump and flooding you...

Also if you have an overflow pipe going down to the hole in the base of the tank, it's worth remembering that in the event of a power cut the water will only flow to the sump until the overflow pipe is no longer submerged under water... So good idea to keep your overflow pipe maybe just 1cm under water level... and only keep your sump maybe half full...

Good to run tests whilst your at home, ie; turn the return pump off, work out what will happen in the event of a flood etc. More planning now, less mopping up water later.

I know the above is well known facts probably to some guys, but to anyone new to sump setups, believe me you'll thank me!
 
you can also avoid issues if you drill a small hole in the return line (right under the water level) to break the siphon
 
Ah nice one Rally, thats a great idea that I never would have thought of..

Would you say better to have the return line under water or going through a spray bar?

I like the spray bar effect, but it's so damn noisy :(
 
Peter McFarlane;1511358; said:
Ah nice one Rally, thats a great idea that I never would have thought of..

Would you say better to have the return line under water or going through a spray bar?

I like the spray bar effect, but it's so damn noisy :(
Click to expand...

That's the reason I like to have it under water. Really you're not getting any benefit from the spray bar splashing onto the water because the wet/dry trickle is more than enough gas exchange.
 
Aaaah that reminds me of last week when I did my first maintenance on my Eheim 2217... I forgot to take the intake out of the water, and lost about 4g on my carpet :D

I want to start a veggie filter in the summer, but I am not 100% about the timing of a sump and preventing overflow... trial and error I guess?
 
If your sump isn't undersized and has enough excess volume in case power shuts off it shouldn't be a problem to have the return slightly underwater.

(click for larger)

That sump won't overflow even though the baffles are pretty high. I have my return set almost 3 inches underwater.
It's also a 36" long 30g on a 36" long 50g. A smaller sump won't allow you to have that much water volume in it.
(Excuse the messy look, it hadn't been set up long)

The extra volume in your sump should be determined based on how far down your main tank is going to siphon, whether it be from your return or overflow box. And like everyone else said, you can also drill a small hole in your return to break siphon.
 
What if your not home or your in bed when the power goes out? When the power comes back on the pump will start doing it's job, but siphoning line woun't start siphoning. That is if you don't a hole drilled in the bottom of the tank. Then what? I guess one could make a switch that will turn off the pump when the water level gets too low in the sump. Does anyone know if that would work?
 
bullwinkle777;1513402; said:
What if your not home or your in bed when the power goes out? When the power comes back on the pump will start doing it's job, but siphoning line woun't start siphoning. That is if you don't a hole drilled in the bottom of the tank. Then what? I guess one could make a switch that will turn off the pump when the water level gets too low in the sump. Does anyone know if that would work?
Click to expand...

You need to be using an overflow that will maintain siphon for you. You can't just stick a tube in the tank, because like you said it will not start back up.

Go to the DIY forum and there is a sticky on "DIY overflow".

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:confused: Didn't it used to be a sticky? Not up anymore. In any case, here's the thread.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15733
 
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