Make a sump from a garbage can
- Thread starter JasonsPlecosCichlids
- Start date
Yea, I know Im doing this arse backwards but I will get it done. I need to find something to hang inside, possibly a bucket to put the scrubbies inside
Almost done, another question, the tube coming from the tank to the sump that is gravity fed, lets say the electric went out, the check valve works, but water is still pumping into the sump, how do I make that stop? I dont have room for an overflow box.
You really need some sort of overflow on your tank to make this work as a sump. If it is acrylic it is pretty easy to drill a hole and install a screened bulkhead.
If you don't want to mess with the tank you could raise the filter above the tank and put an overflow in the trash can.
If you don't want to mess with the tank you could raise the filter above the tank and put an overflow in the trash can.
Right now just a hose with a flow control valve, I ran it for about an hour and got it marked on the valve to where the water doesnt go up or down, its stays level. If the tank wasnt so big I could just put the hose close to the water line so whatever water comes out, fills up the sump but doesnt overflow it.
Can you show me a diagram?
Sounds like you're syphoning the water from the tank to the sump. Not good because when the power goes out you can't stop the syphon.
Dan F suggested raising the the filter which is exactly what I did (see my previous photo). Pump goes in the tank which pushes the water into the trash can. Trash can overflows back into the tank because it is higher than the tank. Power stop....pump stops.....nothing overflows.
Here's a diagram I did for a pond but you get the idea. The pump can be a submersible in the tank.
Dan F suggested raising the the filter which is exactly what I did (see my previous photo). Pump goes in the tank which pushes the water into the trash can. Trash can overflows back into the tank because it is higher than the tank. Power stop....pump stops.....nothing overflows.
Here's a diagram I did for a pond but you get the idea. The pump can be a submersible in the tank.
Hmm...thing is I cant have the can higher than the tank.....think I may be stuck....If I had a drain such as ones that are usually in a basement, Id just make a fitting from the can to the drain incase of an overflow but I dont have that option.
Now you understand the hassle. That's why I suggested closed loop in my first post. Your proposed setup will yield a few hundred gallons per hour which is a lot of work for very little gain. The closed loop in my pic, pumps 3000 gph in a 225g tank. You have a monster size tank with rays and pbass which in my mind requires a lot of flow. By the way, my 225g is stocked with pbass.
Do they make a pump that when the pump is off, its actually stops the flow of water?
Would I be able to incorporate this somewhere in my setup so incase of a power outage, the sump fills up to a certain point and then once it reaches the level of this device, stops the flow of water from the tank?
http://www.marinedepot.com/SpectraP...r_Systems-SpectraPure-SP5131-FIRORASO-vi.html
Would I be able to incorporate this somewhere in my setup so incase of a power outage, the sump fills up to a certain point and then once it reaches the level of this device, stops the flow of water from the tank?
http://www.marinedepot.com/SpectraP...r_Systems-SpectraPure-SP5131-FIRORASO-vi.html
