Make a sump from a garbage can

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Do they make a pump that when the pump is off, its actually stops the flow of water?

That's what check valves are for. Put it in line with the flow and it prevents water from going backward.
 
Do they make a pump that when the pump is off, its actually stops the flow of water?

Not that I know of. You could put a normally closed solenoid valve on the return line. You would plug it into the same power supply as the pump so that if the power is on it opens and when the power goes off it closes. The only problem is a good reliable 1" solenoid valve will probably cost more than your pump...

Why don't you want to drill the tank? It is acrylic, isn't it? $40-50 would buy a hole saw and the bulkhead kit.
 
That's what check valves are for. Put it in line with the flow and it prevents water from going backward.

The line that is gravity fed, its always going to flow the water from the tank so that wont work.
 
Why not get rid of the bioballs and floss in the fx5 and fill em with seachem pond matrix or ceramics? That alone will be much better that what you hAve running, you will have to do them like one a week and let them cycle, but you will be surprised when you see how inefficient bioballs are when submerged compared to the other options.
 
The line that is gravity fed, its always going to flow the water from the tank so that wont work.

As DanF mentioned above they have electronic valves that will stop the flow when power goes out but they are very expensive.
 
Isn't this tank really overstocked? When I get a 500 gallon I was planning to put 6 peacock bass, 1 or 2 lima shovelnose, and maybe a shortnose or spotted gar and figured I'd be a little overstocked.
 
Isn't this tank really overstocked? When I get a 500 gallon I was planning to put 6 peacock bass, 1 or 2 lima shovelnose, and maybe a shortnose or spotted gar and figured I'd be a little overstocked.

How is this relevant to the sump build?
 
Also I don't have a 500 and was curious if I was right in my thinking that it was overstocked or if I would be able to add more fish than I thought. I guess next time I'll start a new thread and list every fish someone said they have in their tank and ask if it's an ok stocking. I'm sorry to the OP for invading his thread with useless questions.
 
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