Over-Tank Sump - Completed (pics)

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pjsmetana

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 26, 2010
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Cocoa Beach, FL
Anyone can build a sump. Easy. We have instructions to build several here on MFK. So I skipped that part and recycled my old under-tank sump to make it work OVER the tank. Why? Because I live in Florida, and we lose power a lot due to thunderstorms, and I hate the waterfall/toilet suction sound. Overflows and any noise is NOT an option for me, as I keep my tanks in my TV room.

Solution for me is 2 things. Canister filter for Mechanical Filtration (check, RENA xp4), and a completely silent sump that has 0 possibility of overflowing for Biological Filtration.

Here tis!

All the parts. Bleached, Rinsed, and now drying next to my Iraqi Hooka.
1279069166.jpg


Built a spray bar and drilled 150 tiny holes in it. Attached with PVC sealant. This pic still need the blue filter mat under the spraybar. Which I just remembered to put in place.
1279069168.jpg


Sump placed on board for stability and weight distribution. I used a QuietOne 1200, 1 inch exit tubing, 1/2inch inlet tubing, and a recycled inlet tube from an old HOB pre-pump. I need more bio-balls. I've used too many for my small over-sump for my mid-sized tank. I'll probably get some blue scrubbies to fill the space.
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It works just like any sump that under the tank, but now it has no possibility to overflow. Its also completely silent. Theres not any siphon to make suction noise. The pump also has a whole lot less head to fight. The only negitive side is now you can see it... but since I'm building a tall canopy I'll never see it after thats done.

Perfect!
 
Thats cool. nice setup.

But any sump that is set up *right* has no chance of overflowing. there is no way that mine can overflow end of story. If thew drain on your sump clogs than the pump will opverflow the sump??
 
Nice work. Simple and clean.

The over tank filters seem to be catching on.

I built one for my 240. Tho it is the only filter on my tank.
 
It can still clog if the drain pipe gets blocked, but that is less likely to happen then the power going out. These types of filters do seem to be catching on a lot more lately. I may try one out once I need to build a new sump system.
 
Bee0912;4285011; said:
Thats cool. nice setup.

But any sump that is set up *right* has no chance of overflowing. there is no way that mine can overflow end of story. If thew drain on your sump clogs than the pump will opverflow the sump??
Click to expand...

Thanks. And no... well, yeah if by some very rare chance something happens to clog the 1 1/2" exit pipe, then it would overflow... but it would only overflow back into my tank. Since the inlet pipe is only 1/2" and has a pre-screen, I tend to think of it as an impossibility.

BTW, my sump, is the one that came WITH my tank. Made for it. And it still overflowed when power was off for more than 20 seconds.
 
pjsmetana;4285114; said:
Thanks. And no... well, yeah if by some very rare chance something happens to clog the 1 1/2" exit pipe, then it would overflow... but it would only overflow back into my tank. Since the inlet pipe is only 1/2" and has a pre-screen, I tend to think of it as an impossibility.

BTW, my sump, is the one that came WITH my tank. Made for it. And it still overflowed when power was off for more than 20 seconds.
Click to expand...

if it overflowed then it was built wrong. plain and simple. I can cut power off my over flow for 2-5hours (i've done it) and nothing overflowed.
 
Conner;4285110; said:
... These types of filters do seem to be catching on a lot more lately. I may try one out once I need to build a new sump system.
Click to expand...

I think its due to efficiency. Theres a lot less head pressure to deal with. You should build one before you need a new one. Redundancy is smart when dealing with live animals.

forgottenx;4285122; said:
nice design, only problem i would have with it is that the pump needs a pre-filter for that system so there is no possible chance that the pump can get damaged by something it sucks in.
Click to expand...

Good idea. I'll put a sponge filter on the inlet pipe. This is for my Oscar tank, so I didn't think of that. Now that you mention it... every HOB needs one.
 
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