Setting up sump...

[Wayne]

Help

I found this site http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-01/newbie/index.php

So return pump size is going to be about 200 Gallons/Hour. Is it better to have drains that are at the top of my overflow or at the bottom? Do I need holes to stop the siphon? Can my return pump too much? Can my drains drain to much? Is mechanical filtration recommended?

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by Wayne

...
So return pump size is going to be about 200 Gallons/Hour. Is it better to have drains that are at the top of my overflow or at the bottom? Do I need holes to stop the siphon? Can my return pump too much? Can my drains drain to much? Is mechanical filtration recommended?

What size is your overflow?
How big are those drain pipes?
There should be holes in the top of those drains already, if it was used before...?
You can put a valve on the return side of the pump to regulate flow back to the main tank.
I don't recommend mechanical filtration, but that is a personal choice.
oh, and your drains will only drain back what your pump pushes up to your display tank.

Mitch

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by MitchM

What size is your overflow?
How big are those drain pipes?
There should be holes in the top of those drains already, if it was used before...?
You can put a valve on the return side of the pump to regulate flow back to the main tank.
I don't recommend mechanical filtration, but that is a personal choice.
oh, and your drains will only drain back what your pump pushes up to your display tank.

Mitch

Pipes are 1" and there are holes in the caps which do sit below the water line. How do you start the siphon or is it just a pressure differential that automatically starts it.

How do you determine over flow size? The boxes are 4.5" x 4.5" x 18.5" and the current tubes (which I will rebuild) are 18" tall. Thanks

[MitchM]

Originally Posted by Wayne

Pipes are 1" and there are holes in the caps which do sit below the water line. How do you start the siphon or is it just a pressure differential that automatically starts it.

How do you determine over flow size? The boxes are 4.5" x 4.5" x 18.5" and the current tubes (which I will rebuild) are 18" tall. Thanks

Yes, that's what I meant about overflow size.
When you re-plumb your overflow drains, make sure to design it so that you can get your hand down to the bottom of the overflow for when (not if) you need to retrieve something.

It looks like the old style was a Durso type return and I also recommend changing that to a Herbie style. I had a Durso for a while on one of my tanks and found that the hole that should be at the top of the return pipes kept plugging up with salt creep.
When that plugs you get a constant toilet flushing sound in the background, which is just lovely to listen to when you're on the phone!

Mitch

[Wayne]

I found out the top portion of the drains are removable to facilitate my arm if something goes into that area. I will drill the hole out to a bigger size to help combat the salt creep, but with it removable I can always take out and clean. Converting to a Herbie would be as easy as removing the top and having seperate drain pipes correct? Thanks