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Sump Sump Sump ?! DUH

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SnowManSnow

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ok,

so ive been in the hobby for over 2 years now and dont really understand HOW a sump works..

ill be moving in the next 3 months and would like to set up a larger aquarium with sump. but im just not sure how.

can someone help? PICS PLEASE .. i LOVE PICTURES im a visual learner

1) Drilled tank... = 2 holes in bottom. I assume 1 is return... and 1 is sump supply?

2) Why doesn't a sump overflow?

3) If the power goes out why doesnt all the water drain into the sump and out onto the floor?

Please help.. thanks in advance.

B
 
N

NMreefer

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Correct on the tank. Sumps can and do overflow if not setup correctly. You drill a small hole in the return line just below water level. It breaks the siphon if the power fails.

I'll post some pics tonight. You'll get lot's o help on this subject from this board.

Phillip
 
A

Anonymous

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Ideally you want the drain to your sump to skim the surface of your display tank. This can be done by having the drain hole drilled up high at the water line, or more commonly, an overflow box surrounding the drain hole. That way if you have a power outage or some other event, the water in your display will only drain to the top of your overflow box.
 
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Anonymous

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I just started the sump project today. This will be a great thread for me. I thin I have all the parts except the piping. Will be getting that tomorrow. Not to hijak the thread, but where do you get the grey or black PVC pipe my local HD doesn't carry it.
 
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ChrisRD

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1) That's one way to do it. Keep in mind that you can plumb returns over the side too (no hole/drilling required then). People generally plumb returns up through the overflow box when they are trying to get the tank tight to a wall and don't have room behind it for the piping.

2) The return pump is what's creating the flow. The water returning to the sump is just overflowing from the main tank back down to the sump, so the rate at which water is leaving the sump is always the same as the rate at which it's returning.

3) The water in the main tank can only drain down to a certain point, for example maybe the bottom of the teeth in your overflow box. If the sump is sized correctly, and you run the water level in the sump low enough to accomodate the extra water that will drain down from the main tank in a power-off condition - no flooding problem.

As for pics, here's a recent thread with a few good links...
http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=75296&highlight=sump
 
M

melas

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a good way to know how much water to put in your sump is to turn your pump off, fill the tank to the bottom teeth of the overflow, and fill the sump to whatever level you are comforatble with. Turn the pump back on and then put a piece of electrical tape or something where the water line is when it is running. . . that way you know how much to top off the sump next time . . . this is definitely a somewhat difficult thing to grasp the first time. once you get it it will make PERFECT sense! see if there is anyone nearby with a similar configuration that you could look at. Just be sure to drill a small hole below the waterline on any and all of your returns! This has been stated above but it is REALLY important! Also, if you are using an overflow box be sure to check the "teeth" regularly that you don't have any algae or dead fish blocking it. . . this can lead to the tank overflowing. Good luck! Hopefully someone will get some good pics up for you!
 
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Anonymous

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A little confused here, where are the small holes in the pipes supposed to be drilled? Are you talking about the return in the sump? Is that correct?
 
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melas

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the line coming from the sump to the tank, inside the tank just below the water level. in the event of a power failure you would experience what is called a "reverse siphon". when the pressure pushing the water up the line is gone the water falls back to the sump. if there is nothing to break the siphon it will drain all the water out of your tank into your sump (well it will drain it until it gets to the opening in your return wherever that may be in relation to the height of your tank). by drilling a small hole just below the water line the siphon will be broken as soon as the water level gets below that hole. i'll try and diagram something for you quick.
 
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melas

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rudimentary yes. . . but it should give you the basic idea. . .i know there are good diagrams online. . . just didn't have time to look them up


http://www.mha-systems.com/sump.gif

sump.gif
 
G

gatorracer

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Here is the thing that is stumping me now. Ok so the power goes out on my new sump and the siphons break.... The bottom tank fills up to a near full level and stops.. whew. OK now the power comes back on - the pump starts and pumps all of the sumps water into the display. Now the display overfills. Am I wrong. I mean nothing stops the pump from firing up and I have been to a lot electrical stores and I ask them for a manual switch that turns off when the power goes off and they just look stupid at me. Am I missing something here?
 
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ChrisRD

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The main tank will not overflow when the power comes back on. When the pump kicks back on and the water level in the main tank starts to rise, water begins draining back down to the sump via the overflow again.
 
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Anonymous

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The main tank will not overflow out of the tank. When the power comes back on the water will overflow into the drains and go back to the sump. No need for switches. The only way it will flood is if something clogs the overflow. Some gate/ball valves will be good for maintainence.
 
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gatorracer

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but I have a cpr hang on overflow box doesnt the siphon break and then need to be started again upon the power coming back on?
 
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ChrisRD

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A correctly designed overflow should restart on its own when the return pump starts up again, but the possibility that it won't is one of the reasons many prefer drilled tanks.
 
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