Need Help

[Anonymous]

I just purchased my first sump tank. It's an overflow type and I'm not sure how to assemble it. It was not assembled when I bought it so I need help.

The guy I bought it from had it on some type of "bordeau system" not sure if i'm spelling it correctly, but I don't quite know all the specifications to set it up that way. He wasn't even running a skimmer. I do have one though. I want to stick it in my sump, just don't know how to plumb.

It's a 10 ga sump with 2 seperators, got all the pumps, and overflow, just need to know the basics on setup.

Can I get any help in this matter?

Thanks!

 

[jdeets]

He probably said Berlin system. One of many filtration methods.

I have a sump; but I don't have anything in there but my skimmer and baffles to keep bubbles out of the return. I use LR/DSB and a skimmer for filtration.

There are lots of ways to do it; depends on what you are keeping, etc. I am by no means an expert on the different options, I just know what works for my fish-laden reef.

This thread is likely to grow quite lengthy!

 

[Len]

Without knowing the specifics of your setup, here's the basic. The water has to flow into the sump from the tank above it somehow. I assume your tank has an overflow box built in. At the bottom of the overflow box should be a hole for you to insert a bulkhead into (this makes the hole leakproof when doing your plumbing). You then plumb some appropriately sized PVC down from the bulkhead into the sump. The return pump pumps water back from the sump into the tank where it overflows back into the sump via the overflow box. The cycle continously repeats.

What type of skimmer do you have? Most can simply be put into the sump.

 

[Anonymous]

Don't know the name brand but I do know that it's an in-sump skimmer.

I don't have a built in overflow. It's a HOT. Unfortunately. My tank is 100 ga with a 10 ga sump. It does have the baffles in the sump already.

The "berlin" method of filtration, I have "egg crate" material under my sandbed with a fiberglass screen over the egg crate to prevent the sand from entering.

I really need to study more on this berlin system.

I do understand the sump plumbing, just mostly don't understand the berlin system.

I'm definatly going to use the skimmer and I will update ya'll on the brand. I know from reading that that makes a bit of difference too.

 

[Len]

Unfortunately, a 10 gallon sump is too small for a 100 gallon tank IMO. It will barely fit any skimmer within it, and the bigger problem is in the vent of a power outtage, it is likely going to overflow. You should aim for something at least 20g, preferably 30 gallons. HOT overflow boxes are okay, but they will occassionally break siphon after it acculumates too much trapped air in the siphon chamber. I would use float switches to make sure that in the event of the siphon breaking, you don't flood your tank by pumping all the water from the sump back into the tank. Some HOT overflow boxes like CPR have an option to add a small Aqualift pump that will help prevent siphons from breaking.

An in-sump skimmer can usually just be plopped into the sump, plugged in, and operate as intended. You need to make sure the water level is high enough for the skimmer. If you can find out the model of the skimmer, we can perhaps offer more specific help.