Wet Dry or Sump in 75g FOWLR?

[Dj Orion]

yeah,
the side facing us with the on/off valve is what is connected to the pump. On the other side (we cant see) is where I have the water flowing into the sump at the top.

Now why did my syphon not break? The water level was several inches from the top of the sump.

I am scared to hook this thing back up. I lost alot of water when this happened in just a few seconds. If the power cuts and i'm not home, this will easily flood my apartment.

 

[DevIouS]

Same thing DJ

your return pipe is way below water level & there's nothing to break the siphon.

The water level in your tank will drain as far as the out-put of the return pipe.

As Awi said, raise it so that the output meets the water surface or a bit just below.
If it's a "U" return pipe, you can drill a 1/8" hole just at about water surface of your main tank. That should break your siphon when your pump is off.
You'll have to monitor that because if it ever gets clogged (i.e. food, algae, etc.) you will be back to the flood again.

The drain side of he sump has nothing to do with it. You flooded out because of the water level in your main tank.

 

[DevIouS]

& also...the water level of your sump should not be that high.
1/2 way or so should be fine.

 

[Dj Orion]

Well,
I listened to all of you guys and I think this time I finally got it....
I drilled 3 1/8" holes on the drain into the tank. I also lowered the water level and replaced the pump in the sump (switched from external setup to submerged pump) and adjusted the hight of the overflow box...

I lost Power Last nite and observed my modifications...

IT WORKED!!!!!:groupflip

I watched the sump slightly fill with water and then stop to fill up... The only thing that I was concearned about is that the syphon didnt break on the overflow. It actually started back up when I turned the pump back on without me having to jump start the overflow again. Is that normal?

Also, I read that adding a T shaped pvc connection that routes water back into the sump on the Drain line will help me to regulate the amount of drain flow from the pump, decreasing the resistance on my pump (from the on/off valve I installed in the main drain output), thus increasaing the life of my pump.

I know that this theory sounds right and makes total sense. If I dont do it, will I burn out my pump really fast, or can I get away with it for a while before my pump dies? I can handle getting another pump in a year if I have to, I just dont feel like messing with this damn thing anymore lol.

 

[Awibrandy]

Dj, I think I understood it right. Power went out, and the sump did not overflow! If that is right, then congratulations! That is what you wanted. The overflow not losing it's siphon is OK. When I had overflow boxes while doing my water changes I would drain the water until it went below the slots in the box, then I would turn off the power to the pump so that it would burn out. I would then finish removing the amount of water that I wanted to remove. I then would replace the water with new water, and when it reached the slots in the overflow box I would turn the power back on. And like what happened with yours I had not lost siphon.

That other stuff you are talking about with the T on the pump someone else will have to answer.

 

[Dj Orion]

thanks awi,
I was quite concearned as to how I was going to do water changes without losing that syphon.. I guess I'll be ok lol.

 

[Awibrandy]

Just don't pull the U tube out, and you'll be fine. But you will have to take them out at some point to clean them.:lol_large