Sump Idea - Disaster Strikes

[Gill]

I thought of this yesterday when Excersizing in the Garage.

Have got loads of Tal Cereal Storage Containers from when we were alot younger.

The Container is Taller than My Tank.

So would be Pumping Water out using a Water Feature Pump -Have a Few Lying around.

And the Let It Flow back into the Tank using a Section of Pipe from when I had A larger Pond. Drilling a hole in the Container at the Top. ANd Inserting a Length of Pipe and Letting the Water Overflow back into the Tank.

I am KInda Exprimenting ATM.
Using the Inner Rim of the Tank as a trickle filter.
Have put Long Strips of Filter Pad along the rim and letting water flow over it using a small pump. And then Trickling back into the Tank.
Only Side effect is Apple Snails Are Coming out of the tank to feed and ending up on the carpet or somewhere on the TV.
1st Idea, the read some info on here.

New Idea.

Would this work OK

 

[mr.dark-saint]

So I take it this will sit shotgun next to the tank? You'll need to add a "Check Valve" to break the vaccum if the power ever goes out. And this will be powered by two water pumps? Or one out from the tank and gravity back in to the tank. I would see the second design working better (you'll just adjust the Sump max and drain tube diameter other wise you'll over flow the tank). I used a similar design for my outdoor pond. But since mine was set above the pond I didn't need a secondary pump for the return since it just worked off gravity.

So if you took your second drawing and made the "Fill in" tube set on to the bottom then stacked the media over it it would work like mine. The PVC pipe for this application was taller than the water level by 6"/8"(just needs to be higher and wider depending on the water fill flow rate). Too bad I don't have Pics to go with this so it's a lot easier to understand . Then the fill tube from the tank fit in to that with a "Check Valve" in my case was a simple 1/4" drill hole about 2 inches in to the outer PVC pipe (so it didn't splash all over the place.

 

[Gill]

Second Idea Sounds Better.

 

[Gill]

This is what i Am using the inner Lip of the tank for.

 

[Gill]

the smp is finished and siliconed, just need to wait for it to cure. then will connect it up.

I bought Filter Wool to fill the 5 litre box, as want it to have as much bacterial area to water ratio - if that makes sense.

Will take pix of it tommorow after it has dried.

 

[Gill]

Right so its fitted and running.

Pump = 500 Lphr with Fluval 4 pad attached to reduce risk of sucking up fish.
Tap = Blagdon Tap - set so that water fills up to the OUtelt and does not suck in air with it.
Filter Pads = Crystal Clear Filter Wool = 95 pence per pack - used 2 packs rolled up like Tubes.

The water runs into the Pads and then out via the Outlet.
So get an Extra 5 Litres of water filteration and Runs Silently. Absolutely NO Noise.

PIX

 

[hoarp001]

It seems in your diagram that the water goes backwards through the media. Surely it should go through the filter wool last, not first...

 

[andywg]

It seems in your diagram that the water goes backwards through the media. Surely it should go through the filter wool last, not first...

Nope.

Filter wool is an excellent mechanical media. Put it first and it catches almost everything in the water (especially if the wool is above the surface of the water). By having the wool trap all the gunk, the biological media does not get clogged up with detritus anywhere near as quick.

All good trickle tower filters have a layer of filter wool above the drip tray for this exact reason.

 

[hoarp001]

oh ok, in my filters I have the wool last, after the mechanical and all the biological and chemical stages...

 

[i_ganjaman]

well done but it looks a bit ugly, and takes away the beauty of the tank sorry to say. because of the blue top i think it just draws your eyes to it rather than whats in the tank.

 

[Gill]

It seems in your diagram that the water goes backwards through the media. Surely it should go through the filter wool last, not first...

It changed from the Diagram, now its just Filter wool in the box

well done but it looks a bit ugly, and takes away the beauty of the tank sorry to say. because of the blue top i think it just draws your eyes to it rather than whats in the tank.

I have Bushy Fake plant Wreaths i can cover it with.
This is just my first attempt at making 1. the Blue lid is just to keep the Hose inplace, will be removed once i get a clip for the hose.
So i should have the wool above the water line to catch more debris. I have just pushed the hose in between the 2 filter wool rolls.

we took down the wall in the Living room yesterday to make it a 30 foot living room.

Will be moving the tank to the other end into a better location once he Dining Table goes in.

 

[i_ganjaman]

I think its wicked,using the cereal containers far better than i could have done.I would have got to that stage after about 100 go's of trying.would love to see your finalized sump.It was just a passing comment and definetly not a bitchy one.I wonder if you can get the tops see through.just read the reply again and the blue top is going...excellent

 

[Gill]

AS we have taken doen the wall, Plaster powder must have gotten into the tank. I did cover it with a Thick Towel. But mum opened the windows and the Powder in the net curtains must have gotten in.

The Sump was useless, the Japonica Shrimp were jumping out onto the Bogwood to get Air.

Disconnected and the thing was smelling of plaster.

Did an Emergency 75% siphon and refilled the tank. Plugged the HOB back in with a Fluval2 aswell.

Lost my:
Rainbows
Harlequins
some of the Japonica.

Will make another 1 with a proper small tank under the table and see how that works.

Oh well, it was fun making it.

 

[i_ganjaman]

sorry gill for your losses that sucks