Sump Questions

[Crazy fishes]

Just a quick question, going to use a small 5 gallon tank as a sump/refugium for my 24g. Had a bit of a shock today nitrates were 10ppm and phosphates were 0.25-0.5ppm (both previously virtually undetectable) yet the corals are growing well. Anyway, need help deciding on a pump and pipe diameter. If I were to use the 16mm eheim plastic tubing; what is the flow rate through it. Secondly what size pump do I need?

Many thanks

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Drain is what you need to consider when discussing pipe diameters. 16mm tubing would give MAX of 200gph drain rate. A matching pump would be something like a maxijet 900. Bigger drain, bigger pump

 

[Crazy fishes]

Drain is what you need to consider when discussing pipe diameters. 16mm tubing would give MAX of 200gph drain rate. A matching pump would be something like a maxijet 900. Bigger drain, bigger pump

Thanks Ski for the reply. I went out earlier and got some 16mm piping, 16mm shepherd's crook adaptor and a valve. The LFS were low on stock so didn't have a pump, however I went to another also close by and got me a New-jet 1700. I tested it and the syphon out paces the pump I'm confused as to why but I can get the flow rates approximately the same. I just need to hook it up to my tank and hopefully (fingers crossed) it should work. I have decided on an old salt bucket (~ 20 liters) instead of that little tank.
I will try later tonight to see if it works and I will report back.

Many thanks again

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Likely the new-jet has a very poor head pressure rating, hence the siphon out-pacing the pump. If the siphon is allowed to breathe air though, that shouldn't be a problem...

 

[andywg]

Drain is what you need to consider when discussing pipe diameters. 16mm tubing would give MAX of 200gph drain rate. A matching pump would be something like a maxijet 900. Bigger drain, bigger pump

Thanks Ski for the reply. I went out earlier and got some 16mm piping, 16mm shepherd's crook adaptor and a valve. The LFS were low on stock so didn't have a pump, however I went to another also close by and got me a New-jet 1700. I tested it and the syphon out paces the pump I'm confused as to why but I can get the flow rates approximately the same. I just need to hook it up to my tank and hopefully (fingers crossed) it should work. I have decided on an old salt bucket (~ 20 liters) instead of that little tank.
I will try later tonight to see if it works and I will report back.

Many thanks again

Regards

Are you using an overflow or a drilled hole to drain? Neither of these should be able to really outpace the pump as the drain speed is governed by the amount of water pumped up.

Please don't tell me you just have a syphon draining water into the sump.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Ok Andy I won't tell you that, (but I am going to). I know that it is less than ideal and any ideas would be greatfully received. I can't drill the tank because it is tempered ( JBJ D&D 24g) and an overflow box not sure?? If I use an overflow box I would need to construct one but how? By the way it is not setup yet....

Regards

 

[andywg]

If you just use a syphon then you are waiting for disaster. Just don't.

If the power goes off then the syphon carries on draining while the pump stops, meaning your display floods the sump. If you have a break to stop the syphon draining the whole tank into the sump then when the power comes back on the pump will overfill the display (as the syphon is broken and now not draining) and you will get a flood from the display and a burnt out return pump.

Do a search on overflow boxes for the basic design. I don't like them as it is more likely one of those will fail than a drilled tank.

Also, almost no tanks are tempered in the back or sides, so drilling often is an option, but you just have to adopt a different style.

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, impossible to use siphon only. In THEORY if you perfectly match the flowrate of the return pump and the siphon it works, but this never happens. In practice the pump's flow changes from hour to hour for many reasons as does the siphon rate. Trying it this way will lead to water all over the floor.

Btw, i thought the D&D tanks were acrylic

 

[Crazy fishes]

D&D is glass both curvy front-lateral walls and rear. The divider is plastic though. Emm will have a look tomorrow in more depth at possible disigns.

Thanks guys

Regards