Thinking Of A New Tank, With A Sump!

[JJ56]

Hello chaps, I'm in need of some help here, anything will be appreciated, please forgive me if I get the lingo wrong.

My current tank has been running for a year, ( and very well , had no deaths or anything! *touches wood* ) and already, I'm planning on a bigger tank! I'm thinking of moving from my 3 foot 100l tank, to a 4 foot tank and sump. (possibly using my 3 foot as the sump ) I'll probably buy a second hand tank; and drill it, credit crunchies!

I have mainly been researching a weir box and standpipe system, as I don't like the idea of trusting my living room carpet to a syphon. The goals I want to set for this setup are:

* No chance of an overflow. I want it to be a fail safe system; EG. if my return pump fails, my display will simply fill up my sump until the display level drops below the weir box, this will require me to allow height in my sump design to accomodate this.

* Not too noisey, I realise a standpipe design isn't best for this, but I've being thinking about cleverly angled pipes etc.

* Get some equiptment out of the tank! I understand I can house my skimmer in the sump, but I assume I'll still need a heater in the display, as if it's in the sump the display temp may drop?

Lastly, how on earth do you work out how to match the flow of the return to the flow out of the tank? This has really stumped me, if this isn't matched right I'm guessing it'll all end in tears.

I think thats all, could someone please take five mins to explain to me exactly what I should be doing / looking for?

Thanks very much guys!

 

[Anguilla82]

put simply if you're going fo a stand pipe design (if you google 'durso' it'll show u) then what ever your return pushes up into the tank, it will raise the water level over the into the weir. when the weir fills up to a certain level it'll go into the durso pipe and down in to your sump. job done.
no problem of matching pumps.

no chance of a wet floor either as long as you don't overfill your sump.

no problem with having the heater in your sump. the throughput of teh water thru your sump and into your display tank will be fine to keep the temp up.

as for noise issues. there are a number of ways of reducing this.
1. drill a hole in the top of the durso stand pipe.
2. have angles in the stand pipe rather than just straight into the sump.
3. lower the flow rate going down the stand pipe.
4. having twin stand pipes.

hope some of that helps.

 

[JJ56]

Spot on! Thanks alot

I've made a very quick sketch on paint of how I think it could work. Please excuse my basic grasp of sumps, I've only learned how they work tonight!

Please someone let me know if there is anything here that could be improved.

Thanks once again

 

[ben1987]

i wouldnt run a return into the tank like that. in a power cut the pump will cause a siphon. and non-return valves are not 100% effective. Go over the top with it imo

 

[JJ56]

Thanks for the tip, by over the top, do you mean over the top of the wier box? Or; should I route the pipe another way, and only have the standpipe in the weir?

I'm guessing if this is the latter, I would have to drill another hole near the top of the tank and have the inlet from the sump going in there?

Thanks, any more help is greatly appreciated!

 

[ben1987]

id just go up and over the top of the tank. No need to drill another hole. Unless you have the tank flat against the wall.

 

[JJ56]

Yup that's what I'll do, found this pic too, which stops the back syphon thing :

 

[ben1987]

Yeah, thats how i meant, the hole is more reliable than a non return valve

 

[JJ56]

Thanks, only question I have now, is one standpipe or two?

I'd be happy to use one durso if it's reliable, but what if it gets blocked? I assume then the return pump would continue to pump water to the display and overfolw the tank from the top?

As I've said, I want to eliminate all points where it could overflow; IE theres always room for overflowing water in the system.

Any thoughts?

 

[TigerIssey]

Personally, I would place the protein skimmer in the first section of the sump, this allows you to have a refugium area in that mid section.

If you place the protein skimmer in that section, all your good life such as pods will be skimmed out of the system. Free food for fishes and corals.

Also, you can then grow chaeto or similar in that section and this will also remove nutrients from the water.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[JJ56]

Before I draw the new design up, few questions:

One durso standpipe or two?

Skimmer in the very first compartment? followed by LR rubble and rowaphos in the next, followed by a fuge area, then bubble trap to return pump area. Best area to put heater?

Should I put a smaller heater, set at a slightly lower temp in the display? (hidden away) As if theres a problem with water coming from the sump, my display would be without heat. As a "just incase" measure.

Thanks guys!

 

[alexlark]

Hi Jonathan,

Just been reading your whole post as I am thinking of doing the exact same thing after keeping marines for the last 18 months. My setup at the moment is a 4ft tank, 3 powerheads, external canister with UV sterilizer and a load of LR. NO sump and NO skimmer!

Like yourself I am after the same results - quiet, failsafe etc.

Anyway, how are you getting on with the sump design? I'm still learning too