Adding a sump question about return pump

[Ramon84]

Good afternoon Reefers I am in the process of adding a sump. Looking for a return pump. How will I be able to know how strong of a pump I would need to get water flow back up to my DT?

 

[Ramon84]

You are correct but you want some flow as @UncommonSense said. That will probably work if everything else you have said is correct. You only have a rise of 2' and two "angles" 90s or 45s? You will have to mess with it or do the math and figure it out. I am not familure with that exact pump or the pumps that @UncommonSense posted the graphs for. The 1200 model looks close to yours but not all pumps are designed the same, I would use that graph and expect a bit less performance. Hopefully this works out well. What are you doing for the drain?

Thank u! I’m not sure have not read good thing of hob overflows. I was gonna try something not sure if it will work tho. I don’t want to drill my tank because it’s already stocked. I was gonna try to create a suction with pvc and putting a valve to control the amount draining I have never tried something like this so not really sure if it a possibility.

 

[UncommonSense]

Thank u! I’m not sure have not read good thing of hob overflows. I was gonna try something not sure if it will work tho. I don’t want to drill my tank because it’s already stocked. I was gonna try to create a suction with pvc and putting a valve to control the amount draining I have never tried something like this so not really sure if it a possibility.

Avoid HOB overflows like the plague!!!

I had one for years… finally got frustrated enough with it to rebuild the system… that tank overflowed, or nearly overflowed at least a half dozen times a year if memory serves correct…

The vacuum pump you use to keep the siphon primed is Chinese hot garbage; and is really the only option around… even when the vacuum pump is working properly; the 1/8” ID nipple it attaches to has a very bad tendency to clog up, typically from a limpet or snail over it!

My vote is just get a bigger display tank (if you can realistically fit it), and drill that for your overflow, then swap over to the new tank once ready!

 

[twentyleagues]

Again I agree with @UncommonSense. Hobs at best work until they dont and fail more often than not. I have tried making a pvc overflow for an undrilled tank its sketchy at best. There is just no way around it that to me is safe.

 

[UncommonSense]

If your tank is glass; here’s a recent drilling walkthrough I helped out with!

If your tank is acrylic; you can use standard wood hole saw! — best practice is setting your drill’s clutch to 10-15lbs, using some water as you drill to keep the friction from melting the acrylic, and clearing the plastic accumulation from the hole saw teeth every 20-30-ish seconds of cutting! (I also like to finish my hole by starting drilling from the opposite side, preventing any chipping as you complete the hole!)

Best of luck! Let us know if you have any more questions!

Drilling holes in glass tank near top corners. How far down from glass edge is safe? 15mm glass.

I’ve got a 5 foot tank being delivered. It is a braceless/rimless design. It has 15mm low iron glass. I want to drill two inlets, each at opposite ends of the tank in the top back corners. Holes will be for 1 inch bulkheads. I want them to be as high as possible and as near to the corners as...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Ramon84]

I purchased AI Axis 40

 

[Ramon84]

 

[Ramon84]

Has 9 feet of max head that should be enough

 

[UncommonSense]

Has 9 feet of max head that should be enough

9ft of head for only 400gph is fantastic! I’ve never used this brand, but the specifications are very promising!

With any luck; it will be a reliable pump for you for years to come!

(Most 400gph pumps max out at roughly half that head height, making them less useful for general purpose applications like moving water from containers to a tank! — keep it around even if you upgrade in display size; it’ll be great to run filtration accessories too!)

 

[Ramon84]

Good the here I have a Ai prime and Ai Nero wave maker

 

[Ramon84]

9ft of head for only 400gph is fantastic! I’ve never used this brand, but the specifications are very promising!

With any luck; it will be a reliable pump for you for years to come!

(Most 400gph pumps max out at roughly half that head height, making them less useful for general purpose applications like moving water from containers to a tank! — keep it around even if you upgrade in display size; it’ll be great to run filtration accessories too!)

Thank you for all the advice and support

 

[Ramon84]

Good morning fellow Reefers !!!! Came across this video this is kinda something I want to try instead of drilling input would be great before attempting thank you again
Also is this safe for my tank ?

 

[UncommonSense]

Good morning fellow Reefers !!!! Came across this video this is kinda something I want to try instead of drilling input would be great before attempting thank you again
Also is this safe for my tank ?

Did you read the thread I linked prior, re: drilling glass?


I’m not immediately familiar with this specific silicone, what are you using it for?

 

[Ramon84]

Did you read the thread I linked prior, re: drilling glass?


I’m not immediately familiar with this specific silicone, what are you using it for?

Ya I did I still don’t want to drill into tank
I need silicone to add the sump plates I was told that I could use any 100% water proof silicone

 

[Ramon84]

This is what I am going to use the silicone for

 

[UncommonSense]

Ya I did I still don’t want to drill into tank
I need silicone to add the sump plates I was told that I could use any 100% water proof silicone

Aah, well; you’ll need to drill the display tank to have a sump, and not have your system overflow all over your floor via a garbage HOB overflow…

Not all waterproof silicone is aquarium safe… this has been discussed to death around here, if you do a cursory search… — I have had great luck with ASI 502 clear A silicone sealant.

Make sure your glass is VERY clean using specifically 99% isopropyl alcohol (NOT acetone!!). Don’t let the alcohol soak on the silicone seals.

Wait 72 hours minimum for silicone to cure (dry out) and gas off it’s chemical solvents before Filling with water!

 

[Ramon84]

Aah, well; you’ll need to drill the display tank to have a sump, and not have your system overflow all over your floor via a garbage HOB overflow…

Not all waterproof silicone is aquarium safe… this has been discussed to death around here, if you do a cursory search… — I have had great luck with ASI 502 clear A silicone sealant.

Make sure your glass is VERY clean using specifically 99% isopropyl alcohol (NOT acetone!!). Don’t let the alcohol soak on the silicone seals.

Wait 72 hours minimum for silicone to cure (dry out) and gas off its chemical solvents before Filling with water!

ok well gonna have to see what I can do now thank u again

 

[UncommonSense]

ok well gonna have to see what I can do now thank u again

Of course! Remember my idea to just get a larger display tank and drill that, then swap your livestock/etc over to it!

I know you can make any local petsmart price match their online pricing on a tank! — I got a 20g long to use as a sump for under $35 last month! (I assume the other big box chains have a similar policy too!)

 

[Ramon84]

Thank u

 

[twentyleagues]

Thank u

On the silicone question. Just make sure it does not have any mold or bacteria resistance properties. GE1 used to be the go to but it seems GE has renamed all their products. GE1 is no longer marketed as such and I have not been able to find out exactly what it is now marketed as or if it even still exists.
I have not watched the video you posted but my guess is that it does not go into how to get the water to the sump "safely". I will watch it. IMO just like @UncommonSense the use of hob style overflows is a disaster waiting to happen. I like the idea of possibly swapping out for a slightly larger standard tank the smaller ones are usually drillable and you can get overflow kits that come with the hole saw, just need a drill.

 

[twentyleagues]

Good morning fellow Reefers !!!! Came across this video this is kinda something I want to try instead of drilling input would be great before attempting thank you again
Also is this safe for my tank ?

Ok I was wrong...lol. But that is also my experience with DIY overflows they dont work. I wonder if he has had the purchased hob overflow fail yet. Those Eshoppes hob are pretty good but eventually will fail. The drilled tank one they make is top notch I have two tanks using those and they are very good, and they come with the hole saw.