ADDING SUMP TO ESTABLISHED TANK

[Zan101]

I have a 65 gallon undrilled tank. It is 1 year old with fish and coral.
I Have been looking at adding a sump to the system. It has a canister filter on it as of now( yes I know big mistake in adding it to the system)
Drilling the tank is not a option, I don't want to use a overflow box, as I have seen that they can cause a problem with power outage.
My idea is to add a pump in my tank hiding it with a overflow box and running the pipe over tank lip down to sump with ball valve in place to control the flow.
Then installing a pump on other side of sump to return water, with ball vale in place to control flow.
Reason for this is to be able to dose the tank and add GFO and carbon reactors to that system.
Before you critisize this is not my only system. I have 2, 300 gallons systems with sumps. this was my first tank and I don't want to break it down. I guess call me old school for wanting to leave it like it is.

 

[malacoda]

If you put a pump inside your tank instead of an overflow, and your return pump in your sump should fail for any reason, the tank pump will empty your display tank into your sump and onto your floor.

Curious as to what kind of overflow power outage 'issues' you're referring to.

I've been running a Marine Depot overflow box (nano) on my 24g for two-and-a-half years and have never had any kind of issue during a power outage or power shut off (for water changes etc.).

I'd actually venture to say that using a pump would be more risky. My overflow box has never failed to 'restart' its siphon. On the other hand, I have had pumps that have eventually stopped due to internal calcium and 'gunk' build up, etc.

If your dead set against an overflow box, you'll need to find some way to ensure the tank pump will 'stop' if your return pump should ever fail.

 

[cracker]

So You want to pump water into the sump & another to return it to the tank?
A lot of people have used overflow boxes for years with no issues I never did.

 

[Zan101]

Yes, but would use a custom set up in case of over flow in sump it would cut both pumps off and alert me on my phone allowing me to turn one are both pumps back on.

 

[Zan101]

If you put a pump inside your tank instead of an overflow, and your return pump in your sump should fail for any reason, the tank pump will empty your display tank into your sump and onto your floor.

Curious as to what kind of overflow power outage 'issues' you're referring to.

I've been running a Marine Depot overflow box (nano) on my 24g for two-and-a-half years and have never had any kind of issue during a power outage or power shut off (for water changes etc.).

I'd actually venture to say that using a pump would be more risky. My overflow box has never failed to 'restart' its siphon. On the other hand, I have had pumps that have eventually stopped due to internal calcium and 'gunk' build up, etc.

If your dead set against an overflow box, you'll need to find some way to ensure the tank pump will 'stop' if your return pump should ever fail.

Thank you for the input.
I have designed a custom set up with floats that will shut off both pumps to keep them over flowing tank or sump and will alert me on my phone and give me choice to restart one or both pumps by wifi in case this happens.
I have not looked in to the Marine depot overflows, but will check that out.

 

[Ratherbeflyen]

I'm sure someone has successfully done the pump out, pump in method. For me it would be a level of risk I would never put in my house. If you don't want to add an over the top siphon overflow, I would lower the water level of the tank and drill 2 small holes with an internal overflow.

 

[alanbetiger]

The biggest issue you will have is dialing the pumps to match each other. Even the same pumps will have different head pressures. The one in the tank will only be to get over the tank wall. The other will have the added height to the floor to push back against. Even with control valves and being perfect one day, gunk/debris will accumulate at different speeds in each return section so you'd have to constantly dial in.

 

[Engloid]

I agree with alan. Also, even if you got both perfectly dialed in, they won't get dirty and slow down at the same rate. BIG mistake to even attempt it. An over the back siphon will be safer...but still not as safe as drilling the tank.

 

[leptang]

Ive considered building a cabnet over my old tank, and adding a sump above my non drilled display tank. I was going to use a glass 20 long sump and drill in a drain to return to the display tank. I was going to set up 4 T-5 lights between the sump and display tank, lighting both the display tank and the sump shining up from under the sump to grow some cheato. Never got round to making it.
Just food for thought.

 

[alanbetiger]

Ive considered building a cabnet over my old tank, and adding a sump above my non drilled display tank. I was going to use a glass 20 long sump and drill in a drain to return to the display tank. I was going to set up 4 T-5 lights between the sump and display tank, lighting both the display tank and the sump shining up from under the sump to grow some cheato. Never got round to making it.
Just food for thought.

Yeah that work in basically you turn your display into the "sump".

I was thinking about it more last night. Dual peristaltic pumps would probably be the only safe way to do it with two pumps. People do that for constant waterchanges. I don't know but doubt you'd be able to get the turnover fast enough to be "worth" have a sump.