Sump design

[carsonroberge]

I've got a 8 gal tank I"m trying to hook a sump too. The sump is a 18 gal rubber maid tub. I have the tank on my night stand and its about two feet high the sump is to the left of the tank on the ground. My original plan was just siphoning the water into to the sump and having a pump push is back in. I made a piece of pvc hang on the side of the tank, siphoning the water into the sump. the pump pushed the water back in just fine too. My problem is that I cant keep the water in the DT even. It's either draining to fast or filling to fast. I've ordered and external HOB overflow box. Will this solve the problem?

 

[Singlefin]

I think you would have to do an overflow. You would have to match the pump and siphon speed exactly. Any errors and disaster. Pump could get clogged or run slower. Anything could happen. An overflow only works as fast as the pump can push it.