Sump with out drilling or overflow?

[attiland]

If you COMMIT to a weekly 20% water change (in this case 10 gallons weekly), you can get by without a sump.

But even WITH a sump, weekly water changes are essential.

I do 20% water changes in every 1.5-2 month without a sump. No issues and little connection wit or without sump.
sump is to take the problem of an AIO from the back to below in the cabinet.

 

[Dom]

I do 20% water changes in every 1.5-2 month without a sump. No issues and little connection wit or without sump.
sump is to take the problem of an AIO from the back to below in the cabinet.

Yes, I understand what a sump is for.

 

[Gtinnel]

Can I just empty 5 gallons or so so my water level is low enough, then drill with it full?

Technically speaking yes you can, and you can find threads where others have done just that. IMO it sounds like a horrible idea. I would only be willing to try it if I had the tank somewhere that pouring all of its water into my floor wouldn't cause any damage to my home. If you go slow the tank probably won't crack, but there is always the chance that it will.

 

[NowGlazeIT]

Technically speaking yes you can, and you can find threads where others have done just that. IMO it sounds like a horrible idea. I would only be willing to try it if I had the tank somewhere that pouring 50 gallons of water into my floor wouldn't cause any damage to my home. If you go slow the tank probably won't crack, but there is always the chance that it will.

I agree, they don’t teach that practice in the glass business. But like gtinnel said, people have done it successfully and swear by it.

 

[Mjl714]

Can I just empty 5 gallons or so so my water level is low enough, then drill with it full?

I wouldn’t do this due to potential glass dust going into display tank.

 

[billysprout]

hi! I did this but it took a lot of trial and error and floods to get it right. use a pump to pull water to the sump. then use an ATO system with a stronger pump to pull water back to the display, with the float switch set to stop filling once it reaches your ideal water level. this plumbing should have a siphon break so it doesn't get stuck on.

each pump should be set high enough that it dries out before it floods in the event that pumps or float switches fail. as long as your drain pump is never outpaced by your refill pump, you'll be good.

looking back, I'd probably prefer to drill my sump and set it up that way rather than spending all the money and time getting the pumps right. but I wish you luck either way!