Originally Posted by Joshd123
I would say 90% do run sumps but without issues? I think everyone has had a issue with a sump. I know I have. I DIY everything on my very first saltwater setup I had ALL KINDS of problems. I read everything I could get my hands on and it was before I knew about the good people on this site. There is ALOT of stuff that the books do not tell ya HAHA. I have gained very much from reading on SWF.com But I really do think everyone has a problem with something at one time or another when doing Saltwater Sump or not.
Not doubting what your saying Joshd123, yes we all have problems at one point or another, but most of it's due to improper design, setup, or planning......IMO most people have problems with sump setups, due to poor planning....Most overflow their sumps, because they don't know how to properly setup their water levels......Some don't know how to account for back syphon to the sump/fuge area......some DIY sumps are just made poorly with to thin of a material and crack, some don't take any necessary precautions to limit the back flow of water from the main tank in event of power outage.....
All these things can be addressed if you seek the proper sources and they are out there.....First on sump design, Melevs site is a really resourceful sight full of good information, and he even talks about material thickness and such.....I would recommend before you build your sump take your dimensions to an acrylics fabricator and let them look it over for structural soundness......They actually know the material better and know if it will hold that given body of water when actually full....
Back syphoning from the main tank is inevitable to a degree.....You can employ several safety measures to limit the amount, from check valves which alot of people will tell you that they jam, or freeze!!!! That does happen from time to time, but it usually just doesn't happen overnight........This is a device that should be checked during routine maintenance IMO to see if it functioning properly.....I prefer to use the clear Tru Union check valves so I can visual see the valve in operation and if it is fully closing as it should and it will also allow me to pull the piece from the plumbing system and rebuild or clean if something were to lodge inside of it which happens due to people not having some type of safety to prevent snails from getting into their plumbing.....
Another area of back syphoning occurs when your submerged return pipes back syphon water to the sump.......We all have are returns somewhat submerged to a degree....Back syphoning can be limited in this area again by the use of employing "syphon break" holes.....These holes are very simple and cost no money and about 10 seconds of your time...these holes are drilled in your return pipe just under the water line......With them just being under the water line in the MT, in the event the power would go out it would only drain to where the hole is drilled and the syphon would be broken......Again this comes into play with setting the proper water level in the sump area....You can employ all these safety measures and run your water level to high in the sump area and overflow the sump, due to not enough room to handle the back flow.......
