HOB Overflow
- Thread starter am00re34
- Start date
isistius
Active Member
your hob isn't what'll overflow. your sump will. one way o prevent it is to drill a 1/8" hole on your return line just under your water level. that way, if a power loss does occur, it'll break the syphon. as far as other equipment, what type of setup are you looking for? fo, fowler, reef. we would need tank specs, and what you want to achieve in order to help
am00re34
Member
If you drill a hole in the return line how do you stop leaking? or am i missing something here?
I have a 55g reef tank. Currently i have a HOB Aqua C Remora Skimmer, T-5 Lights, 2 Tunze Nanostreams. I want to be able to have a sump for the various benifits they offer. I would keep my skimmer but just move it to the sump. I would like to set up a calcium reactor and a chiller out of the sump in the near future.
If possible i would like to have a small refugium where i can have chaeto to eat up nitrates and a DSB.
I have a 55g reef tank. Currently i have a HOB Aqua C Remora Skimmer, T-5 Lights, 2 Tunze Nanostreams. I want to be able to have a sump for the various benifits they offer. I would keep my skimmer but just move it to the sump. I would like to set up a calcium reactor and a chiller out of the sump in the near future.
If possible i would like to have a small refugium where i can have chaeto to eat up nitrates and a DSB.
isistius
Active Member
Originally Posted by Am00re34
If you drill a hole in the return line how do you stop leaking? or am i missing something here?
the hole is drilled under the waterline, so when the pump is running it acts as another outlet, but when the power goes out, it sucks in air and breaks the reverse syphon that is normally created.
If you drill a hole in the return line how do you stop leaking? or am i missing something here?
the hole is drilled under the waterline, so when the pump is running it acts as another outlet, but when the power goes out, it sucks in air and breaks the reverse syphon that is normally created.
reefraff
Active Member
It isn't hard to set up a system that is just about flood proof. The reason for drilling the small hole in the return line just below the water level is that the outlet for the returns are typically lower down in the water than the HOB overflows intake. Without the hole drilled in the return during a power outtage it will siphon the tank water to a level lower than the overflow would so you are transfering an excess amount of water to the sump, a bad thing.
You can make a sump out of a tank but it is better if you either buy a real sump or make a seperate chamber in the sump for the return pump. You can make a chamber by siliconing a piece of acrylic into the tank so water must overflow over it to reach the pump. The reason having the extra chamber is good is should your overflow fail to drain for some reason you will only pump a few gallons of excess water to the tank before the pump runs dry. That wont be enough to overflow your main tank. This also has the effect of keeping the water level for your skimmer (if you plan on an in sump skimmer) consistant which is a grand thing and if you run the heater in the sump it will not go dry as well. You could add a second chamber for a fuge as well. Again if you shop around there are some very nice sumps with fuges built into them available if you got the $$$. They really are a better deal than trying to make one if you aren't experienced working with acrylic.
To make your sump you need a overflow, Lifereef, ALS or some other U tube style is best, Avoid CPR's if at all possible. Some come with drain hose, other you have to buy them seperate. You can make a PVC drain system if you wish. For the pump something like a mag 5 would be fine for your tank. You can use vinyl hose for the return line. I like using 3/4" and instead of using the smaller hose barb that come with the mag 5 either buy a 3/4" one at home depot or clamp the hose to the threads on the outlet snout on the pump. Make sure you buy 2 plastic clamps a size larger than the hose you use so for 3/4 inch hose get 7/8ths (I think) clamps. You need a J tube return as well. Clamp the other end of the hose to it and you will be set. Marine Depot online will have all the parts you need. SWF.com might, not sure.
You can make a sump out of a tank but it is better if you either buy a real sump or make a seperate chamber in the sump for the return pump. You can make a chamber by siliconing a piece of acrylic into the tank so water must overflow over it to reach the pump. The reason having the extra chamber is good is should your overflow fail to drain for some reason you will only pump a few gallons of excess water to the tank before the pump runs dry. That wont be enough to overflow your main tank. This also has the effect of keeping the water level for your skimmer (if you plan on an in sump skimmer) consistant which is a grand thing and if you run the heater in the sump it will not go dry as well. You could add a second chamber for a fuge as well. Again if you shop around there are some very nice sumps with fuges built into them available if you got the $$$. They really are a better deal than trying to make one if you aren't experienced working with acrylic.
To make your sump you need a overflow, Lifereef, ALS or some other U tube style is best, Avoid CPR's if at all possible. Some come with drain hose, other you have to buy them seperate. You can make a PVC drain system if you wish. For the pump something like a mag 5 would be fine for your tank. You can use vinyl hose for the return line. I like using 3/4" and instead of using the smaller hose barb that come with the mag 5 either buy a 3/4" one at home depot or clamp the hose to the threads on the outlet snout on the pump. Make sure you buy 2 plastic clamps a size larger than the hose you use so for 3/4 inch hose get 7/8ths (I think) clamps. You need a J tube return as well. Clamp the other end of the hose to it and you will be set. Marine Depot online will have all the parts you need. SWF.com might, not sure.
devil dog
Active Member
Am00re34 I see you live in Milwaukee I live Just south of you in Kenosha. I just did all that stuff to my 120g. I could walk you thought it and tell you some stuff that I got out of doing mine. Just email me at mkohmste@scj.com
It's not the hard...
Mike
It's not the hard...
Mike
am00re34
Member
thank you everyone...
I'll look around for prebuilt sumps because i have zero experiance with acrlyic. I just know sumps provide great benifits and especially on a 55 gallon space is very limited the way it is, but then to add a heater and HOB skimmer you waste a lot of space.
My buddy uses a wet/dry filter as his and it makes things soooooo much easier, plus you can hide things there, grow chaeto, then plumb in things like calcium reactors, chillers, sand filters etc.
Can anyone maybe PM me some sites that sell sumps?
I'll look around for prebuilt sumps because i have zero experiance with acrlyic. I just know sumps provide great benifits and especially on a 55 gallon space is very limited the way it is, but then to add a heater and HOB skimmer you waste a lot of space.
My buddy uses a wet/dry filter as his and it makes things soooooo much easier, plus you can hide things there, grow chaeto, then plumb in things like calcium reactors, chillers, sand filters etc.
Can anyone maybe PM me some sites that sell sumps?