i need help.... plumbing and other

jmarkey83

jmarkey83

New Member
ok hello everyone,
here is my questions, let me apologize i am a new at this. im up gradeing to a larger tank im going from a 30g to a 80g. now i have been just buying pieces one at a time since im not rich haha, but im close to actually get it up and running, but im confussed about alot since this will be my first time working with a sump.
my biggest question right now is how to make a diy return line from the sump to the tank. i understand that i can just run pvc from the pump to the tank but now i see and heard things i just dont know what do do... like a hole drilled to break siphon in case of power failur. i just dont know if u could expain the who setup for a return line and how to build one that would be awesome.
also once i have it all set up to be filled with water whats a good level to fill the tank and sump up with, on the sump i have a esshops it has a water level line so is that what i use.
all around im just confused i read about it but im more once i see it i can figure it out so everything i have read just is not helpinng me.
thanks in advance to anyone who replys im posting this now but i may have to run out for a momnet so i just want to let u all know and help is much aperciated
 
i<3reefs

i<3reefs

Member
Well it all depends on how far you intend your return nozzle to be in your aquarium. If you choose to drill a small hole into the nozzle you would want to do it barely below the water line which will be determined by your overflow. You don't want do drill it above the water line because you will get a steady stream of water into your aquarium, creating air bubbles.
You could also plumb up to the aquarium and then run an Aquarium Anti-Siphon Overflow Siphon Break Valve that you can purchase on the biggest online auction site into your nozzle.
Cosmetically I would want my overflow setup so my water level is barely above the rim of my aquarium. I don't want to see a water line from the outside of my aquarium. The water level if your refugium should be determined by turning your pump off. Once you can establish how many inch or inches of room you need in your refugium, then you can decide how full you want to make it. Surprisingly, water displacement from your DT to your refugium is minimal in most cases (unless you have a huge tank, and a tiny refugium).
Interestingly enough you can make a measurement on the outside of your refugium for gallon marks. I've always found this interesting so you can track easily how must evaporation your experiencing over a day/week.
Remember to test everything while your there to watch. Don't wait until it is midnight, and you hear water trickling to realize you messed up. Not that I have done that, twice.

Hope this helps, and good luck.
 
jmarkey83

jmarkey83

New Member
im still a bit confussed but im hanging in there, so if i was to purchase a check valve so water is un able to flow backwords would this eliminate drilling a siphon hole ????
 
jdl

jdl

Member
Originally Posted by I<3Reefs
http:///forum/post/3080868
Yes a check valve would work if you can purchase one that does not have any metal in it.
check valves will fail over time as they get dirty.
2 ways to do this. A hole as mentioned earlier, or a big enough sump to hold enough water until the back siphon breaks.
 
jmarkey83

jmarkey83

New Member
im just not sure why a drilled hole works or where to drill it... people are saying like right below the water line.... so ok if i do that when the pump is sending water back up to my display tank wont the water level drop and the expose the hole so then im guessing it would shot water out of that hole right.... im very confused and its hard to find a clear answer on this
 
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