Please help me make a sump/refugium!!!

mell

mell

Member
Okay, so I've got a 15 gallon tank I'm gonna use for my sump/refugium, which I'll get some plexiglass to section off. I'm looking at some overflow boxes because I'm too dumb to do all the plumbing without one. I found a CPR CS202 overflow box w/aqualifter pump for like 40 bucks used. It also has two drain hoses with filter socks at the ends. What else would I need? And should I put this on my 55 or my 125?
 
mell

mell

Member
Tanks Meowzer. I know I'm gonna need a pump to return the water, but I don't know what kind or where to find one.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I recommend mag pumps.....I have a mag18 in my sump...but this is for a 225G I have no clue how to tell you what size pump you need.....
just google mag pumps....you will find lots of places to get them, and I am sure in the morning someone will help you out with the size you need.
Florida Joe...and Spanko (Henry) helped me a lot when I did mine, lol...but I bought the set up ...I am not a DIY person
 
mell

mell

Member
Awesome, tanks! I'm not a DIY person either...at all. I found a new overflow box I'm looking at now and it says it's for 800gph, so I'm sure I can figure it out. Hopefully the guys will have posted something tomorrow. Lata!
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
Hey Mell,
My .02 is to try to avoid the Overflows that require an air pump to opperate.
Just one more thing to worry about if the power decides to go out.
Just my openion tho.
 
mell

mell

Member
How do you know if they need an air pump? I'm looking at a black stealth 800gph overflow box. It doesn't say anything about needing an air pump. I don't know what I'm doing...
 
handbanana

handbanana

Member
I think this is an example.
The overflow uses an air pump to create pressure to some how start a siphon. If the power goes out and the air pump doesn't restart when power comes back for whatever reason, its water on the floor time. It actually happened to someone I know.
My overflow uses a plastic U-tube that is submerged on both ends so as the tank begins to fill again it resumes flow. I don't really understand the enclosed maze looking ones to be honest. I know I'm always tripping my GFCI and my overflow has yet to fail.
My two pennies
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
You only use an air pump once to prime your overflow box, after that it will stay primed even if the power goes out. There is no danger of flooding because of this. And when the power comes back on it continues to syphon normally without having to re-prime it.
The only danger from flooding when your power goes out is from water draining back through your return line. Therefore most people will drill a small hole in their return line just below the water line (inside the tank) so that when the water drains back into the sump then it only drains to that point in the tank where the whole is. This is why it is imparative that your sump has enough extra space to handle this extra water draining back into it. Me personally when I build my sump I will drill a small whole as well as install a check valve on my return line thus eliminating any chance of a flood from a power outage. A check valve is a simple and cheap device that only allows water to flow one way through your plumbing.
You say you plan on using a 15G tank for your sump/refugium. In my opinion this is way to small for a 125G tank. You could use it for your 55G tank but IMO it's still a little small because you are very limited in what you can do with it.
The overlow that you've found would be good for your 125G as the cpr cs202 will drain upto 1500gph. It may be a bit overkill on a 55g but would still work none the less. The thing to remember is that your overflow should be able to drain faster than your return pump can pump so if your are looking at a pump that will push 800gph then IMO the overflow and pump will work just fine. If you plan on using them for your 125G I would highly recomend using a bigger tank for your sump.
There are lots of good videos on the net of people showing their sump systems. I recommend looking on youtube and see what some other people are doing just to get a better idea of how sumps really work. I know it's helped me out alot in the planning of my own sump system.
Just my .02
I.E...I plan on using a 55G tank for my sump on my 125G display tank.
 
mell

mell

Member
I'm looking at 2 different ones. There's the CPR and then there's the black stealth with 2 u-tubes. And I just watched a video on youtube and it did clear things up quite a bit.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
I like the CPR's myself. They have a lower profile inside the tank and don't take up to much space. I plan on getting the CS102. It's just the next size down from the CS202.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
On the cpr's you use a small pump called an aqua lifter. If you check out CPR's website they have a great demonstration video of how it's done. Just look in the overflow section.
 
mell

mell

Member
Man am I glad I checked out that website! I wouldn't even have room for the CPR 202 behind my tank! Biggest I could go would be the 102, but I may even be able to just go with the 90 with a mag 7 pump. Whatcha think? It's all making so much more sense now.
 
mell

mell

Member
I really kinda like that black stealth one though also. You don't have to have an aqualifter with it, and it's not as expensive. Not sure what to do.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Mell
http:///forum/post/3272471
Man am I glad I checked out that website! I wouldn't even have room for the CPR 202 behind my tank! Biggest I could go would be the 102, but I may even be able to just go with the 90 with a mag 7 pump. Whatcha think? It's all making so much more sense now.
Mag 7 would work with the CS102 but not the CS90. The CS90 only drains at up to 600gph and the Mag 7 pushes 800gph. So basically you would be pumping water into your tank faster than it could drain. And if that were to happen then you would drain your sump dry and burn out your pump all while overflowing your DT. That's why you need an over flow that will drain more gph than your pump will pump. So the 102 will work because it drains 1200gph. You might be able to get away with the CS100 but that's cutting it close. Even though a Mag7 pumps upto 800gph, once your account for the distance it has to travel upward and the amount of 90 degree angles it has to pass then you're probably looking at more like 500-600 gph. But even so, it's safer to go with an overflow that will outdrain your pump's max gallons per hour pumping power.
 
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