Please help me make a sump/refugium!!!

2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Mell
http:///forum/post/3272477
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.
It's all a matter of personal taste and practicallity. Personally I like the CPR's but that doesn't mean that others aren't just as good.
 
mell

mell

Member
Gotcha, it's confusing. I was looking at the chart on their website. Guess I got it mixed up.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I've used both the CPR and regular overflows with "U" tubes.....Both work just fine and no issue with power outages with the CPR. I do prefer the "U" tube style overflows, only because that's what was around when I got into the hobby. With that being said......I took note that you said you couldn't get the bigger overflow box behind the tank??? Is it possible to move the tank out a bit? What about running dual smaller overflow boxes instead of just 1?
I'm going to assume your going to be using a submersible pump.....I would recommend the Eheim over the Mag. Mags after a period of time have a tendency of not liking to restart. Plus if you do alittle research on your submersible pumps you'll see that they do add heat to the tank water since this is how they cool themselves and you should search around and find 1 which has lower heat give off. Eheim has lower heat output, and I'm pretty confident a little more energy efficient than the Mag.
Another side note...beware that plexi/acrylic doesn't bond great with silicone, so if your going to use plexi/acrylic make sure you rough up the sides that will have silicone, or get glass cut at HD or Lowes and silicone.......HTH
 
xcali1985

xcali1985

Active Member
I noticed you mentioned in the Original Post that you didn't know what to put this on the 55 or the 125. I will tell you don't put it on the 125 as reverse siphon powerloss will cause that to overflow. I have an 80 with a 20 sump and its about 1 inch from the top when i service and feed.
 
mell

mell

Member
Ok, so I'll put the 15 on the 55, and I'll find me a cheap tank that's bigger for the 125. I found an overflow that'll fit behind my 125 and it's plenty big enough. I'll def check into the Eheim pumps too...thanks for the great info!!!
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by Mell
http:///forum/post/3273183
I should just be able to use the bendable tubing to a directional sprayer right?
Sure, you can do that. Just don't forget about the reverse syphoning when the power is off like Xcali1985 mentioned so you don't have a flood. You'll probably want to mount the spray bar horizontaly close to the top of the tank just a smidge below the water line. I still would recommend drilling a small whole for an air brake right at or just above the water line to be safe. And it probably isn't necissary but you could still install a check valve if you wanted to, you'd just have to purchase a couple of adapters to incorporated it into the flex tubing. It simply offers a little extra security. Better safe than sorry I always say.
 
mell

mell

Member
Tanks so much for your help 2Quills! I totally appreciate it! I was so lost when I first started this thread.
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
ok I got to correct this a mag7 kicks 700 GPH new. So you can run it with a CS90 because after head loss you will be under 600GPH and with any syphon style overflow you want to run at least 80-90 percent of the overflows rating. I would add a ball valve on the pump just in case but you will be good :)
 
btwk12

btwk12

Member
found it mell thanks! it seems like were always asking the same questions.
the reason i was wanting to run a sump on my 125, is so i can set up a turf algae filter. After reading this whole thread i learned a lot, what i was gonna do is run a return pump stronger than my over flow rate and put a valve in the return line so i could control the return. my ? is what if the return somehow shut off and the overflow kept pumping is there something i can do to prevent this?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
If your return pump would shut down it will not continue to drain down throught the overflow box. Once the level would stabalize or drop to a certain level nothing else would drain down. A key piece of advice is to make sure your water level is set correctly in your sump in case of power outage. You will have some back syphon and your sump should be setup to handle that back flow.
On an earlier post there really isn't any need to throttle a Mag 6 down. I think you'll have alittle more head loss than proposed.
 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Originally Posted by robertmathern
http:///forum/post/3273755
ok I got to correct this a mag7 kicks 700 GPH new. So you can run it with a CS90 because after head loss you will be under 600GPH and with any syphon style overflow you want to run at least 80-90 percent of the overflows rating. I would add a ball valve on the pump just in case but you will be good :)

I stand corrected, I was wrong on the gph of the Mag 7. And yes if you know what your head loss is going to be and acount for this with the use of a ball or gate valve (if it's needed) you should be able to make it work, Mell. I just don't like the idea of choking off very much of the flow of a pump because it puts strain on the pump and over time could shorten it's life span.
You said you want to use flex tubing, do you know what the distance is going to be from your return pump to the top of your display tank?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Choking a pump on the output isn't very hard on a pump and some pumps actually use less electricity being throttled down. I'd opt for spa flex tubing over vinyl tubing. Just keep bends to a minimum and any bends make them sweeping instead of abrupt turns.
 
mell

mell

Member
I haven't measured it yet, just trying to get everything kinda figured out before I start buying anything. I don't want to get crap I don't need. I'll def use the flex tubing though!
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
+1 on the flex tubing. much easier to work with to. and you dont have to worry about the tank draining into the sump if the power shuts off. These overflows are designed not to do that. All you have to watch is your return plumbing that will cause a back syphon unless you drill a small hole right at the waters surface to break syphon in case off pump failure of power outages. Other than that your setup sounds good. Good luck
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
so for the u-tube overflows is there a system for starting those too? I always siphon them with my mouth, but i tell you what I know what my tank tastes like :(
 
robertmathern

robertmathern

Active Member
nope thats pretty much it. I have herd of people drilling the top of the utube and installing a tube and hooking it to a aqualifter pump. However I do not recomend this for that just get a cpr style. The only other way not to get a mouth full of water would be use a longer hose to start the syphon
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top