to sump or not to sump

[cowfishrule]

ok, reading through the 100k threads on sumps has really given me a headache. i have a 40g that i am running with a fluval 304, and have no problems. i was looking to add a sump for a place for my heater/hob skimmer (too many bubbles for hanging in main tank) and more water volume/lr. i have a 10g tank that was given to me.
i guess my first question is i would be using a hob oveflow box (only one i found was a cpr), what pump would i use? would it be ok to use another mj1200 ( i have 1 in the tank now) as my return pump?
is there a sticky or perhaps a particular thread that has step by step instructions on how to set this up?
:help:

 

[jobob]

look on auction sites for overflows. i got mine there, its a u-tube kind. i would say that the pump isnt strong enough. u probly need atleast 350 gph to pump the water back to the tank. rio, are good sump pumps. mag drive are good too.

 

[doboy]

Cowfishrule,
There is a site that sells a smaller siphon box than the CPR, and probably more in line with your tank. e-mail me, and I'll send it to you.
price for the whole setup is $69
I have one, and bought 3 pvc fittings to convert it to a durso style standpipe.
jim

 

[cowfishrule]

Originally posted by Doboy
Cowfishrule,
There is a site that sells a smaller siphon box than the CPR, and probably more in line with your tank. e-mail me, and I'll send it to you.
price for the whole setup is $69
I have one, and bought 3 pvc fittings to convert it to a durso style standpipe.
jim
since i dont see an email addy, hit me up
mikeandlavi@comcast.net

 

[thomas712]

Am I missing something?
Why would you need a pump for an overflow?
or were you asking about a return pump?
BTW if you go with a sump you can just sell that HOB skimmer and go with an in sump skimmer, it will be most likely much better than your HOB one.
Thomas

 

[cowfishrule]

i was asking about a good return pump

 

[jobob]

either rio or mag drive.

 

[snipe]

In a 40 gallon tank "unless your gonna max out the bioload or have lots of corals" it really isnt needed. I dont think im gonna need one for my tank and its a 55. I really wouldnt start considering one till 75 gallons or more. But hey everyone is diffrent with there own opinion. I am planning on having a refurgium though.

 

[brycewood]

WHy wouldn't a sump be needed on a 40 gal?
I thought the point of a sump was to add some volume...
I didn't think a sump was ever really "needed", but rather a god idea to hide equipment and increase over all water volume....
I was planning on running a 30g with a 10g(till I updgrade later) sump for more volume and to keep clutter out of my small aquarium.
,Bryce

 

[jobob]

i would def. run a sump. it hides the heater and skimmer, u dont have a intake tube hanging in your tank.i had a 10gal sump on my 29gal tank. to hide equipment, add water. the water was perfect!!! i would put a sump on any gal tank.

 

[sammiefish]

I think a sump on any tank is a great idea. It gives you a place to put your stuff!!! Protein skimmer, heater, caulerpa and a light, maybe some more LR.. you get great aeration from the water falling down into the sump, adding stability to your system simply by increasing the water volume...... cant really argue with the benefits!
As far as the return pump... Ill bet your overflow has a 600gph capacity (check to be SURE, or you will have a flood)... so get a pump that will put less than or equal to 600 gph back up in the tank... dont forget about the "head" flow loss due to gravity when choosing your pump. On the return line split out the waterflow with a spraybar or other directional flow device, some like to use a SCWD. You might be able to eliminate some in the tank powerheads too by doing this.
Its a great use for an old 10 gal tank. BUT, if you have just a MJ 1200 for now... fine... use it... just try to get the 10 gal up off the floor so the pump doesnt have as far to pump water back up to the tank.... you can always get a bigger pump later... it would give you time to experiment and decide just how you want to set it up before you sink any money into it.
If I were to do it over, I would buy a 50gal (or as big as i could get cheap) rubbermaid tub at wally-world or other cheapo outlet and use that as my sump!

 

[mudplayerx]

I am wanting to add a HOB overflow on my 55 gallon tank and any links emailed to me where I can mail-order a good/cheap one would be appreciated. I would also appreciate any tips as well as what pump I should use as a return pump.
I am not going to be using a wet/dry. I plan on using my sump/fuge for the following: proteins skimmer, heater, adding supplements. Any helpful tips or advice appreciated.

 

[xoxox]

One word: Rubbermaid, you can fit them in tight spots that regular tanks have problems going.
Also, I'd go with a larger flow capacity of the u or y tube on the overflow (I don't have one of those air suction types so I'm not sure about those) Algae grows on the inside of my tube and can catch air bubbles, it hasn't broken the siphon but then again my tube is about an inch and a half in diameter.

 

[turningtim]

Was gonna start a thread like this but it seems this is the place I need to be.
I have a 50 FOWLRLS and a wet/dry filter w/ bio-balls. I have an hob skimmer. I want to get an in sump skimmer but the sump portion of the wet/dry is to small. I beleive that I have more than enough LR and have about 80lbs of ls that I just added. Can I get rid of the bio-balls and use the entire wet/dry as a sump. Or should I add a 10gal tank or rubbermaid in line with the filter?
Also how do you calc the size of your overflow? My tank was pre-owned and I don't know how many lbs of rock or the cap. of the overflow. Right now I know I don't have enough flow and need a bigger pump, but don't I need to know overflow size?
My lfs said it would all even out by itself if I added a larger pump but I don't beleive this!
Sorry no answers just more questions.
Thanks Tim

 

[trainfever]

Yes, get rid of the bio-balls. You on't need them. You have the live rock which is all you need for bio filtration. Having live rock and bio balls can cause you to have high nitrates. Get rid of the bio balls and put your skimmer in there.

 

[sammiefish]

In some ways your LFS is right... the rate is determined by the return pump...
BUT you have to have an overflow that will handle what you pump back to the tank...
Most HOB overflows are 600gph ... commercially I think they usually run $50... (yeah, a little pricey) you can try places "other than just and online store"...
If you arent sure what yours is I would suggest looking around and finding one that is similar (or identical) and just check the specs

 

[xoxox]

I have a mag5 return pump, the outflow into the tank is about 330gph according to the mag5 chart. Its pumps up ^ about four feet. You can control the output of a fast pump with a shutoff valve plumed inline of the outflow, however, some do not like to put a strain on their pumps by cutting off the flow.There is also a way to split the line and recirculate the excess flow back into the sump but you would have to ask those who have done that. Mines 330gph with the pump wide open. Some may like a bigger pump for a faster turnover but my water flow through the sump is at a perfect circulation level as far as I'm concerned.
Oh, my overflow is rated at something like 1200gph, its really ment for a bigger tank. I'm very happy with it and it will be handy if I do ever decide to get a bigger pump.

 

[xoxox]

Here is an inside shot, the mag5 is in the inner container. I would encourage an inner compartment for the return pump. If the siphon is broken the water won't completely drain out of the sump thus exposing the heater, drying out the skimmer pump and filling the main tank with ALL the sump water.

 

[cveverly]

I also like the idea of a sump, I have them on both of my tanks. The advantages are a larger volume of water and a place to put your skimmer and other peripherals. I also like to add my top off water to the sump so you are not adding fresh water directly to your tank.
One note of caution on the Rubbermaid totes. They had a problem with some of the silver/gray colored totes. They became sticky and I am afraid of what might be released in the tank. I have not seen or heard of this with other colors and this was only Rubbermaid brand.

 

[turningtim]

I've been thinking. So let me see if I get this right and tell me what ya'll think. I could completely remove the wet/dry (use it on my FW tank). Let the Xlbs of LR and the 80lbs of LS (60lbs just added) carry the bio-load. Get a container that fits under the tank where I can put a skimmer,heater and return pump. Put the return pump in a smaller container so not to drain sump if siphon breaks. Get a HOB overflow/pump at whatever size I want to carry proper flow.
I'm looking for about 20X flow rate. (My flow rate now is -10x) So 1000gph give or take. I would split the output back to the tank and put the HOB overflow in the middle of the tank.
XoXoX, pics are great! looks nice and neat. How big is the tank and how big is the sump. How much does all this matter? My concern is my stand I don't know how big of a container I can get under there.
Thanks for the help and anymore would be great. I've been putting this off b/c I don't have a clue!
Tim