YEAH!!! I am the master of sumps!!

cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Well yesterday we went to pick up a 30gal tank and we (me &dad) cut the glass and glued it. So the sump should be up and running in a few days. AND I WILL TAKE SOME PICS! I have no question at all about the sump they were all answered at the LFS that I had to drive 85miles to. :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: Oh wait I do have one question, when and how do I start the overflow, just to double check. :happyfish
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
I'd start the overflow after everything is set up and right before you start the return pump. If you start the return pump first, you'll be rushing to get the overflow started in the time before the sump drains. I'd only fill the sump about 1/2 to 2/3 full to get it started and you could add water after if necessary. Nice job on the sump. Good luck.
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Thankyou "crimzy". Yup I should have pics when the whole thing is working. And I drill the hole right underneith the waterline correct, just want to check my work.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cartman101
Thankyou "crimzy". Yup I should have pics when the whole thing is working. And I drill the hole right underneith the waterline correct, just want to check my work.
I assume you're talking about the hole in the output piece to prevent back-syphoning. The hole can be just under the water line or just above as long as the water won't be shooting out of the tank. Keep in mind that the level where the hole is drawn, that is how far the water could back syphon to. Is this a wet/dry or fuge?
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Originally Posted by crimzy
I assume you're talking about the hole in the output piece to prevent back-syphoning. The hole can be just under the water line or just above as long as the water won't be shooting out of the tank. ((Keep in mind that the level where the hole is drawn, that is how far the water could back syphon to)). Is this a wet/dry or fuge?
Yup I know all about that siphon thing you said
. Actully its just a sump I wasn't planning on putting plants in there so I guess its a wetdry, just a place to put equipment. And theres also a sponge thats on a layer of a eggcrate stop the bubbles, could I put a bag of carbon on it? I will try and draw a picture or email you the picture if it wont let me post it on this site.
Edit: what kind of brand was your overflow? And the pic doesn't work.
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I was practicing with the overflow on how to get the U-Tubes to start flowing the water. I took a airline tube and put it in the U-Tube and begone to suck the air out but it didn't start the water to flow. Any opinons on what I should do? Where should the tubing be? And yes both compartments were full of water.
 
bawood

bawood

Member
If both compartments are the same level and the pump isn't running then there won't be flow. A siphon only travels between two areas of different height.
You want to suck all the air out. Once the air is out, pull out the airline, then start the pump. Once the pump raises the tank level the siphon should start flowing from the high point(the tank) to the low point(the outer chamber), then as the outer chamber rises it should flow down the draintube to your sump.
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Were you using a 1/4" piece of line to suck the air out of the u-line? Sounds as if you were doing it right. You can get rid of your 400 if you are going to use some sor tof bio material in the sump, other than that , do you have room for the 400 on the side of the sump?
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cartman101
Will I beable to get rid of my emporer 400? I got 20gals, would that work for filling up the 30?
Snap a line 1/2 to 2/3 on the sump, I really dont' know how much water that is but 20 sounds good, maybe 17 to 18 gallons will suffice.
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cartman101
I was practicing with the overflow on how to get the U-Tubes to start flowing the water. I took a airline tube and put it in the U-Tube and begone to suck the air out but it didn't start the water to flow. Any opinons on what I should do? Where should the tubing be? And yes both compartments were full of water.
:hilarious WOW AM I STUPID! I didn't fill the compartment that goes in side the tank full of water! Yea i got it working......that was my practice run though.
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Originally Posted by SaltFan
Were you using a 1/4" piece of line to suck the air out of the u-line? Sounds as if you were doing it right. You can get rid of your 400 if you are going to use some sor tof bio material in the sump, other than that , do you have room for the 400 on the side of the sump?
Yes but when the water goes back into the sump from the 400 it will create a waterfall lol. But do you think if I place a few bioballs on top of the sponge filter it will work?
 
saltfan

saltfan

Active Member
If you have mad it this far, put the 400 in the sump and make a splash guard. But yes, bio balls will help out.
 
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