Diy sump questions

[CheckSix187]

Hey Richie, just wanted to make sure im doing the plumbing right, is this what you meant?

 

[rkaragozler]

looks very good, one thing I would do is try to use 45 degree elbow from the overflow ant the t, this way flow will be better and not restricted

 

[CheckSix187]

I think I understand, so have the Overflow at the corner of the tank and have it run down and dump almost directly under it into one compartment and run the entire length of the sump into the other compartment? Which section of the sump do you think the overflow should be over?

 

[CheckSix187]

Also then should i put the ball valve vertically?

 

[rkaragozler]

No leave it the way it is, just replace the 90, that is hooked up to the overlow with the long verticle pvc, and you could leave the valve the way it is, Also in the overflow i don't recommend you putting the U tube like that. It should not go in the pvc.

 

[INNEED]

looks nice but where is the overflow box going in the middle of the tank..?????? should go in one of the corners....u tube should not be inside the pvc pipe....sorry if some one already told u this but my computer is acting up cant see other ppl feedback...

 

[CheckSix187]

Ah okay I see, ill rearrage the setup and post another pic shortly

 

[rkaragozler]

If your tank has a center brace you would have to move it of course

 

[CheckSix187]

OH okay i need to go get a 45 then, I get it now, didnt catch the fact you had said 45 degree and not 90, totally makes sense, Thanks Richie

Another question (and excuse my beginner-ness lol) but what makes the water go from the in-tank overflow compartment, through the U pipe to the outer compartment? is it a siphon system? sorry im just trying to make sure I understand all this before I start doing something the wrong way, thanks guys

 

[rkaragozler]

yes it is a siphon system what you do is fill up both boxes with water then stick a 8-10 piece of flexible tubing to the center of the tube to get the air out this will start a siphon and you are ready to go, when i had my overflow boxes i just rubberbanded the piece of hose their just in case i needed to start siphon again

 

[rkaragozler]

like this

 

[CheckSix187]

ah okay, thanks rich, ill pick up the 45 elbow tommorow morn and I'm also getting the baffles cut tomorrow, how thick do you think the baffles should be?

 

[rkaragozler]

3/16" is more then sufficient, unless you are clumsy like me then go 1/4", ask them to polish the edges, and have them cut it 3/16" less then your inner dimensions or you will have problems

 

[CheckSix187]

Alrighty, got the 45 degree elbows and got the baffles cut, Ill be done with the sump and plumbing by tonight and I'll have some pics up! I have another question though, how powerful do you think my return pump should be? Also, is it just a pump on the bottom on the middle compartment sucking in water and pumping it upwards? or is it connected to another component?

Thanks everyone!

 

[InfernoST]

The return pump (It must be a submersible pump) just sits in the middle compartment and takes the water that flows into that chamber and pumps it back into the tank.

 

[CheckSix187]

The return pump (It must be a submersible pump) just sits in the middle compartment and takes the water that flows into that chamber and pumps it back into the tank.

Okay gotcha, any idea how powerful of a pump I should get? its a 90 gallon tank, 30 gallon sump, the sump sits about 4 feet below where the overflow box will be.

 

[InfernoST]

Okay gotcha, any idea how powerful of a pump I should get? its a 90 gallon tank, 30 gallon sump, the sump sits about 4 feet below where the overflow box will be.

It depends on the size of your overflow (GPH). IMO I don't like a tremendous amount of flow thru my sump, I'm turning over the tank volume about 5-6 times an hour where others like it as high as 10+ x's per hour. Hopefully others will chime in. I look at as the more contact time with the media & skimmer in the sump the better your water quality will be, but that's just me.

 

[CheckSix187]

Keith - yeah i was thinking something like what you said, thank you!

Richie - Unfortunately i guess the skimmer footprint I gave you was without the pump :irked: the footprint with the pump, even turned slanted (if thats even OK to do) comes to 13.5", So our current layout isnt going to work, ill draw something up and see what you think.

To anyone - I would like my fuge to be as large as possible, how small do you think I could get away with for my return compartment?

Thanks everyone

 

[rkaragozler]

check, give me the exact dimensions of the skimmer with the pumps attached.
+1 on what inferno said i like mto see no more then 5x turnover thru a sump.

 

[rkaragozler]

Here is a revised drawing.