Help with sump design

[annanymous]

I just purchased a 30gal tank that is drilled in the back lower corner. Can I still use it as a sump/fuge and just have the DT drain into the drilled opening?

if yes, can I still have the skimmer in the first section (where water will drain into) even though it will be above the drain?

do I need to have anything over the drain pipe and is there any way to install something ike a sock to catch all the nasties when the water enters the sump?

 

[Nottick]

I wouldn't plumb the drain to a submerged bulkhead. The line will "burp" air constantly. Plug up the hole or use it to plumb in an external return pump

 

[annanymous]

But it's drilled in the back! Isn't it a problem to have an external pump in the back of the tank vs the side?

Which is a very quiet and not too expensive external pump I can buy for a 75DT and 30sump?

 

[pmui]

do you have pictures of the tank and the drill hole?
The drain need to be at the top of the tank, not the bottom. If it's done wrong, all the water will be over flow the sump and cause a flood.

 

[annanymous]

I hope this works...

Haven't had a chance to clean the tank yet. Still in the car.

Any chance I can use the drilled opening for a return?

 

[pmui]

that tank looks like it was a sump, and a return pump attached to it. you can use the existing bulkhead as a return. I'm not sure of what you already have setup for the display tank. Is the display tank also drilled?
you can drill the back of the tank with a glass hole saw to make a return.

 

[annanymous]

Is the display tank also drilled?

I haven't purchased the tank yet (have one picked out) but it is RR with corner overflow and drilled opening in the bottom corner.

Which external pump would you recommend? I want something very quiet

 

[pmui]

the pump can size is determined by the size of tank and return rate you are trying to achieve, as for the brand you can ask on the forum what people prefer and you can make a decision from that.
How much room do you have for the pump? is the sump in a stand? or located somewhere else?

 

[annanymous]

I will have it inside the stand. I've been looking on google and verywhere else and have never seen a pump connected at such an angle. would I be able to use a 90 degree PVC pipe to lead from tank to pump and the flexible tubing to the return line in the overflow? is that doable?
If it is, i can have pump in the back or the front of the sump