[redfalconf35]

I'm working on the theoretical design of a really cheap sump for my 75g tank. I'm looking for advice as to what i should do.

Here's my basic idea:


Overflow:
2 fish specimen containers epoxied together to hang on the edge of the tank. The interior container will have slits like most professional overflows to allow water in, and will have the siphon tube siliconed into place. The exterior container will be split in 2 by a small piece of acrylic, allowing a reservoir to keep the siphon, and the excess spills into the second half to drain to the sump.

Sump:
The primary vessel will be a 15g tank with a small semi-sealed "filtration section" where the overflow falls into. The separator (more acrylic) will have slits at the middle so that the filtered water will flow into the "treatment section" with minimal surface agitation. In the "treatment section", the water will be heated, inundated with CO2, and otherwise treated before entering a powerhead.



Goals:
-Flood-proof failure... If the pump dies, the water should stop flowing before my apartment floods
-Minimal splashing
-Easy access
-Sealed splash zones


What am i going to need to remember? What is going to go wrong with this build? What are good equipment to get?

 

[Kathyy]

Here is a thread with more ideas for you.
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/diy/130787-diy-hob-overflow-sump-filter-who.html

How are you getting water into your siphon tube if it is glued down?

How is the water getting from the overflow to the sump?

Remember to drill an anti siphon hole in the return just at the water level if your return is under water.

 

[redfalconf35]

The siphon will be glued down as not to move, but there will still be an opening. Obviously gluing it all the way down would just make a pretty decoration:hihi:

I figured that i'd just drill a hole in the exterior side of the overflow at a good level (leaving enough water in the compartment to reduce splashing) and run a tube from there to the "filtration side" of the sump.

Good call on the anti-siphon hole! That's the sort of thing that i'd have forgotten. Thanks for the link as well, it looks almost exactly like what i'm going to be doing.

 

[Kathyy]

Currently low tech me pulls the U tube out of the overflow, puts an airline up to the middle of the tube, replaces the U tube and sucks the air out of the tube. I don't need to do it often but the tube gets dirty or sometimes bubbles collect in there. I don't want a fixed in place tube.

 

[ZID ZULANDER]

I would just buy one of these and then use the 15 gallon tank as a sump....

 

[redfalconf35]

I finished the project over the weekend, and just decided that buying an overflow for the extra peace of mind was worth the $50 that i spent on it. I tried to build my own overflow box, but it turned out that the lip on the tank was bigger than the specimen container's hanger. I pretty much bought the overflow, bought a 20L (i couldn't find a 15 that wasn't part of a kit), siliconed a piece of acrylic about 2/3's of the way down the tank lengthwise, and stuck a powerhead in one side of the sump.

Here's the separator between the "filter" section and the "other" section

Here's my attempt at an overflow

 

[Jim Miller]

I would just buy one of these and then use the 15 gallon tank as a sump....

Zid make and model of that?

Thanks

Jim

 

[ZID ZULANDER]

The unit is a Tom product. The Koller Craft company owns the rights to the Tom product line. They updated the unit from the smurf blue unit they started out with. They also took out the aqualifter that restarts the syphon. This overflow will automaticly restart when the pump turns on.

Tom Aquatics Pro Series Surface Skimmer Overflow Box

Pre Skimmer

• 7.5" x 6.5" x 6" (requires aprox 3" of clearance on the back of the tank)
• Drain hose 1" (included)
• Capable of handling a flow rate of up to 950gph
• Return hose 0.75" (included)
• Will mount to tank lips up to 1.75" thick
• Return nozzle outlet 0.75" OD
• Flare Nozzle 1"

Manufacturer Info

Tom Aquatics
As one of the premier plastic product manufacturers in the U.S., we have manufacturing operations in our home office, Fenton, Missouri, as well as Sullivan, Missouri and Shawnee, Kansas. They have over six decades of manufacturing expertise put towards the designing and building of products that provide a distinct service for the consumer.

There is only one unit currently being manufactured.

Hope this helps. If you have more questions on this unit let me know.

Zid make and model of that?

Thanks

Jim

 

[Jim Miller]

Thanks!

Jim