Sumps: how not to do it!

[smidoid]

Here's one for a chuckle.

Came back today and my sump had overflowed. Now I knew it was preeeety tight in there if the power went out, but it would be OK within a 1/16".

What I DIDN'T count on was the feed hose coming off the pump! Uh oh! Think garden pond fountains....

Guess who's in the doghouse now. (I'm lucky the pump didn't burn out or I wouldn't be hear to report the booboo!)

[reef_obsessed]

Ok,
I just bought a sump filter-TERRIFIED to hook it up because of the 'overflow' or 'pondlike' qualities it can produce. Is there any way to make it.....'Goof proof' so I can hook the thing up without this fear of impending doom?
I heard if you drill a small hole in the candy cane tube inlet just below surface of the water. Is that silly?
HELP!! This is a lot of cash I spent on this stinking thing and I want to feel better about using it

[jiggly75]

I heard if you drill a small hole in the candy cane tube inlet just below surface of the water. Is that silly?
HELP!! This is a lot of cash I spent on this stinking thing and I want to feel better about using it

That will work. When the water level drops below the hole air will break the siphon and your sump will not over flow.

[smidoid]

Mine is home grown! Although it does have a siphon break, the "fail" level is so high that when the pump return tube detached, it was like a fountain in there. This shouldn't worry you.

The trick is to TEST IT FIRST! I use a 1/2" siphon break (a t-piece just under the water line).

Either way, just kill the power and *watch* the water levels to make sure you're not going to flood. If things look like trouble, you can always put the power back on and solve it before you have a flood.

[charlie]

Welcome to world of reef tank floods Marc. Did you have a clamp on the return hose that came loose?

[rjs5134]

I wanted to keep as much water in the sump as possible, but suffer from occassional power outs and a siphoning problem. I never really fixed it completely, but adjusted the outflow so it was just below the water level. Only a 1/2 to 1" of water will drain back just overflowing the sump. The volume in the plumbing accounts for the rest. To avoid major cleanup I sealed the perimeter of the cabinet with silicone caulk and now have a lip around the perimeter that can contain the overflow. I still have to clean that up, and it doesn't hold the water indefinately, but it works sufficiently for the infrequent outages.

[smidoid]

I had a feeling caulking the cabinet would be a good idea. (Wish I'd done it now!)

Welcome to world of reef tank floods Marc. Did you have a clamp on the return hose that came loose?

He he. That would be "Negatory, cap'n!"

Actually, this is a problem for me because I don't trust ANY metal in my tank water (even freshwater) and I don't know what sort of plastic clamp to get.

I never lost a drop from any of my freshwater tanks... well, OK, a drop here and there, but never a couple of pints! She took it rather well all things considered.

Next sump/fuge I build will have a lower running water level! It's the quaratine tank next. With some urgency.

[mungus728]

These are the clamps that I use.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...188x003&ctt=60

Brian

[smidoid]

Cheers Mungus. I'll see if I can them here (UK).

[BubbaWPB]

I
Actually, this is a problem for me because I don't trust ANY metal in my tank water (even freshwater) and I don't know what sort of plastic clamp to get.

Nylon cable ties work just fine... they are cheap and readily available at most hardware stores. They work even better than the plastic hose clamps (IMHO).

Bubba

P.S. I started using the cable ties after my first flood - looked like the fountain in Lake Geneva until the splashing hit the electrical socket - then it suddenly stopped, along with the lights, and other electrical equipment.... thank goodness I put in the GFCI plugs... I found out the plug worked without pushing the "test" button!

[smidoid]

Nylon cable ties work just fine... they are cheap and readily available at most hardware stores. They work even better than the plastic hose clamps (IMHO).

Bubba

P.S. I started using the cable ties after my first flood - looked like the fountain in Lake Geneva until the splashing hit the electrical socket - then it suddenly stopped, along with the lights, and other electrical equipment.... thank goodness I put in the GFCI plugs... I found out the plug worked without pushing the "test" button!

Hot damn! I'm not the only one with that experience then!

How do you get the ties tight enough though? I'm worried that I might snap the outlet pipe. I'm also now worrying about the calc buildup on the impeller (although that's a long way off) as I'm using a submerged pump.

[charlie]

You can use more than 1 tywrap Marc, just don't use the one with the metal clip. make sure they are all plastic.
As far as calcium buildup, just clean your submersible every 3 months, or sooner if it makes you feel better. Just remember the more you take them apart, the more chance there is for something to go wrong, like broken impellers etc. Keep a spare or 2 around.

[BubbaWPB]

How do you get the ties tight enough though? I'm worried that I might snap the outlet pipe. I'm also now worrying about the calc buildup on the impeller (although that's a long way off) as I'm using a submerged pump.

In your spare time (we reefers have PLENTY of that! ), try an experiment (out of the tank, of course). Connect a hose to a pump and pull the hose off - it might take a bit, but it should pull off. Then connect a hose to a pump, put a cable tie around the end of the hose, pull the tie snug (you don't have to use all your might - snug will do). Now try to pull the hose off. You'll find that the "snug" is plenty tight enough.

To clean your pump, you cut the cheap cable tie off and toss it in the trash. Just don't forget to put a new one on before turning the pump back on (been there, done that! ).

[smidoid]

Thanks Bubba/Charlie. I'll take those suggestions and do them when I have that mysterious "spare time" that you mention!