Help on my sump idea.

[Iconz]

I'm just tryin to avoid paying double shipping costs...

Also, for the return plumbing... When you get to the top of the tank, do you really need a "u tube" or can you just plumb it yourself?

[perpetual98]

return plumbing FROM the sump? You can use whatever you want to get water from the sump to the display. What you're optimally shooting for is the water to make it to the display, not the floor. You can use whatever plumbing you like. Drains FROM your display TO the sump get a bit trickier, but your overflow should take care of all that for you. Why are you running the pump externally if you don't mind me asking?

[perpetual98]

I'm just tryin to avoid paying double shipping costs...

Me too. I can get the aqualift pump from one supplier, and the QO pumps from another supplier, and while you only have to pay one shipping charge from me, I have to pay 2 from my vendors.

[Iconz]

I'm not running the pump externally... it will be in the return chamber of the sump.

The one that will be external is the QO 3000 which I plan on using for a CLM... more on that later.

And yeah, I'm just tryin to get as much info as possible on plumbing the return from the sump. It will be 3/4" pipe since the Q.O. 1200 is 3/4" in and out...
What I don't know is what is the best way to plumb the "end" of the return line... do i use a nozzle of some sorts, or what?

[perpetual98]

Ahh, I think I see what you mean. You were asking if you could directly connect the pump to some plumbing? That you can do.

[Iconz]

Yeah.

Okay, I think I may have ran into another problem after doing some more reading...

The overflow box I bought is rate for 600gph.

A QO 1200 is rated at 296gph at 0 head... 206gph with 3.5' of head...

I know an overflow will only suck as much water as is flowing into it, but won't the syphon break on it if the return pump can't keep up?

If that is the case, I'd bet that I'll need to restrict the amount of flow (to the sump) that the overflow box is giving me... would that work? or would that cause a flood on the outside part of the overflow box?

The other downside to that (i believe) is that it would cause more noise if the flow is restricted....

[perpetual98]

To be honest, you'd be better off getting a bigger return pump and restricting the output on the return pump. You're always better off getting a bigger pump than you need and tweaking it with a gate valve if you need to.

[greg97527]

or you can get an "aqualifter pump" costs about 13 bucks and you set it on ur loverflow with tubing that gives you a syphon at all times so if the pump does'nt keep up, when it does the aqualifter will start the syphon.
no aquarist should be without the aqualifter. works great and you can't even hear it running. Think Simple

[melev]

You can see if the overflow keeps up by watching it daily. If it can't maintain the siphon, you'll know quickly. You should simulate a power outage by killing power to the return pump several times to see if it restarts properly and that the overflow resumes properly. Also, this helps you determine if the sump can hold all the water that will drain in a power outage.

[Iconz]

cool! thanks for the input everyone!