SRC Member somebody Posted January 9, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 9, 2005 (edited) Hi, I'm thinking of adding a sump to my current 2ft tank currently running my tank with a canister filter, Could i please have some advice on the steps of changing from a canister to a sump, and also the cost that would be involved. I don't mind buyin and usin 2nd hand stuff. my current setup looks like this, it has no overflow box. appreciate your kind help! Edited January 11, 2005 by Rumor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Supporter ReDDeviLs Posted January 9, 2005 SRC Supporter Share Posted January 9, 2005 u can use a overflow box for water to siphon from the top to the bottom,i have 1 for sale got from a reefer but did not use it at all. Quote [ ] [ ] Reef Reefing Reefed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member weishun Posted January 10, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 10, 2005 You will need PVC pipes to channel your water flow from your main tank to your sump. Piping will cost around 10-15 dollars depending on the length you buy. For the sump, it will cost at least 40-50 bucks for a standard 3 compartment design. Then you will need to buy filter mediums like filter wool, bio balls or coral chips to be placed in your sump to help colonise bacteria. Quote My 4 Footer Reef My Old 4FT Tank My Old 3FT Tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member somebody Posted January 11, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 11, 2005 what i'm worried is the overflow box, as it seems to be pretty expensive on the market. do you know where can i get one for cheap? or diy? thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weileong Posted January 11, 2005 Share Posted January 11, 2005 http://www.sgreefclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=10336 Quote Weileong's 4ft tank Part I Weileong's 4ft tank Part II Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member weishun Posted January 11, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 11, 2005 what i'm worried is the overflow box, as it seems to be pretty expensive on the market. do you know where can i get one for cheap? or diy? thanks. i think even if you DIY, the overall cost for the materials and all will also be roughly 100 bucks. And the cheapest out there will be 130. Quote My 4 Footer Reef My Old 4FT Tank My Old 3FT Tank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member Seng Posted January 11, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 11, 2005 If looking for a cheaper one .. can look at this DIY overflow sys ... still serving me well after 7 months .... quite a long thread but total cost ard $40 and can also DIY sump tank if u are into DIY-ing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member somebody Posted January 11, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 11, 2005 $40? nice. can i take a look? pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member kareen Posted January 11, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 11, 2005 If you are on tied buget, you can always use : - another cheap/used tank as the sump then get the "bottom got holes container" from LFS @$2-4 to section your sump tank design. - As for overflow, you can reuse your U-pipes from your canister. Be sure the pipe inlet is protected so that no small animals in tank can crawl in ie the end protection pipe you have for canister - Use volume control method to prevent electrical fail save. You can give some thought on how to achieve this.... if interested, then I will elborate. PS: This is the cheapest way I can think of already and I have used it without problem long ago for many months. Quote Greeting Tank: 4' by 2' by 2' (CR antique) Sump: 3' include 1' refuigm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member somebody Posted January 12, 2005 Author SRC Member Share Posted January 12, 2005 was thinking that the safest method would be the overflow box sorta method, to prevent flooding. haha. had thought about using the U-tube as a inlet for the sump, but its the volume balancing that is a headache, how to make sure the intake is equivalent to the output of the sump, coz any differences might cause flooding.... sigh.. care to share ya tips? haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member kareen Posted January 12, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 12, 2005 yes the balancing of in and out is a headache.... I used two way valves on the stronger side flow (down stronger or up stronger ) U know what I mean one side of it control open/close only and the other is for tweaking the balance. After balance it should be okay. One thing I noted is that if I off the supply and then turn on, the flow might be a little off the scale again..... To prevent flooding is easy..... Do some on-site measurement will do. After everything is hooked up, - Filled the top tank to the brink. - open the valve to let water go down. This stage you had to beware of the level so that no corals are exposed in air => adjust the pipe level. - with the level of water from top to bottom, estimate how high you want your return pump to be place. - after placing the pump level, on the supply to let all water go up till the pump is ###### air. U have to make sure this volume will not get over flow. With that, u have the fail safe flooding method. Quote Greeting Tank: 4' by 2' by 2' (CR antique) Sump: 3' include 1' refuigm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SRC Member kareen Posted January 12, 2005 SRC Member Share Posted January 12, 2005 also, I think you can reused your canister filter for extra water capacity and filteration. What I did last time was to make use of the gravity flow ###### the canister filter power to drive the protein skimmer (save you another pump here) Then the output of the skimmer go thru the sump and finally return to the main tank. **I think this might helps** Quote Greeting Tank: 4' by 2' by 2' (CR antique) Sump: 3' include 1' refuigm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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