My Latest Project 10 Gallon Custom Semi Cube.

[daveysmart]

I have that skimmer too, the microbubbles stopped after a week or so if I remember right. Its a decent little skimmer for the price, I have to empty it every couple days with a dark tea colored skimmate. I mostly got it for the nice compact size, it fits perfect in my little sump area of my custom aio. It did take me awhile to get it dialed in to where I liked it but it adjusts pretty easily, of course it is my first skimmer so I dont know much!

Looks good so far!

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Thanks Dave, it's an alright skimmer but i can't seem to get better than tea colored skimmate either. I was hoping for coffee

 

[cross]

this nano is looking good, wheres the up dated pics?

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Thanks, it's an algae monster at the moment i haven't really touched it. Today i went over to Kevin's and picked up about 7 hermits for it though, figured i may as well get it looking decent

 

[cross]

hope you get it cleaned up, i realy like the way it was looking.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

So i've been thinking of adding a sump to this tank via this overflow, soon as they get it instock again

http://shop.aquatraders.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=44011

Having never done a sump setup before what return pump should i use for this overflow, the overflow is rated at 600gph which is pretty intense for a 10 gallon but i may drop my koralia nano's which wouldn't hurt my feelings none.

The water would need to pump approximately 3' 3" back up to the tank and i would most likely Y it off for a dual return setup. Anyway with the 3' 3" headloss what pump should i get with this overflow that will be very cheap and reliable?

I was looking at the quiet one series and thinking the 2200 or 3000, but i'm basically clueless as i've never done a sump and return.

Please help Keep in budget minded since i'm going with cheap overflow(but it looks really decent actually).

Thanks in advance!

 

[tdgates10]

You only want water flow through the sump to be about 5 to 10 times tank volume. So you looking at like 50gph. Your head loss should take you down about 100 - 150 approx. gph head loss. You probably could get away with using like a Maxijet 900. It's rated for 230 gph and if it's too much you can always put a valve on there and crank it down. JMO.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Oh wow, thanks Tyler! I'm totally clueless as to how to set this up but i'm reading up on it. So basically the overflow will only syphon as much water as is put into the tank and won't break the syphon if the pump isn't supplying enough right? I have a 250gph powerhead lying around how would i calculate the headloss for it?

 

[tdgates10]

That would work fine. You saw my tank, I'm only using a maxijet 1200 for my return and it works great. I threw on a valve so I could adjust it if I wanted less flow, but ended up not even needing to use it. The reason for slow flow through rate in the sump is so the skimmer has enough time to purify the water. If it's going to fast, it will miss junk and put it back into the DT.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Ah ok, yeah your setup was actually my inspiration here hehe. I couldn't remember what your return pump was. Thanks again!

 

[tdgates10]

Don't forget to put an anti syphon hole on your return line in case of a power outage! That wouldn't be a good sight!

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Don't forget to put an anti syphon hole on your return line in case of a power outage! That wouldn't be a good sight!

Gotcha so i would make a small hole just below the water line in the display on the return? Small enough to not let much water out of but big enough to suck in air should power go out and cut the siphon?

 

[tdgates10]

yup. that will work.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Thanks so much for all the information man that helped a ton! You answered most of the stuff that i've been unable to find much information about through various searches

Shawn

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Ok, i just ordered this overflow off ebay because i didn't want to wait for aquatraders to get it in, i believe it's the exact same one. Basic CPR style clone.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Overflow-Box-Continuous-Siphon-600-gph-w-Bulkhead-Reef_W0QQitemZ300351288924QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45ee54f65c

Can't wait for it to get here and set it up

 

[Slate]

So you decided it was def time to go for the sump Shawn? This may get me to watch for a sump for the 55gallon. You know I love ways to spend money and make the wife cranky at the same time. hehe

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Hehe i'm going to try it on the 10 gallon and if i like it i will set one up on the 40 gallon too. Just going to do things slowly and see if i can do them correctly

Yep the wife has mastered the /roll eyes move

I'm hoping this overflow proves to be of decent quality if so i'll order another for the 40. Now i just need to figure out how to do baffles for my sump. I'm going to use a 10 gallon i have sitting in the garage. It will be nice to get the skimmer out of the display! And i'll also ditch the skilter since the overflow will be in it's spot.

I'm pretty hesitant to drill something for an overflow because i would like both sides of the tank to be viable display windows if the current front gets scratched badly.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

So you decided it was def time to go for the sump Shawn? This may get me to watch for a sump for the 55gallon. You know I love ways to spend money and make the wife cranky at the same time. hehe

I got two empty 20 gallon Highs sitting in garage if you want to turn one into a sump You're more then welcome to it.

 

[Slate]

Hehe i'm going to try it on the 10 gallon and if i like it i will set one up on the 40 gallon too. Just going to do things slowly and see if i can do them correctly

Yep the wife has mastered the /roll eyes move

I'm hoping this overflow proves to be of decent quality if so i'll order another for the 40. Now i just need to figure out how to do baffles for my sump. I'm going to use a 10 gallon i have sitting in the garage. It will be nice to get the skimmer out of the display! And i'll also ditch the skilter since the overflow will be in it's spot.

I'm pretty hesitant to drill something for an overflow because i would like both sides of the tank to be viable display windows if the current front gets scratched badly.

I really want to know how these overflows work out so I am all excited. I'd love switch to a sump next year for the larger refugium among other things.

I wouldn't want to drill a 10 gallon anyways with that thin glass is can be a tough job.

 

[MGDMIRAGE]

Well i over built this one so it woulda been fine for drilling it's 1/4" which i believe is twice as thick as most 10 gallons. I never really thought about it at the time though i had already settled on sumpless again