k1w1y2k Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 I'm thinking of building a sump for one of my larger tanks, and due to problems that can happen with power cuts, I was wondering if anyone had tryed using a ballcock in the sump to stop the water draining if the power goes off? Can anyone see any problems with doing this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spoon Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 i think ther are simpler methods than that out there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 so long as it is plumbed properly not a problem are you using an overflow box or a syphon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k1w1y2k Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 I was thinking of using a syphon, with it low in the main tank, which is why I want a system that will shut off if the water in the sump gets to high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 It is far safer to either drill the tank high up, or build an overflow box as is done in salt water tanks. Using one way valves or ballcocks is just asking for trouble IMHO all it takes is a bit of gravel going down the pipe, or snail, or algae, or dead fish, or...... It is easy to design a risk (or very at least very low risk) plumbing system for a sump, have a look on some of the marine websites for ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k1w1y2k Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Thanks I'll have a look, I thought it better to ask since alot of things have been tryed before Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 it is relatively easy to drill an existing tank, just needs to be fairly empty and not toughened glass i have a glass drill here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k1w1y2k Posted February 23, 2010 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Thanks Mark, I'll keep that in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 just drilled 2 tanks today as has been said syphon is not fool proof so i have replaced mine with drilled overflows happy to help if needed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaway Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 Livingart, with regard to drilling tanks, how do yo know if glass is tempered or not? I want to drill my Aqua One AR380 for a sump and I'm afraid to try as I don't want to shatter the whole thing. And what sort of tools (Asides from a power drill) would you need? Do you use a holesaw? Cheers Sorry for minor thread derail! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 proper glass drill and a cordless drill on slow, need to keep the saw wet to cool it down most toughened glass is stamped but i don't know if that is the case with moulded fish tanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alanmin4304 Posted February 23, 2010 Report Share Posted February 23, 2010 You can tell touphened glass by looking at it through polaroid sunglasses. If you look at normal and toughened glass you will see straight away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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