if I run multiple tanks on one sump where do I get valves to stop a tank overflowing if its outlet gets blocked. how effective is having the overflow at the top of the tank can you run a tube from the overflow to the bottom??????

how about having the return go to some undergravel plates so any waste is pushed into suspension?

Anyone got a decent sump for sale?? Will only need if I get some extra tanks next weekend!

not 100% sure what u mean but first u cant have the sump above the tank as u would then have to have the return pump in the actual tank that would just make the sump the tank and the tank the sump. [ur end up with an very clean and tidy sump]

the over flow shouldn't really get blocked as ur be using around a 20mm/25mm depending on the size of ur tanks of cause and how u choose to set it out. either by the corner over flow method or just the straight pipe. if it does clog a valve arent going to solve the problem as the return pump would just keep pumping water, when that happens just turn the pump off.

hope that helps good luck

With decent strainers on the overflows you can reduce the risk significantly. But I would still have a secondary a bit higher to catch the excess if the main were to block

Check out www.dursostandpips.com Its not uncommon or difficult to do what you are wanting but you need to plan it well. have a look in the salt water area, there is lots of information there about running sumps since most saltwater tanks have them.

WHAT i MEAN IS IF THE OVERFLOW GETS BLOCKED ON ONE TANK, THE WATER BEING PUMPED UP FROM THE SUMP WILL KEEP PUMPING INTO THAT TANK UNTIL IT OVERFLOWS

YES has long has water is in the sump it will keep pumping.if the outlet from the tank gets block no water will be going into the sump. sump will empty once all the water has been pump out

Rude to shout Matt.. we all hear you

Bill.

sump will empty once all the water has been pump out

thats the key, you can design it so each tank will never flood. simply have enough room at the top of the tank so it can cope with the level of water in the sump. the worst that would then happen is the return pump would burn out. just build some form of redundancy into it by having twin overflows, or two pipes out of a single overflow

sorry had caps on (not shouting)

will have to set it up and risk the pump, will be checked every day so shouldnt be a prob but you never know. might even try to find a one way valve in the outlet with a ball that floats and shuts off when the water level gets too high!!

will have to set it up and risk the pump, will be checked every day so shouldnt be a prob but you never know. might even try to find a one way valve in the outlet with a ball that floats and shuts off when the water level gets too high!!

As long as you have a grate over the outlet you should be fine.

You would struggle to burn your pump out with sump running dry because you would never get all the water out of the sump, would just be more of a water air mix.

Melev is a dude on RC that has his own web site with heaps of good info on sumps, this maybe of interest to you...

http://www.melevsreef.com

WILL PROB USE A HIGH FLOW BALL COCK ON SUMP LIKE USED IN TOILETS?

Sure, you could do that if you want to make your overflow more complicated, noisy, risky and expensive than it needs to be.

WILL PROB USE A HIGH FLOW BALL COCK ON SUMP LIKE USED IN TOILETS?

what for?

JUST SET UP SUMP AND RELISED DONT NEED TO. i THOUGHT THE WATER LEVEL WAS GOING TO SIT WELL BELOW BOTTOM OF TANK BUT FOUND THE WATER LEVEL SITS QUITE NICE

Ow, my eyeears.

oops almost fryed a heater and pump in sump :evil: :evil: the water level dropped and the heater looks burntout (melted the holder) but still works fine as for the pump its still chugging along even thouh it sucked a little air

OOPPPSSS