Idea for homemade sump return line

[notatallhappygolucky]

Attachment 44252

[REEFSTOCK]

There is nothing wrong with that. I think you can put a T on the outside and run one part up slightly higher than the tank. It might be loud the way it is. The inside could expand out to a 3" part with teeth or gutter guard. You would get better surface skimming then.

[AquaNovice]

Originally Posted by happygolucky

Attachment 44252

Very similar to my idea.

[notatallhappygolucky]

the main reason I want a sump is to skim the particles & membrane from the surface. I thought about it last night & may just do a full-blown skimmer with an overflow box and everything - first I have to check the plastics shop.

I don't like the idea of the 1/8" hole in the top of your standpipe though - that would let air enter and, IMO, make it impossible to maintain siphon.

I'm hoping the local plastics shop will have some 4x4" black lexan/plexiglass, have them cut the back off, & then I'd dremel in or have them cut on a table saw the watergate/grooves. I think this is the right way to do this. There's another thread about making your own sump & from that I gathered raising the standpipe's lowest slot would make it quieter. The thread also suggested 1.25" may be optimum for ~400 gph.

[Geoff]

putting the Tee on the outside will work, but getting the water level height correct can be troublesome in this configuration. it does make for a much cleaner look though. my wifes system was run using the Tee on the outside. it was difficult to get quiet due to the fact that the elbow on the inside of the tank needed to face upwards instead of downwards. caused gurgleing.

G~

[AquaNovice]

Originally Posted by happygolucky

the main reason I want a sump is to skim the particles & membrane from the surface. I thought about it last night & may just do a full-blown skimmer with an overflow box and everything - first I have to check the plastics shop.

I don't like the idea of the 1/8" hole in the top of your standpipe though - that would let air enter and, IMO, make it impossible to maintain siphon.

I think a hole has to be there???? I had a similar drawing in another thread, Geoff helped me out a lot on that one, maybe it doesn't need to be there, hopefully he'll catch this reply and let us both know.

[Geoff]

you do not want a siphon on a drain. the air hole is to keep it from becoming a siphon. if you are looking for surface scum removal and noise is not an issue than doing what REEFSTOCK has suggested is our best bet. that way you can upturn the elbow in the tank to remove the surface scum.

G~

[fjoseph72269]

with that design, it is gravity, not a syphon draining water from your tank. a syphon is used on a non drilled tank ta carry the water over the tank and down the drain. if you don't drill a hole, you might not get much sleep with the extremely loud sucking and burping noise coming from the drain pipe. start with a small hole about 1/32" and work your way up until it no longer sucks. depending on how much water is going thru the drain, you may need a small hole or you could need a big one. hope this helps

[notatallhappygolucky]

How can I get rid of this attachment??? I'm trying to post it in my new thread. TIA

[notatallhappygolucky]

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