Water to sump

[Dons1903]

I am investigating a new bigger tank at the moment. The primary reason for this is more water capacity for greater stability and also the option of adding a sump to move skimmers/heaters/etc into and also to set up a Ecosystem refugium.

However what do you all think is the best method to get the water from the main tank to the sump? :-?

A weir with a hole in the base? Hole in the back/side of the tank?

How do I reduce the 'water running down a plughole' noise? :)

[Gillybaby]

IMO there's no "best" method. Maybe the question you should be asking is which method is best for me (ie you - you know what I mean ;) ).

Bear in mind that with the base drilled and a corner weir, you can put the tank flat against the wall. However, with holes drilled in the back all the pipework has to fit between the back of the tank and the wall. Our tank sits about 6" from the wall although the pipework actually sticks out 4". However, with holes drilled in the back you can get away with triangular weirs leaving more room in the tank for aquascaping. Its really down to personal taste.

Not sure about standpipes, like durso, as I've never used one, but the water flowing into the sump from our tank is silent. We have used a piece of airpipe in the top of the pipework (which slopes at an angle rather than straight down) and moved this in and out till it stoped the gurgling. Also the pipes exit under water in our sump so there's no splashing. Although I'm sure I've heard that durso's are pretty much silent too.

The choice is yours :-D

[Blue]

to reduce the noise you can use a durso.www.DursoStandpipes.com
as for the differences it is down to what space you have outside the tank.
If you have enough room then people tend to go for a side/back return, but if you have no room then you have no option but to go for a base drilled return, but then this uses up space in the tank.
I have tried to upload pics of both but to no avail. Maybe someone else could try.
hope this helps :lol:
regards chris

[Electric Monk]

Chris, your piccys sir :grin:

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/terry.knipe/ExternalDurso%20(2).jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/terry.knipe/NEW%2520TANK%2520038%20(2).jpg

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/terry.knipe/Old%2520Overflows%20(2).jpg

[Blue]

Thanks for that Terry
These are pics off the net. top pic is a side drilled weir with durso return.
middle pic is a base drilled tank with weir and stand pipe. Below is front pic of side drilled weir.
Hope this is of help to you.
regards chris. :grin: :grin:
(if the owners of any of the above pics wish them to be removed please let us know) :grin:

[Gillybaby]

Just thought I'd add another pic to the mix as our piping is done slightly differently to those pictured above. You can see it here:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/uploads/current%20tank%20pics%20for%20webpage/newtank4.jpg

And here you can see the triangular weirs and the sump arrangement:

http://www.trapper300.co.uk/photos/albums/uploads/current%20tank%20pics%20for%20webpage/newtank5.jpg

TBH we shamelessly copied the original Simon Garrett Reef Eden tank. All the details were on his website but I think its offline at the moment for the new Reef Eden tank. As I said above, its pretty neat and very quiet.

HTH

[Dons1903]

I like the idea of two outputs from each corner. 8-)