Can you put the drain below..

[banzai75x]

Can you put the drain from an overflow below the waterline in the sump? I heard this causes back pressure?

[Konadog]

I may cause some back pressure but does it matter? I have had mine below the water line for over a year without problems. It helped quiet my sump down.

[banzai75x]

I don't know if it matters. Just wondering, and this will be my first sump so trying to cover all the bases.

I was going to outfit my overflow with a stockman standpipe as well.

[Konadog]

Exactly what I have. The pipe I have into the sump goes straight down, then turns 180 deg (two 90's) to point back up. I think this helps keep some of the air/bubbles in the down pipe, and not pouring into the sump. All the splashing noise stays in the pipe.

[banzai75x]

Do I need to put a ball valve on the drain line?

[Konadog]

No ball valve, IMO that is just asking for a flood! Your overflow and drain will only handle so much water so when you plumb in your return pump, be sure to have it sized properly or put in a bypass valve.

[banzai75x]

If I wanted to add a refugium..Maybe you could look at this thread..

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=478960

[rspar]

I don't see a problem with a ball valve up towards the top for maintenance purposes I have them on mine so the sump doesn't fill up any more than normal when I'm diddling around in the sump. Course the pumps off at that time.

[Konadog]

rspar, for service purposes, I don't see a problem. But if it was used to adjust water flow to the sump, it usually results in a flood. Maybe not today, but sooner or later.