D.I.Y Sump

[Oliver Nivbrant]

Hi everyone. I want to make a sump for my 50g reef and I don't need the sump to be more than 10g. Basically, I want to build it so that I can house my skimmer and heater in, so there is more room in th emain tank. My question is however, my big tank is already set up so I was thinking of just draging a hose from the tank, like a siphon. The thing is however, how would I precisley match the flow rate from the tank with the pump rate???? Because if I don't have enough flow from the pump then it will overflow fast, and vice verce if there is to much flow. Please help, I need it badly!!! Cheerz

[jhunko]

You need some kind of overflow, check out e-bay or the for sale forum here, or even the DIY. The way you describe is darn near impossible to accomplish. To match the syphone rate, and pump rate is very dificult. Plus, if the power goes out and breaks your siphon, then the pump kicks back on you have an overflowed tank. Or if the siphon is too low in the water and the power goes out then your sump overflows. Invest the money in a good overflow now, and save the headaches. HTH