Sump Question

[gabegmonkey]

I have an old wet dry sump setup that I took the Bio Balls out of...

My question is:

Is there any reason I couldn't fill it higher than the normal fill line?

That way I could use it more like a 'fuge and put more equipment (Heaters etc) in the sump.

I was thinking of turning off the pump to get it at it's MAX level and then fill it to somewhere near the middle to the top and then turn it back on and mark the new fill line off where the water drops to...

Additional Questions:

Does this make sense?

There's no reason to think that the sump could not handle being that full... is there?

Do I need to worry about how high or low the pump and/or skimmer is/are in relation to the water level?

Thanks for any input!

[gabegmonkey]

Come on someone has to have an opinion... I'd love to get a better setup but the sump I have is super narrow and I can't find anything else that will fit in the same space (custom stand) so I'm really stuck with it. So any input at all would be GREATLY appreciated

[don954]

i use my ex-bio ball sump the exact same way. I have a 30 gallon tank I'm converting into a sump & sand bed refuge, and a little 10 gallon i drilled an overflow into and will use it as a 2nd refuge just for plants, once its finished i wont use my old sump any more, it gives me a bad microbubble problem.

[gabegmonkey]

I'm not having the Micro-Bubble problems normally, but the reservoir is so small that I get air sucked into the pump every couple days from evaporation. So you have not had any problems with your sump after adding extra water to it?

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7595241#post7595241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gabegmonkey
Come on someone has to have an opinion... Patients Monkey Boy! :D

You shouldn't have a problem with your idea. As you have stated, be sure to know how much water will siphon back into the sump so you don't overflow, and cause problems.

Some skimmers will have a preferred water level to operate in. If the skimmer sits to low, make a stand out of egg crate to raise it.

Remember to include the water in your skimmer to your power off calculations.

Pump level depends on how low the water can get before it starts to draw in air (think vortex), this will cause a microbubble problem, and eventually burn out the pump.

[ERICN]

I would do like you said you turn your pump off let the overflow empty all it can into the sump then fill sump all the way to top with fresh water then turn on pump and mark new water line.

[Konadog]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7595384#post7595384 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ERICN
... then fill sump all the way to top with fresh water ... Since this is not replacement water, but additional water, be sure to use salt water. :)

[gabegmonkey]

Ok cool deal, glad I wasn't way off base or anything... I think I'm going to do that today or tomorrow... Thanks everyone!!!

One more question: How much light would I need to use it as a refugium? Give or take...