How to Keep an Aquarium Sump From Flooding

An aquarium sump is a container or reservoir placed beneath or behind the display aquarium. This remote reservoir is connected to the main aquarium via inflow and return pipes and tubes and contains only a small volume of water compared with the volume in the display aquarium. Water that flows into the sump from the main aquarium is pumped back to the display aquarium on a continuous basis. Unless you take precautions, the sump can easily overflow during a power shortage, which prevents the sump pump from returning water to the display aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Display aquarium
  • Aquarium sump
  • Measuring tape
  • Calculator
  • Drill and bit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Calculate the volume of water that will flow over the weir from the display aquarium to the sump in the event of a power outage. Calculate this volume by multiplying the length, width and height of the water lying above the lip of the weir when the system is running correctly.

    • 2

      Multiply length by width by height and divide the answer by 231 (the amount of cubic inches per gallon) to calculate the volume in gallons. You can also navigate to the Reefcentral website and use the calculator there.

    • 3

      Ensure that the sump you purchase or make is large enough to accommodate the extra amount of water in the event of a power outage.

    • 4

      Despite the large size of your sump, never fill it above the three-quarter mark. This will be your first approach to ensure that the sump does not overflow if you lose power.

    • 5

      Check if the return pipe or tube from the sump is positioned below the water surface in the display aquarium. The return pipe or tube should be below water level to prevent water from splashing and to eliminate the noise associated with the water pouring back into the aquarium, particularly if you are using a powerful return pump.

    • 6

      Drill a siphon break in the return pipe or tube if it is indeed under water. Drill the single 0.1-inch-diameter hole in the pipe or tube just below the water surface.

    • 7

      This hole will not affect the system's operation, but it will prevent the display tank water from siphoning back down the pipe or tube after a loss of power. Air is sucked into the tube, which breaks the siphon. This is the second most successful way to prevent the sump from overflowing.