14 Gallon Biocube sump

[runamukus]

I'm working on a sump for my Biocube 14. However I need some ideas, pictures, (HELP) on how to siphon the water down to the sump and return it. I have a powerhead that I am planning to use for the return. The sump is small, it'll fit under the stand. I think I can simply use a small U shaped hose and siphon the water from the main take down easily. I'm trying to do this without cutting the stock hood.
However, my concern is if a power outage happens what I need to do. My thought was to place the powerhead high enough in the sump so when the power comes back on, it'll eventually pump dry (cause I'm sure I'll lose my siphon) and will probably burn out my powerhead but that is better than water all over the place. Are there any types of powerstrips that when turned off will not come on until you hit a reset switch of some type? I would not know what to call one of those or I would have googled it by now.
Anyone have a sump for their biocube 14? If so, can you send/post pictures because I'm having a hard time finding any useful information on folks that made a sump for biocube 14.

[VoodooMach]

Isn't going to happen without cutting the hood or drilling the tank.

[texmex]

I also would like to find some kind of power strip that does that if you find one let me know thanks. And good luck with the sump dont think you will be able to do it with out making some kind of hole in the hood.

[runamukus]

There has got to be a way!

Are the biocubes drillable?

[runamukus]

How small would be too small for the hoses to lead down to the sump and back up to the main tank?

[texmex]

How small would be too small for the hoses to lead down to the sump and back up to the main tank?

I think you could go with the smallest you can find You dont need much gph on that since it is so small so if it were me I would go with the smallest pump I could find for that what size of sump are you planing on running? And are you doing fuge?

[runamukus]

I think you could go with the smallest you can find You dont need much gph on that since it is so small so if it were me I would go with the smallest pump I could find for that what size of sump are you planing on running? And are you doing fuge?

yeah I was going to have a mini fuge - no room for a skimmer or anything like that. I'm not getting that fancy because I just want something to help give more water volume and to assist with absorbing nitrates.

I have a small powerhead and I was going to attach a hose to it for the return. I was going to put a T valve so I can control the flow back to the tank. I was planning on entering the hose only a few inches into the main tank, so if power goes out, it will suck dry and fill up the sump (but not overflow it). I'll have to get a power shut off switch to flip the power off if the sump is too full so I don't pump all the sump water back into the main tank.

That sound feasible.

[princer7]

Check the head height recommendations on your pump/powerhead. I don't know of too many powerheads that can lift very high.

Place a sipon break (small hole at the water level) on the return line going back into your tank. This will keep this end from back siphoning and flooding your sump in case of a power failure.

Fashon a skimmer box to place your U-Tube in so that it is not drawing water from your whole tank. This would also limit flooding.

There will not be much extra water volume a nano can take without problems. If you are concerned with flooding your main tank, look at a water level sensor that will turn off the pump in the sump if the level gets too high/low (depending on it's placement).

[runamukus]

This is what I have done...seems to be working thus far...its risky!
I have two flexible 3/8 tubes. Both tubes will squeeze through the cut that is stock in the back of the hood. I have a t valve on the tube that is going down, and I have a small pump pushing the water back to the main tank. I got a little clamp on power compact light that I'll turn on at night. It took me forever to calibrate the flow, but I finally have it. I have the tubes in the main tank, behind the carbon filter so no snails can get to it. The tubes are only 1/2 inch into the water so when the power goes off, they'll siphon until the water level goes down in the other chambers of the tank - it is a close one in the sump though! Gets about an inch from the top. When the electric comes on, it'll start pumping water back into the main tank, but the pump is high enough in the sump it will not overflow the main tank. I'll post some pics when I get a decent camera.

[Mr Cob]

I'm planning on plumbing my 14gal BioCube with my 120g with a small overflow...I'm curious how you are pulling the water to the sump from the BioCube???

Thanks...


Pics!

[Mr Cob]

Bump.

runamukus...you have pics for me?