sirdarksol

Okay, so I'd just like some verification here, because I'm thinking of making one:
The inside part, of course, is set at the desired water level.
The vent is above the water level, but does it have to be below the part of the setup that goes over the back of the aquarium?

pepetj

The vent (open ended section) that extends after the T section should go a bit higher than the superior inverted U. The vent is used to let air in so water keeps flowing through the output, in the T, that goes to the (usually wider) hose that brings the water into the trail in the Wet/Dry.

Also, through the vent aperture, I use a turkey blaster to put water in the assembly in order to start the siphon as air is driven out though the air check-valve.

I ended up placing a ball valve at the end of each T so I can shut-down or even regulate water flow if needed be (I'm setting two adjacent tanks with the same Wet-Dry sump filter). I painted the PVC assembly part that goes inside the tank with black epoxy spray paint, I'm waiting for the Epoxy paint to cure to get the system running.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

JRunyon21

I need some help with the PVC Sump I plan to build. I am a bit confused on where to put the intake in reference to the top of my tank. I do not want my water level below the trim at the top of my tank. I also have read that the placement of the T going to the SUMP plays a big role on my water level as well. Anyone have any ideas of how I am supposed to keep the water level where I want it?

GreenMan13

Either the inlet or the T will determine the water level. Which one depends on how your inlet is set up.

If the Inlet is set up like in the image with inlet higher then the T then the inlet will determine the water level. When the power goes off the water will drain through the inlet and then lower inside the pipe to the level of the T. You need to make sure the pipes are water tight so water can only get into the pipe through the inlet from the tank though.

If the inlet is lower then the T then the T will determine the water level. This is due to the water level will keep getting siphoned into the pipe till the water level is equal to the T height.

Basically the higher of the two will be the height of the water level. You do want to make sure that if the pipe gets cloged that the amount the sump pumps back into the tank will not over flow the main tank though.

roman

i am interested in making one of these myself for a 180gal/wet/dry tank, i have seen a few vararations of this and i'm wondering what the reason for the vent tube? this has been a very helpful forum

pepetj

Vent tube allows air to go out as water goes down to the sump, through the T section, without braking the siphon. To start it, I just add water with a turkey blaster until it reaches the output T; once that is achieved, I either suck some air (until water comes in) from the air check-valve with my mouth or with a vacuum pump (ToM Aqua Lifter Water and Air pump).

Pepe
Santo Domingo