Is there a way to have a sump with tempered glass?

[Jeff]

I understand tempered glass can't be drilled. But, I'm curious if there's a work around, to have a sump for tank like this?

I'm setting up a 90g tempered glass tank. But, I'd like to have more water volume, and a place to hide my heaters, and thermometer.

 

 

Edited August 30, 2021 by Jeff

[Tihshho]

They make hang on back overflow conversions that use a Toms Aqua Lifter to keep the overflow from getting air locked.

[Gideyon]

You could make the sump above the tank. It'll just look ugly. 

[Jeff]

On 8/29/2021 at 9:04 PM, Tihshho said:

They make hang on back overflow conversions that use a Toms Aqua Lifter to keep the overflow from getting air locked.

Can you plumb the hob overflow to a sump under the tank?

[Tihshho]

On 8/30/2021 at 7:19 PM, Jeff said:

Can you plumb the hob overflow to a sump under the tank?

Yes, that's what they are designed for. They are made for tanks that cannot be drilled or those who do not wish to drill tanks.

[Jeff]

Has anyone here ever used a hob overflow?

Are they reliable?

[CT_]

You can make a siphon based overflow with a few pipes.  Supposedly they work long term.  I'm waiting for the paint to dry on mine to test the idea out for water changes.

Someone built one recently but I don't recall which post.  There's also a lot of youtube videos with various designs.

[Gideyon]

On 8/30/2021 at 9:49 PM, CT_ said:

You can make a siphon based overflow with a few pipes.  Supposedly they work long term.  I'm waiting for the paint to dry on mine to test the idea out for water changes.

Someone built one recently but I don't recall which post.  There's also a lot of youtube videos with various designs.

I've thought of this (as I don't like the thought of drilling glass on my own), but I couldn't figure out how to automatically start the siphon.  I've considered a pump that turns on simultaneously with the pump that pushes water back. And then shut off after a few seconds.    But what if the siphon isn't pulling as fast as what is coming in, or vice versa?

I'm sure there is a solution, but I'm just exercising my brain. 

[Tihshho]

On 8/30/2021 at 10:11 PM, Gideyon said:

I've thought of this (as I don't like the thought of drilling glass on my own), but I couldn't figure out how to automatically start the siphon.  I've considered a pump that turns on simultaneously with the pump that pushes water back. And then shut off after a few seconds.    But what if the siphon isn't pulling as fast as what is coming in, or vice versa?

I'm sure there is a solution, but I'm just exercising my brain. 

Yep, I posted it above. The solution for what you're talking about is a product made by Tom's called the Aqua Lifter, It's a small peristaltic dosing style pump that people run constantly to make sure the U pipe is always siphoning when power is on so you're not draining your sump into the display and having it flood the floor.

[CT_]

I mean a siphon that doesn't need starting (except the first time) and only drains from an overflow.

something like this crude drawing: 

 

EDIT: here's some videos too.  The second one shows how to attach a small pump to make sure you don't get air in your siphon but its optional.   I don't feel the need for it in my application (drain only) because I'll be near by, but i have to admit a 15$ diaphragm pump is probably cheap insurance, and if drains back into the high water, or your sump flow rate is faster than the baby pump (it should be!) then it won't cause problems either.

 

 

Edited August 31, 2021 by CT_

[Gideyon]

On 8/30/2021 at 11:58 PM, CT_ said:

something like this crude drawing: 

 

I could be wrong but that looks a lot like a greedy siphon.  I'll check out the video

[CT_]

On 8/31/2021 at 4:50 AM, Gideyon said:

I could be wrong but that looks a lot like a greedy siphon.  I'll check out the video

Its sort of the opposite of the greedy siphon/Pythagoras cup.  The Pythagoras cup will completely empty once it reaches the top of the siphon tube.  Topologically the Pythagoras cup has a hole, while this setup is a separate object that can hang over the edge.

There's probably a name for this, but you can think of it as three water tanks, two small ones and the aquarium.  The small ones are connected by a "water bridge" so they (the two small ones) always have the same water level.  One small one has a low over flow to keep the level set the other small one is "nested" inside the aquarium.  The aquarium water can spill into the nested small tank which raises the water level and it over flows out of the outer small tank.