IslandHopper
Aquarium Advice Activist
OK... many years of freshwater tanks... it's time to convert one of the 55's to saltwater.
My current question is regarding a sump/refuge set up beneath the main tank.
This tank does NOT have any holes in it... so a "drain tube" will go over the edge to get water from the main tank to the refugium... then a pump moves water back up to the main tank.
So my question is: What keeps the water level maintained in the big tank?... What keeps the "siphon/drain" from moving water to the refugium faster than the pump moves it to the tank (or vice-versa) ?
In the event of a power failure, what would keep the drain from siphoning the main tank down and overflowing the refugium? (or even withOUT a power failure, what keeps that from happening if it can siphon faster than the pump can return it?)
I'm obviously missing SOMEthing about the setup... just haven't been able to figure it out yet.
My current question is regarding a sump/refuge set up beneath the main tank.
This tank does NOT have any holes in it... so a "drain tube" will go over the edge to get water from the main tank to the refugium... then a pump moves water back up to the main tank.
So my question is: What keeps the water level maintained in the big tank?... What keeps the "siphon/drain" from moving water to the refugium faster than the pump moves it to the tank (or vice-versa) ?
In the event of a power failure, what would keep the drain from siphoning the main tank down and overflowing the refugium? (or even withOUT a power failure, what keeps that from happening if it can siphon faster than the pump can return it?)
I'm obviously missing SOMEthing about the setup... just haven't been able to figure it out yet.