Stop the Flood

This has been collecting dust for ages now, I need an overflow to bring water from the tank to this thing, with an aqua-lifter pump it should stop the unit from flooding in a poweroutage. What stop's the return from overflowing the tank in case of poweroutage? How do I set this up with no chance of flooding? This is not a drilled tank.

 

Well the return can't overflow the tank in a power outage because the return pump won't pump without power.

 

in the return line, above water level, drill a hole. While the pump is running, it will spray water into your tank from the return and the little hole that you drilled above water level. Then the power goes out and instead of your return line sucking the water from the tank into the sump, the little hole will suck air in and stop the siphon. Thats pretty much the only way, unless you want your entire return outlet out of water.

*coylee_17....The return would overflow his sump by starting a siphon back down from the display.

 

Sorry I read it like he meant the tank itself. Mattheuw is right about the hole just below the water line. A check valve would also work but it is one more thing that can go wrong and the hole idea is much easier.

 

Would it be easier and better to trash this item and get a canister filter. Or would the tank have to be drilled for a canister?

 

You have everything to set that sump/fuge up, don't bother with a canister. The sump with give your tank more stability because of the increased volume, it will also allow you to hide your heater and skimmer below the stand. It looks like the only thing you need is an overflow and a return pipe/tube.

A canister doesn't require and drilling with the tank. The inlets and outlets just hang over. But canisters aren't used much for reef tanks. A refugium and skimmer combo is the preferred method for filtration.