adding a sump to my existing tank. how to?

well iv got my sump and pvc all setup and everything and now that question is how do i set it up. do i fill up the sump then start the return pump or do i get a container, mix the salt and water then pump it into the DT and let the overflow bring it down to the sump and figure out the levels tere?

 

you will want to fill up your sump with saltwater (assuming you DT is filled with saltwater) first before starting your return pump.

Be sure that all of your valves are wide open to start. Hopefully you have installed a ball valve on the return side of your pump if your pump is oversized beyond the flow rate of either you internal overflow or external overflow box.

Next you will want to fill your DT up to the point that it JUST starts to overflow back into the sump.

Now fill your sump. This is the "slightly tricky" part. You will need to fill the sump beyond the normal sump level to start because of the volume of water you will need to fill your pluming system and the hydraulic "head" that will be in the tank which is caused by the pump raising the level of the water in the tank, causing the overflow and the eventual cyclic return to the pump.

Now once you are flowing water, if you have an oversized pump and ball valve setup, you can begin fine tuning your flow rate so you have a nice level in your sump.

Pics will also help greatly if this does not answer your question. If I can see your plumbing I can tell you how to tweak it and run it!

Good luck and welcome to 3reef!!!

:;D

 

If you have livestock in the DT, I'd recommend adding the water to the DT and allow the overflow to fill the sump, or use the new water to do a water change in the DT and fill the sump with the used water, just as a precaution against temp/SG/PH shock.

Cheers