External plumbing question

So my mag 5 return pump died, woke up to three impeller blades broken off. The pump has been weak for a while and its finally time for a replacement.

I want to run an external pump, but have a sump made out of a 20 long tank. I am unable to drill the glass, for the pumps intake.

If I plumb a u pipe for the intake, up and over the side of the tank and down in the sump, will that work? I know I can't be the first person with this problem, has anyone done this, if so do you have pic?

 

You need to use a External Overflow Box for this, in order to run water correctly to a sump. The pump will return the water, but what happens when the syphon is broken up top in your U? It will not restart itself, and you are going to have a mess then.

 

i am pretty sure it will work as long as it is a self priming pump.

 

I think you misunderstood, the tank itself has an internal overflow box that drains down to the sump.

I am talking about moving my return pump (currently internal in the sump), to an external, next to the sump under the display tank. I cannot (or dont think I can) drill the sump tank to install a low supply line for an external pump.

I want to run a u bend of hard pipe from the bottom of sump, over the side of the sump and into the external pump.

Is it possible? Will the pump create suction to pull the water from the sump when initially turned on?

 

Yea that will work. But, why not just get a Quiet One Pump or Mag Drive Pump that is submersible?

 

It doesn't work to plumb an external pump with a u-tube intake. External pumps are not designed to draw water in, and should not be restricted at the intake.

 

Aquarium pumps are not self priming pumps and an "up and over " suction is very risky for one and very imefficient for another. You are opening yourself up for a burned up pump as all it takes is an air bubble to break suction. You are also restricting the suction side of the pump with extra lengths of pipe and fittings which should never be done, you want an unrestricted flooded suction for best performance and reliability.

Why do you want it external? There is no advantage other than making room in the sump but a 20G should have plenty of room for a pump of that size, I have an Ocean Runner 3500 in my sump as a return and its bigger than a Mag 9.5. Externally it will add the same amount of heat to the water since most pumps that are capable of being submerged have internal water passages or jackets and use aquarium water for cooling. If its an extranal only pump you will find in the smaller sizes they draw twice the power which equates to more heat gain even if its fan cooled or mag drive since the shaft, impeller and volute transmit heat to the water.

 

barbianj & AZDerestRat are correct! An external pump doesn't even like a 90 degree fitting on the intake, never mine a U that is going above the water line. You WILL smoke a pump. Why not use an internal again?