Is this possible? Twin HOB filter used for overflow?

Im getting my first sump going and had a question as to whether or not this would be possible:
I have a twin hob filter system running right now, of course it has the motor which draws water into the box through the baffle, then through the carbon filters, and flows back into the tank. My question is this:
If I just shorten the baffled intake tube, remove the carbon filters (will have a similar setup in the sump) and drill a hole in the bottom of the filter box and run my plumbing from the bottom of the filter box to the intake of the sump, would that work for my overflow? I mean as long as the flow is consistent with my return pump? That way I would only have about a 2" long baffled pipe in the upper corner of my tank and thats it. Any input? Thanks guys!

 

It's a very interesting idea, I am just concnered about flow rates. It is going to be VERY difficult to match your flow rates. They have to be exactly the same, otherwise you will have a buildup in one tank or the other.

 

I thought about that, and figured a check valve in the line to the sump from the main tank and one in the return line to the main tank also could help with that....That way i could kind of tweak the flow on both ends till they match up.

 

as long as your return is an identical pump cause if there differnt one will fill up quicker and empty one could cause a big mess. i am working on the same concept for my ref. will let you know what i come up with when i get all the kinks worked out.

 

I would think that if you added ball valves to control flow you could get them to match up. However with this wet up you would have no surface skimming, maybe you can mod this somehow to accomplish this? Just something to think about.

Jake

 

If I read and understand the question properly then the answer is Nope won't work as water seeks its own level and at some point it always does . You have to use gravity only to feed the sump and then the amount returned water under pressure will set the amount of outflow accordingly if the drain system is sufficient to allow it to do so . Gravity sucks and water being liquid it will either over or under flow at some point. This is why I went to all the trouble to drill all my tanks .

 

A lot of good points....But and correct me if Im wrong here, but wouldnt your overflow rate pretty much be based on the rate of your return pump? Its hard to explain by typing, but say you have a 3/4 return line coming from your pump and your pump is say 300 gph....you also have a 3/4 overflow line going to the fuge. The water can only drain into the fuge as fast as the water level rises, which is done by the rate of your return pump...correct? So in theory they would pretty much even each other out wouldnt they? I mean if you put a bucket in the tub under the faucet and let it run over, the water is leaving the bucket at the same rate its going in isnt it?