Aquarium Sump Overflow Plumbing! 

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This was.... just.... I mean.... *perfectly* illustrated!! Truely a gem to add to your collection of how-to videos.

I've watched nearly 50 videos on sumps. This is the only one that actually broke things down and explained in detail. I've been trying to figure out why there's three holes. This explains it. Thank you

This was an excellent video. I like to know not only how to assemble things I may need to build, but how and why they work and the function of each thing. I feel like understanding how things work enables you to work more with them, repair them better and make your own adjustments, if desired. Plus I think it's just prudent to understand things you're working with and/or depend on. You did a fantastic job explaining everything! I have zero room for sumps right at the moment, but next summer my dad and I will be building a custom stand and I'll have room for a sump underneath, finally. Videos like this help me plan for future builds. Thanks again for another great presentation!

this video make my stress on plumbing goes away, really nice relaxing bgm 😊

Spa flex is a good idea. Gotta get some.

The extra emergency line is ace!

This video came in so clutch . Just got a sump for free and was wondering how to set that bad boy up ! Thanks you for all that you do for the fish hobby

Great step by step explanation. I just realized that my first 2 sumps didn't have emergency lines. I feel like I dodged several bullets over the years!

I used a 4" bulkhead for a SLO drain on an aqua ponics system going from fish container to the sump. They ain't cheap

I like this music better than the old techno rave cymbal loop (don't know what to call it). Feels more like HGTV than MTV and goes good with the morning coffee. So I think it's safe to say Jerrol has gone full dad mode. 👍

I made it back😁 one of the best tutorials I've ever seen put together.. even a girl can understand 😂😂 always, thank you for sharing you really helped me learn a lot!

Thanks, I love the sump idea but the plumbing had confused me. I will now be more confident.

Excellent video, great info!! Couldn't be better timing for me as I'm wanting to use a sump I got from a guy when I bought a tank from him & it had no plumbing at all. Having never used a sump this video really helps!!

already understand how a sump works, but yours is what i am most curious about. Thank you!

Love the background music so relaxing and calming.

Soothing music. Reminds me of, "This Old House."

Damn you explained that in a short and concise manner, definitely made me feel better about plumbing my tank

Amazing video Joel, the music was perfect for the "teaching" theme.

Great information. Love the Bob Ross like feel to this. I’ve been wanting to learn more on how to set up a sump and this helped out a lot.

Tanks are looking nice! Good explanation too.

Great explanation on the subject Joel!

Thank you! This clears up alot...this was the missing peices i needed to build my first sump. I have seen how to build a sump blah blah blah.....but this is great. You da man Joel!

Awesome video Joel! Thank you! Your tank looks great and cant wait to see what it looks like when its done!

Rewatched this since I picked up a 150g with dual overflows. Easily explained what I had questions about so now I just gotta decide if I want to buy a new sump since the wet/dry filter isn't enough for that tank. Also gotta decide if I want to put all that upstairs since that's where the tank its replacing was & I won't have the downstairs till Sept at the earliest. Almost pulled the trigger on a brand new 125g acrylic last night & strongly considering it.

Thanks, I really liked the flow of this video. (Pun intended) Nice video with lots of info and show and tell. Also the right length of it, 10 out of 10 for me. Looking forward to the follow up.

Welcome back to this old tank, with the dadest dad, that ever daded *but* if you catch his live streams he seems more like the kid in class that would flip out if given any amount of sugar )( stay awesome man

I love this video, or maybe I just like the editing and music. It could also be I’m in a good mood because I bought a bunch of fish today!! Great vid.

I used loc-line as a cutting tool coolant delivery system as a machinist. It's worth the money. It lasts a long time in shop conditions with oils and nasty inside and out. Glad to have it in my tank. Glad it matches the rim. The difference is that placement as a machinist is a huge, huge deal. But no one in this hobby seems to discuss it at all. It's the part of your current you can control. I'm surprised people don't have conflicting opinions on placement with reasons to match. How would you set 2 ys on a dual overflow? Both middle? Both outside? Both in one weir and both intakes I the other?

How did I miss this!? Anyways, digging the chilled out dad vibe. I feel like this could be a segment on This Old House or something.

Joel. It's good to see you my friend. I always look forward to your videos. Thank you for showing us all around the set up. The background music in this video reminds me of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly when Mr Eastwood defeats the ugly. ;) Thank you for sharing another great video. I hope you have a pleasant day.

All these supplies sure add up $ wise. I have a 75 gallon tank and got a free sump but all this plumbing is more than the cost of a entire canister filter setup.

I’m a DIY 7 Gallon Canister Filter guy! Every sump I seen has an Oder that is fishy, loud, and takes up lots of space. Aside from the power head, it cost me less than $ 40.00 to build my canister filter. No noise, leaks, or smell.

You are looking younger and happier since your new daughter has arrived.

Great video. Very helpful.

Great video Joel!

Hello, Great video. Very informative and well produced. I acquired a 120 gallon tank that has two corner over flow systems. There are only two bulk head holes on each side. I assume that this system doesn't have the emergency siphon. Would that be a correct assumption? I was thinking about running two 20 gallon sump tanks below, any suggestions? Going to be fresh water tank.

Love the format my man!!!!

I found this enormously helpful, and clearly presented. I am struggling with the construction of a weir - I understand the need for ~6x the turnover of the water in gph of the display tank but how does one calculate the size of the weir, the size of the slots and the number of slots. I have reviewed a number of videos that skirted the issue and read several articles that were meant for engineers (and I am not an engineer.) Are there any simplified rules that might help me out as I ponder the construction of a weir for a 125 gallon tank. Greetings from Rapid City, South Dakota and thank you in advance.

This is great! Really helpful. Did you ever make the video going into flow from the sump into the display? That’s something I’m researching right now and would love to see that video. Can’t seem to find it.

Great video, the best explanation. Can you please tell me why most of the tanks on RU-vid use Herbie method and not Bean Animal ? is it quieter ?

Thanks for sharing!

This was a very helpful video to give a beginner who has never messed with sumps an idea how a sump works and should be set up. I do not have any experience dealing with PVC either. So, you recommend using tape, instead of the PVC glue/cement? Also, I have hardwood floors where I am putting my new tank. Any suggestions on what to put down under stand to protect the floor? Thanks!

Nice clean lookin fish room too ya got there mate

Hehe... the background music is weirdly soothing. Like, “relax, AlyssaBentley, plumbing a sump isn’t that bad if you do it correctly! Remember that time you tried it and failed super bad because you did it wrong and you flooded your apartment? It doesn’t always have to be like that.” One day. :)

I really like this vid, seeing you doing stuff !

Heya I've just brought a pre owned tank to use with fresh water that I wasn't going to sump, however I discovered the tank already has holes and I have a sump tank pipework and a return pump with it , someone said thsi would be a lot better than a regular filter and save me having to seal the holes but I haven't got a clue and I'm lost your video has helped a bit but there's still parts I don't know what to do with and the other thing is , I think there's only two holes one for draining and one for return, I didn't know they were even there until I tried to fill it and flooded my living room lol , should there only be two holes ? I've also got two gates two adjust flow which is the other thing that's making me think both holes should be drains so I'm really confused

watched 10sec than fell asleep lol that music

How do you manage to set the weir water level higher than the pipe that intakes the water so you do not get the loud noise. Every time I close the ball valve underneath to raise the water level and then open it, it just drops back down again.

Hi Loved our video. I need help. My shrimp and small fish are being sucked into the sump through the overflow have any ideas on how I could resolve this? Thanks

Great video mate 👌

Really helpful video, thanks. First time aquarium plumber here, so I have what is probably an elementary question for you: I’m using a dc return pump and a gate valve on the siphon drain. Which should I use to tune the flow? Doesn’t the dc pump make the gate valve either unnecessary or simply redundant? Thank you.

Do u have a clip that shows how to create the top section if you only have a tank with hob filter

I don’t know if I did something wrong but the intake valve where the mesh screen strainer sits in the adapter with the pvc pipe is VERY loud. Mine doesn’t sit into the adapter all the way. Could that be the problem?

I'm not allowed to play with power tools anymore, self imposed rule, lol. I can still run with scissors, but after the drill snapped it's bit and hit me in the head, and the saw got stuck in the kitchen counter top when that was not part of my project or what I was trying to saw, I decided I wasn't allowed to play with power tools without supervision, LOL. This was a nice, laid back video, perfect for a lazy sunday futzing around with my fish tanks.

Great video! Has a This Old House or one of those woodworking show feel to it.

always wondered how you had yours set up. nice

I always want a sump but what if the hydro goes out and you ain't home? If the sump is under the aquarium wont it flood the house

Could you please send me a list of all the parts you used in your set up. I have a durso with one line for drain and the other for return. But I'm going to turn them both into overflows and run a return line to the opposite side of the tank to optimize circulation. Where do you drain the emergency line and would I use the durso as that one or the one that doesn't have anything on top? I have a pre drilled 90 gallon. I was told for best flow I would need a 2.5 opening coming from the bulkhead. I don't even know if that screws on or gets glued. There must be some adapter necessary just have no idea what. My tanks holes are 1.75 so that would mean I would need a 1 inch bulkhead , is that correct?

i cant find the follow on from this video, this one has been great :)

How many gallons do you think flows back to sump after power is shut off?

Just a question I have 2 bulkheads on my 6ft do I really need the 3rd one or can I get away with the 2

Hi there . I have little question for you I’ve been using canister filters all the time but sump pump get my attention lately but one of my friends told me sump system increase the smell way more that regular fish tank smells like obviously fresh water tank ... it’s that true???

What lights are you running on your planted tanks because I have a 100 gallon and currently have a USA plus and not getting the lighting I want

Good video.

Daddy Corvus explains things perfectly - love the background music! Will there be a video where all three (Grandpa, Daddy & regular Corvus) all talk to each other via Swhiskey Magic?

What about full cylinder fish tank?

My tanks aren't drilled, and I don't want holes in them anyway. It's so...PERMANENT. Isn't there an external overflow box that WORKS like it's supposed to?

I am not handy and have always wondered how to do this, thank you!!!!

I have everything set. I have access to a drain, so can I run my emergency drain tube directly to it? I assume so. Also, I want to add a drip system. Once my emergency tube is sent to the drain, will that take care of my extra water from the drip?

So are the bulkheads going through the bottom of the tank or the back glass?

Hey, love all your videos. I may have missed it but do you have a video on you making this sump? Thanks !

Is the spa pvc 3/4?

something Mr Rogers about this video. Maybe the music or very teachy like way...different approach that's for sure!

Great video, I don't think the music is a problem. In fact it makes the video seem a little more professional...maybe!

What is your experience with overflow systems as far as debris removal is concerned? I have an overflow in my 200gal planted and I get a lot of debris on the gravel, plus some ammonia spikes too, despite the fact there is flow across the length of the tank judging by the plant motion. I think external pumps that have the water inlet a few cm over the substrate surface are significantly more efficient than overflows - and that's yet another limitation of large(r) tanks. Thank you for the great videos

Thanks for this video and explaination!! I really would like to build something like this for my goldfish tank but I'm so afraid I'm gonna mess it up. How do you calculate how much water to put in the sump? I think I've heard this is another big factor so as not to have a mess in the floor ... ?

the links dont work where can i get this buldhead

So thought there was going to be a flash forward after that later ...

Hey, where is the link to the bulkheads you use? I don't see it anywhere in the description!

Is this considered a bean animal style overflow?

Great video. I noticed you had plants in your sump. Is that for denitrification? I'm setting up my first sump tank and want try having plants in my sump to help denitrification. What plants would you suggest and how many? I have a 220 gal. Will have big haps in there. Thanks!

Do you have to glue the pvc to the sump?

Help....my sump filters below my tank are running at different water levels.

Great video! I really enjoy your How To videos. Very informative and entertaining. What are your recommendations for an overflow and emergency line if my tank is not drilled? I am building a sump out of a 40 breeder for my 75 gal turtle tank. Going to build a DIY spray bar for the return line from my DC pump. I need to figure out how to get the water down to the sump. Thanks.

Great video Joel. Does the spa flex just connect to the regular pvc with glue and primer or do you need a special adapter or a barb fitting?

Thanks. Very helpful video. I can’t drill the bottom of my tank, it’s tempered glass. I will have to drill the sides. I can do the same thing I will have to have a 90 elbow on either side of the bulkhead. Is that ok, or will that make too much of a restriction? Second question. I have a glass tank. I would like to make a black overflow box like you have. What would you use as an adhesive to stick the black acrylic overflow box to the glass tank? Would silicone work? Where do you get silicone without the mold inhibitors, I hear that is bad for the fish. Also how did you make the siphone silent on Corey’s big tank? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks Stan

Awesome set up I’m glad we got to see this being set up

Nice video, but the music is to much.

I like the video just seriously wish that music over the top wasnt there was soooooo distracting

A sump eliminates other filtration systems on a setup correct?

What heater are you using?

Background music volume is way too high.

Hey which bulkheads do you like better double threaded or double slip ?

Turn off the background music... Its too loud too

Dang you should be a teacher. This is amazing. I'm not going to ever drill my tank but stayed for the explanation.

Did you build your Sump?

Music is very distracting. I don't understand why youtubers use music for the sake of using music.

Amazon store linky is brokey

Great video. Any chance of a weir video some day?