Sumps for cheapskates question

This one goes out to Covey,

I would like a step by step on how to set up your cheap sump. I can get a big tub the next time I go to wal-mart, and already have a 10g tank ready. I just make the DIY cheap overflow, I just need to test it. This will be going under a 100 gallon, so I would like to know what you think about a return pump. Thanks,

Michael

 

The pump that is going to be right for you will have to depend on how much water flow you will want once you know how far the sump will be to the top of your tank. usually for ebery three feet up fromm the sump to the tank desreases your water flow from the pump by roughly 40 gph. So you will have to deduct that amount from the total max for the pump. I like Mag drives and you should be good with the Mag 9.5. plus the t's and v's or y;s joints will alter the flow rate as well with friction playing that role. The other thing you have to deal with is the Max head, which is the greatest distance you can go with a particular til the pump can't force any water out any more. They usually range from 8' to 17 ft. in many common sizes.

 

Thanks,
I make one of the DIY overflow out of 1 inch pipe, so a mag 9.5 would probably be to much. I was thinking like a mag 7 or so. But I will do like you said, and see how much pipe I will have to use to run the return. It should only be around 4 feet.

 

Actually Birchell, I have found that if you use 3/4" tubing or if you can find it 1" it works better than PVC tubing. It is more flexible and forgiving if you make a measurement error (all it takes is 1/8th of an inch). I don't know what your overflow is rated at but if you do use the MAG 9.5 and get a SCWD for the return, it will reduce your flow to about 750 - 800 gph. This is what I have on my system now and love the idea of creating alternating flow while returning water back to the tank....Just my 2 cents worth, but sounds like you are on the right track....same track I find myself on many times, why pay $200 for a sump when you can get one for under $15! Are you going to make a refugium with this sump as well? I did and love it! Has made my tank much more stable and easy to maintain!

 

Aqua-via makes some cheap pumps that work decently. Thats what I am using.

 

Thanks guys!! From what I got on the DIY overflow forum, my 1" pvc overflow will flow around 500-600gph. That is why I want to run a smaller pump. I like the tubing idea tooo. I can buy one of the plastic return pipes to direct water back in the tank, but I will run tubing from the pump up to the tank. Im probably looking at like 3-4ft so im not gonna lose to much head pressure. In my sump, I plain on using a 10 gallon tank for my refug. I will overflow water from the tank into the 10 gallon tank, then the water will over flow into the tub, and be pumped back to the tank. I will probably make come eggcrate cages to hold live rock rubble, and to hold the pump off the floor of the tub. It will be really easy, and cheap!! I will upgrade to an aquarium sump some day, but for now this is the easiest way I can think to get a sump running. I really need a surface skimmer toooooo. Im also thinking of running my nano into the sump to help stabalize it. That little tank looses so much water everyday!! This way it will be hooked up to 140 gallons and wount rocket the salinity up everyday, .

 

I am using a via-aqua 2600. El Linko For the return on my sump. My overflow is rated at 600gph(ebay overflow)

 

is it quite?? I like the price!!

 

If I am reading your correct Birchell you want to overflow into your Refugium then overflow from there to your sump....Is this correct? If this is correct you may want to read up on some recommended flow rates for refugiums....that is if you are using the refugium as a haven for macro algae to reduce phoshate and nitrate. "Tangster" and "Coral Reefer" both have enlightened me to this whole process....basically you will need about 10% of your tank volume per hour to go through your Refugim to give your algae time to aborb and use up the nutrients. I know this blew me away too, so you will want around 10 gals. per hour to go through your refugium then go into your sump. I have a 36 gal sump/refugium but with my old 55 I had a 10 gal tank split into halves....then I had a "T" where I could control the amount of flow going into my sump side and Refugium side with a ball valve. The refugium would spill over into the sump area with my skimmer pump and return pump and would take on the other 90% of overflow to be pumped back up to the tank. To effectively use a refugium you will need to reduce your flow going through it....maybe Tangster and or Coral Reefer will elaborate more on this.....Hope this helps, I just didn't want you to set up something that would not work to its full potential...

 

Thanks Rashr, I didnt even think of that, lol. Me and tangster had a long thread about that like 2 weeks ago. I mite, just put the 10 gallon in the tub, and put a small power head on it to pump water from the sump into the refug. then let it either overflow the 10 gallon, or drill a hole for the water to get back to the sump. Im gonna put my heaters, and my skimmer down there to.