noob needs help

hello everyone ..um new to saltwater
i got a 50 gallon glass aquarium 42x15x17 and my plan is to go with FOWLR
i have a compartment under the tank of 18x13x13 which is supposed to be for the sump approx 14 gallons
um having the hardest time ever trying design the sump or choosing the equipment?? or doing the overflow?? ..where to drill the glass??..how to attach the over flow wall or box?? ..what is the water level should be in the sump?? ..what if the power cut?? ..ugh ...
i know i need 50lb of rocks 10lb of sand
can i just go and pick it out from the sea ??

 

You can buy a pre made sump. Equipment wise what did you have in mind? You need to know if your glass is tempered. If it is you can't drill. You can do it a few ways, one being drilling the bottom the other being drilling the back. If it is tempered you can run the overflow hang ons. Water level usually depends on your skimmer needs and how much water drains back to the bottom during a power cut. Power outtages are not a problem.

 

my glass are not tempered ..
pre made sumps are way too expensive where i am from ..it cost twice more than all the build ..
so is it better to buy the skimmer first then design the sump ?

 

Or at least have a good idea which skimmer you're going to buy so you can plan around it. Plan on not skimping for the skimmer. Over rate it, if you have a selection of 65, 100, and 125 gallon rated skimmers, pick the 125 if you can afford it. As for rock/sand from the sea, this is not a good idea for a couple reasons. 1st the sand on probably every beach in the world has lord knows what from lord knows where in it. No way you want to put any of that in your tank. 2nd. Even though you may be a bit safer picking rock out of the water vs sand in the sense of contamination its not a good idea, the biggest problem is it's often illegal to do. Best advice on acquiring the rock is to watch your local forums and craigslist for tank tear downs, or someone selling rock. Preferably dead as it'll be cheaper. Then get a nice piece from the LFS or a fellow reefer to help seed your tank.

 

oh, also suggest avoiding the HOB skimmers and go for an in sump version...

 

Hey Dommi, I just did a DIY sump for my 29 gal and it was very cheap and easy. I used a 5.5 gal because my stand is fairly small, but it's been working great. I'd recommend you use either a 10 gallon or a 15 gallon tank for the sump; the chances of finding a 14 gallon are very slim. Message me if you want some help making your sump! you're right that making a sump yourself is much cheaper. Oh, and it's not necessary to buy the skimmer first, but you should know which skimmer you are going to buy for sure and how much space it will take up in the sump. That way, you can make sure to optimize the use of space in your sump when putting in your baffles (if you use them, which i recommend)/

 

thanks so much for your advice ..but i meant getting sand from the sea not the beach
some people around here dive and pickup corals and even fish
fish stores who sell saltwater stuff are so greedy ..because there are only 8 to 10 stores who sells saltwater stuff in the whole country

 

i can get the glass and silicone it myself
how did you do your overflow ?

 

I drilled a hole for my overflow. I did it this way because its cheaper than buying an overflow box, and eliminates the chance of a siphon fail. I bought a very nice quality drill bit from the BRS website. If you check my build thread, you can have a look at it. Here's a direct link to a video of my plumbing running with fresh water as a test.

29 Gallon Aquarium DIY Plumbing - YouTube

 

nicely done man ..and is the flow constant ?? i mean the water level in the sump is constant ??