Starting My Sump Build

I have finally talked my wife into letting me build a sump for my 55 gal. Since my stand won't allow me to squeeze a 20 gal in it I'm going to build it out of 1/4 in. acrylic. I went to my local hardware store and had everything cut to size and picked up a can of weld on. I'm hoping to have everything done and curing by Sunday and doing a leak test Tuesday or Wednesday. I'm going to have a DSB with macro algea in the fuge and I am thinking about an Eshopps psk 75 skimmer. I picked up an Eshopps pf-800 overflow which is a little overkill for my tank I know but I only paid $25 for it and it will only flow what the pump supplies. I am debating on a Mag 7 or a Lifegard Quiet One 2200 for my return pump they both flow around 450 gph at 4ft head but there is about $20 difference in price. Please let me know what you think about my plans and equipment that I am going to use. I will post pics when I get it done.

 

Your plans look pretty good. On my previous build i had a quiteone 2200 for my 55 gallon, it was a pretty good pump but later wouldn't start back up every time after shutting it off. I now have the mag7 and have not had a single problem

 

The eshopps pf 800 shouldn't be overkill. I have a 40g breeder with a 20g sump/refuge. I have the same overflow box and I use a Rio 2800ss return pump. The pump only runs at about 80%.

 

Things are finally starting to move along again. The sump has been built for almost two weeks now just sitting and taunting me. With work and school I've been kinda busy. I ordered a mag 7 pump and it should be here the first part of next week, Sunday I'm going to my lfs and picking up my skimmer, sand, and a few corals. I have my intake plumbing dry fitted and am going to glue it together this weekend before I have to work and am going to get my return plumbing started and finish it after I get my pump. There are a couple of pics let me know what you think.

 

looks good

 

Thanks link

 

Great job Dusty. Looks great.

 

Very clean

Well done, good luck with your system!

 

Good idea on the acrylic from the hardware store. How much did it cost?

 

Thanks everyone

I spent around $80 for the acrylic they only charged for the pieces after they cut them and I got all the scrap I wanted for free I was able to get enough to practice wifh and make a stand for my skimmer. I had to drive an hour one way to get the weld-on 3 which cost about $16 for a pint and they gave me the applicator (I have to say the worst part about that trip was having to drive my lfs and not being able to go in because they weren't open yet). So for around 100 bucks I have a sump that fits my stand and is big enough to do some good.