Sump ?

I currently have 20 gallon reef tank with no sump. Been thinking about setting up a sump. Just seems that tanks with sumps are more stable and corals seem to work out better. I have a spare 10 gallon tank I figured I'd try to DIY a sump with. What else would I need ?

 

that sounds like a great idea....what is your approach that you are planning to bring water down to your sump? hang on overflow or will you drain the tank to drill it?

 

Probably hang on overflow box.

 

this is something similar i have going on with my tank, so far almost a year later it hasn't lost siphon. Todd_Sails made a good video and how to on it. http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/non-drilled-tank-alternatives-my-diy-overflow-140523.html#.Usw5G4Vtoq0

 

The basics are. Overflow weather its hob or internal with a drilled tank. The actual sump itself. Glass or acrilic to make bubble traps/chambers. A return pump. All the plumbing from overflow to sump then return pump back to the tank. You'll have to decide on how many chambers you want and if you want a refugium or not. Then you have to decide how big you want each chamber. Usually the return pump section is the smallest because the pump itself is small and in the event the overflow fails if you keep the return chamber small that means there will be less water pumped into your tank so there's less of a chance of a overflow of the DT

 

After reading several stories of water all over the floor I think maybe a HOB overflow isn't the way to go. I live in an upstairs apartment so that could be bad. Anyone run a HOB refugium ? Any benefits to having one or should I just stick to my live rock, water movement and skimmer. I've thought about turning off the skimmer. Not sure if it's beneficial to run a skimmer on a 20 gallon or if it's taking out to much of what my corals may need. Any advice ?