Sump....

im not really new to the hobby, but i am clueless as to making a sump. i have the design down for the most part, but once again im clueless to the plumbing part. i need to know what all i need. i have a 36 gallon bowfront corner tank. any help would be terrific. i need to have all the info and possible some plumbing diagrams. i have looked everywhere but can't find anything that i really understand. thanks


cerpin_taxt

 

No problem, lots of threads on this.. check this out.

 

great articles but i still need plumbing diagrams, and a list of equipment i will need for plumbing. thanks

Cerpin_Taxt

 

Chris Jones left a very nice thread on his Fuge/sump. As a matter of fact, his design is where I started as a design for mine. If you don't want the refugium right away you could scale down what he did, or leave it the same and just run water through for now and add the sand/algae/rock in the fuge later. Here is the link to Chris's thread.

Chris Jones's fuge/sump

I will also be posting my finalized design within the next week or so and I will be happy to leave a parts list that I used as well.

Mike

 

am i going to need to drill my tank???

 

You need to get an overflow box that leads into whatever you want to use for a sump. If you have room try to find a used 20 gallon High tank( call your local fish stores). Then from there you need to buy an acrylic sheet ( or you can use plexi-glass, sometimes not recommended) When you have your tank and heet of acrylic or plexi-glass you need to cut pieces to fit into the 20 gallon tank. When you do that you need to get a return pump (mag 7 worked for me) to bring water back into tank. And also you need to make a return spray bar fpr the water to finally return. So when you get the tank. then I can guide you where to go from there. But Im no expert Im pretty new to the sump thing too.

 

This overflow box works fine for me, you just need to have a aqua lifter pump or a powerhead to attach to it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Acrylic-Overflo...ryZ46310QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

am i going to need a water pump that matches the 600 gph of the overflow box to pump the water back. the overflow box is just a siphon right? it doesnt need a pump in it does it?? im just trying to figure out how much money im going to be spending. let me get this straight.... overflow, pump, some sort of old aquarium (20 gal), acrylic, some pipes, and media for the sump. i think i might actually have it now. thanks everbody

 

i got my sump built, thanks for all the help... will have pictures up soon, hopefully

 

WOW! That was quick! I can't wait to see the pics! ;D

Be sure to put a ball valve on the return pump so you can adjust the flow if need be. Also, be sure to take into account the head pressure, which is how high up you need to push the water. If a pump is rated at 600 gph, if you are pushing it up 4 feet (which most of us do) you will lose gph over that span. Usually the box indicates the flow at varoius feet of head pressure. ;D

Lastly, be sure not to fill the sump to the top. You want to be able to pull the power on the whole system. You will still get flow from the overflow box until the water is level with the bottom of the teeth on the box. You want to be sure your sump can accept all this extra water, or freeboard , without overflowing. You need to check that for sure. Additionally, any return pipes, drill a very small hole just below the water line in the main tank because that will also back siphon. The siphon will stop when air is drawn into that small hole in that event. ;D