Building my very first sump...what do I need?

[taylortot]

So I'm going to be purchasing / building a refugium sump for my 60 gal aquarium.
My most basic question ever is...what do I need?

I was looking at buying a kit like this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/REFUGIUM-KI...in-skimmer-sump-aquarium-filter-/191230874999 either a 10 gal or a 20 gal.

It comes with the dividers for each section and all that.
For my return pump section...what do I need exactly? I've seen a lot of people have their tanks customized to have a hole in the side for the return pump, but I am not going to be able to do that for my tank. So what kind of overflow box and such do I need??

Can someone just take me through the basics of a sump. I understand that it's basically a second tank that is going to filtrate my water and pump back the good water into my display tank. But what do I need for each section for a 60 gal FOWLR tank?

Sorry I sound so clueless. I really think this'll benefit my tank, plus I'm not a big fan of all my filters and heaters and such hanging behind my tank, not a pleasant appearance.


Oh and while I'm at it, I need to get a protein skimmer still. Should I get a hang on back one or once I get a sump can I get a submersible one? What is the best one I should get for a 60?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

I highly suggest that you take this thread to the DIY forum. Lots of different designs already in threads there. There are many people that have built their sumps that will be more than willing to help you with your design and build.

 

[gone fishin]

It really all depends on what you want to do with it. Mine is for equipment.

In a nutshell the first section has the DT drains, refugium drain,skimmer and pump to carbon reactor. Middle section has pump to display refugium and carbon reactor return. Last section has return pump suction to DT, heaters, ATO and dosing pump lines.

I agree with Dkuhlmann there many threads and pics in the DIY forum.

 

[CuzzA]

I would not buy that. Generally speaking mixing glass and acrylic will eventually fail. If you can fit a 20 gallon, go with that. Bigger is always better.

I suggest getting a 20 gallon long at Petco, preferably during a $1 per gallon sale ($20). Have a local glass shop cut you 3 baffles of equal size (~$30). The water should flow over the first one, under the second and over the third. I like to put the third one on a slight angle to avoid a waterfall effect that may introduce microbubbles. It would be wise to purchase your skimmer, return pump, ancillary pump, filter socks and heater first. This way you can ensure everything will fit properly before you silicone the baffles. Get a piece of 1/2" PVC pipe to hold your filter sock. Make sure the sock you buy has a fabric handle.

Personally, I like a simple set up as follows.

Overflow pipe into 7" sock with the pipe terminating 1" below the water level. Sock is held up by the PVC resting across the short side rim of the tank. In this first section you have the sock, skimmer (Lots of options Eshopps S120 would work well), heater (Eheim Jäger) and ancillary pump (Cheap pumps at Harbor Freight work great ~$10-30). Size this ancillary pump for future accommodations with a simple DIY manifold for things like GAC and GFO reactors (I like Spectrpure's dual reactor better than BRS because the feed lines are separate), UV sterilizer (Some people use them, some don't. I do. Emperor Aquatics 25 watt) and maybe even a third tube with a ball valve to remove water for water changes. Then you have your 3 baffle bubble trap and finally your return pump (Eheim 1260). Make sure you also have enough room in your return section to accommodate a float valve for your ATO like the one offered by Eshopps.

This is a very simple proven Berlin style sump and will work great. For a 20 gallon sump on a 60 gallon tank I would skip the idea of a refugium. You simply won't have enough room to create anything that will be remotely effective for you tank.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

 

[Xxero]

Sump Basics:

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

Typical Overflow Boxes:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=18358

You could probably get away with a PF-300 model on a 60g.

Definitely go in sump with your protein skimmer if you have the option. Makes for less H.O.B. clutter. :bigeyes:

 

[taylortot]

I would not buy that. Generally speaking mixing glass and acrylic will eventually fail. If you can fit a 20 gallon, go with that. Bigger is always better.

I suggest getting a 20 gallon long at Petco, preferably during a $1 per gallon sale ($20). Have a local glass shop cut you 3 baffles of equal size (~$30). The water should flow over the first one, under the second and over the third. I like to put the third one on a slight angle to avoid a waterfall effect that may introduce microbubbles. It would be wise to purchase your skimmer, return pump, ancillary pump, filter socks and heater first. This way you can ensure everything will fit properly before you silicone the baffles. Get a piece of 1/2" PVC pipe to hold your filter sock. Make sure the sock you buy has a fabric handle.

Personally, I like a simple set up as follows.

Overflow pipe into 7" sock with the pipe terminating 1" below the water level. Sock is held up by the PVC resting across the short side rim of the tank. In this first section you have the sock, skimmer (Lots of options Eshopps S120 would work well), heater (Eheim Jäger) and ancillary pump (Cheap pumps at Harbor Freight work great ~$10-30). Size this ancillary pump for future accommodations with a simple DIY manifold for things like GAC and GFO reactors (I like Spectrpure's dual reactor better than BRS because the feed lines are separate), UV sterilizer (Some people use them, some don't. I do. Emperor Aquatics 25 watt) and maybe even a third tube with a ball valve to remove water for water changes. Then you have your 3 baffle bubble trap and finally your return pump (Eheim 1260). Make sure you also have enough room in your return section to accommodate a float valve for your ATO like the one offered by Eshopps.

This is a very simple proven Berlin style sump and will work great. For a 20 gallon sump on a 60 gallon tank I would skip the idea of a refugium. You simply won't have enough room to create anything that will be remotely effective for you tank.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

thank you so much! helps a lot. I thought a 10g was small anyways for a sump but just wanted to make sure. I work at petco actually, so once the dollar per gallon sale starts I'll also get an additional 30% off of it so I'll probably wait till then to do this.
thank you for all the tips! I'll look at the berlin style instead of a refugium

 

[CuzzA]

My pleasure. Good luck.