can i use this for a sump?

Maybe I'm missing something but it looks to me like it would be easy to run your return pump dry if your water level fluctuates too much. You may be better off with the incoming water in the small tub with the skimmer keeping the water level for the skimmer constant and having the return pump in the larger volume of sump water. I was going to suggest something similar...

I used to use a similar tub for a sump with a Berlin Classic skimmer on a Rio 3100 and 3/4" Kent venturi my return pump was a Rio 2500+ at the opposite end and I never had any bubble problems.

Tim
 
Another thing to consider...

I once used 30-gal grey rubbermaid trash cans to store RO water for top off's and water changes. When draining them I noticed a white substance on the inside of the cans, upon further research I found out that they were a lower grade plastic and were more or less decomposing at an accelerated rate due to the water being stored in them. I switched to stock tanks as they are a "food grade" plastic.

Using that for a sump may leach chemicals into your water, somehting to think about....

N
 
oh! good thinkin! so you think i should just have it like this?

IMG_0213.jpg
[/IMG]

so i would just put the incoming water on the left side, in the brown tub, then should i have the skimmer like it is, or have that in the brown tub also? it seems to stand better how it is...

also, would it be better to have the brown one raised a bit? if i did that, then i could have more water in the right side, (higher water level i mean...

thanks
mike
 
I think that's probably fine, I don't know anything about the Coralife skimmers but a lot of skimmers are sensetive to water level which you are eliminating as a factor. You're planning the return pump to the right side of the skimmer, and the overflow water into the brown tub this way right?
As far as raising the brown tub up, usually more volume is better....:cool:

Tim
 
ya thats what i was plannin on doing for the order of it...and what would i do to raise it??? If i raised it, then i could get the water in the blue part higher=more water, like you said...maybe i'll go to walmart and just look for a larger/taller tub to replace the brown one.

thanks
mike
 
dudeguy I am also trying to build a new sump with refugum, I am still a little confused. So the water will come from the display tank into the brown container were you could have refugum an live rock and then the water would over flow into the larger blue container and then be pumped from there back into main display tank.
 
yeah pretty much, only i wont have enough room for a refuge in there...i'll have the skimmer sitting in the blue part, but the pump for it, and the return for it will be hanging over into the brown tub...then i'm just gonna cram as much live rock in there as i can so that it helps filter for one, and so that it will hopefully take away any/most bubbles that are left....so far i've spent about...5 bucks lol...just a tube of silicone from walmart and 2 packs of bolts..i'll post another pic later..i've pretty much finished now.
 
simple sump

simple sump

Thanks im going to start one right now for my new setup. I will post some pics of mine when Im through.
 
are you doing it the same as i am? i cant suggest my design really yet lol..i dont know how it will work.

i'll try posting pics in a little bit...i'm trying to figure out my lighting right now lol so i got a little caught up in that and forgot about the picture.
 
IMG_0326.jpg
[/IMG]

heres it finished...nothin much..but i'll see if it works.

all i did was put 4 bolts in thru the bottom...they go thru the blue one and up into the brown one as you can see..then i just put a TON of silicone on top of the bolts and every hole that i drilled...just to be sure :)
 
FWIW... I think you're asking for disaster with the holes in the bottom.:eek2: :eek1: :eek2:
 
they're completely siliconed off...i siliconed on bottom of blue one, on the inside of blue one around the holes, then on the bottom of the brown one, then the inside of brown one (all around the holes) and then once i got all the bolts in, i completely siliconed over the bolts and everything...there's nowhere water can come out.
 
wow thats a great idea! lol. i've even got one of those....i'm gonna do that lol. only i'd never put bioballs in ther...i'd just fill that thing up w/rock! i've really gotten into the diy stuff lately, so i'm gonna try that one out too. is there any way that you could get rid of bubbles w/that thing tho? from the skimmer i mean...could you just rig it so the skimmer return water is going into the second drawer maybe?

thanks for the link
mike
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7846066#post7846066 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sir_dudeguy
they're completely siliconed off...i siliconed on bottom of blue one, on the inside of blue one around the holes, then on the bottom of the brown one, then the inside of brown one (all around the holes) and then once i got all the bolts in, i completely siliconed over the bolts and everything...there's nowhere water can come out.
Click to expand...


The plastic is too flexible and the silicone doesn't seal well to plastic...

I don't mean to be pessimistic but you better have a big catch pan under it...:eek2: :eek1: :eek2:

Tim
 
just buy the 29g tank....or something smaller. a 20l would be same length and width, just shorter. you dont need a lot of depth for a sump.

This thread is making my head hurt....
 
I would also agree spend the 50 bucks and make out of the 29g tank you said you can get you can make the triple baffles for the micro bubbles and all
 
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