hey guys I am new to the saltwater world and set-up my 75 gallon tank using a Fluval 406 Canister filter... I know, I know I read some of the threads saying this would be a lot of work(weekly cleanings) to keep nitrates down. I am willing to do the work since I like to be hands on with my freshwater setup I currently run... but I was thinking of making my own sump, and buy an overflow but I am very limited in size under my stand. I mocked up a 20 gallon tank using cardboard and cannot get it in the stand. Has anyone ever done a sump using two 10 gallon tanks and if so how did they do it lol. I have a 12 gallon acrylic Eclipse tank that I do not use and can probably drill it for plumbing then use a 10 gallon tank for that to run into. DOES THIS EVEN SOUND REASONABLE... otherwise I will just have to do the cleaning of the canister. I would assume my chemi-pure would still be good just have to rinse all the feces and any uneaten food off the first and second stage of the filter. Does this sound right ? Sorry for the long post but any help would be appreciated...
DIY sump with two tanks????????
- Thread starter edhaze
- Start date
vastdavidson
New member
You could. Drill each tank on the side and put a large pipe between. The problem is drilling a 10 gallon is the glass is thin. You could do it with a single 10 gallon... Another option is to build a tank yourself and do the size and height to fit.
that's what I was thinking, if I drilled it would be the bigger acrylic tank and run pvc piping to distribute the water into the 10 gallon and back to the tank.. do you think I could get away with just the canister for now being it is a fowlr tank and when I try reef in the future switch to the sump...
jr_83
New member
You could do the canister right now if you needed/wanted to. I think you would be more satisfied with the sump. I built a sump for my 55g and will probably do the same for my 250. I am in no way a "DIY" guy but it worked out nicely. I would probably drill the two tanks. Watch some YouTube videos it seems pretty simple. A couple questions though.
Have researched a 20L tank? Not as wide or tall. That's what I put under my 55g.
You're probably gonna do a hang skimmer so the only things in your sump are the input, heater, and return pump and even the pump and heater don't have to be in there. If the water level was enough in one of them you could hang the skimmer off of it. Lots of options for you.
However though, I did fish only tanks for years using canisters without a problem. I like the sump better, for what's it worth.
Have researched a 20L tank? Not as wide or tall. That's what I put under my 55g.
You're probably gonna do a hang skimmer so the only things in your sump are the input, heater, and return pump and even the pump and heater don't have to be in there. If the water level was enough in one of them you could hang the skimmer off of it. Lots of options for you.
However though, I did fish only tanks for years using canisters without a problem. I like the sump better, for what's it worth.
yes I used the dimensions of a 20 long when I mocked it up I though for sure it would fit but unfortunately there are three cabinets on the stand and cant squeeze it in. If I would of thought of this before (lol hindsight is 20/20) I would of removed the backing of the stand before I filled the tank and put it in from behind. So I guess ill try the canister for a while since I just bought it and in the future I will pump the water out into a drum and slide it in from behind if I fell my water quality is suffering or switching to a reef tank... any recommendations of canister maintenance in the mean time.... I have the 406 and it has a section of the new bio foam which on the web site claims to help remove nitrates so I guess I will se shortly lol...
philosophile
New member
just a little outside the box thinking here.... but do you NEED to have your sump under the tank, or can you just place it beside your tank? maybe even turn your sump into a refugium for added viewing interest.
jr_83
New member
Yeah the refugium idea above is sweet.
As far as maintaining the canister, it will. Take some observation. I'm not sure how many gallons its rated for but I don't know if it will be enough. You always wanna go +1 from what you have (ie, it's a 75g tank so you want a filter rated for like 125-150 or so).
What you might wanna do is set the canister up, and instead of return it into the tank, return it into a 10g. Then run a return pump from the 10 into the tank. In the 10 you can have a bunch or live rock/ruble. Then just buy a nice return pump off CL, eBay, etc. they aren't expensive.
Then you essentially have your mechanical and biological filtration knocked out. That's probably what I would do if I had limited space. Then you could also add your heater to that 10, for a cleaner look in your DT.
As far as maintaining the canister, it will. Take some observation. I'm not sure how many gallons its rated for but I don't know if it will be enough. You always wanna go +1 from what you have (ie, it's a 75g tank so you want a filter rated for like 125-150 or so).
What you might wanna do is set the canister up, and instead of return it into the tank, return it into a 10g. Then run a return pump from the 10 into the tank. In the 10 you can have a bunch or live rock/ruble. Then just buy a nice return pump off CL, eBay, etc. they aren't expensive.
Then you essentially have your mechanical and biological filtration knocked out. That's probably what I would do if I had limited space. Then you could also add your heater to that 10, for a cleaner look in your DT.
Thanks for all the input i really appreciate it. I wish I could put it on the side but I have two small children who seem to get into everything and I have two freshwater setups in addition to the new saltwater and my wifes patients is running thin lol I love the idea of returning the water to the ten gallon then back to the tank then I wouldn't need an over flow hanging on the back. Does anyone out there think this is good or suggestions on how to do it .
jr_83
New member
I think the only problem/concern is that the canister itself will "breed" nitrates. You can offset those with some good amount of rock in the tank and in the 10g. I say do it. I would love to see the pics as you go.
I would go with a Mag-Drive pump. They have em on drs. Foster & smith for a good price. Probably the 950 model.
I would go with a Mag-Drive pump. They have em on drs. Foster & smith for a good price. Probably the 950 model.
the problem with having the canister go the sump is that you would need to exactly match the flow of the canister to the return or be precise if not your going to never have a silent system or a potential system that can overflow. That would be what would scare me. What size space are you working with. A simple solution would be to put one higher than the other drill it and have it drain to the 2nd 10 gallon below it and then have the 2nd 10 gallon as the return portion and allow it to the return to your tank. May take some planning but its effective easy and allows you to maximize the space. I can help you mock it up if you want. may even be able to fit a non HOB skimmer if done correctly.
cheezischrist
New member
I have 2 sumps under my 125, a 30 tall drilled and up on a 2" stand and gravity feeding into a 30 long. The tall tank is my fuge, and long is my return n skimmer.
cheezischrist
New member
it wouldnt be hard, just involve flow valves and ball valves and constant monitoring. why not have the canister draw from where the tank water emptys into the sump and return to the return pump section though.
Your asking to match flow from one pump drawing the water to another pump returning the water. It involves two different head heights and two pumps at two different flows. Even if the pumps matched flow rates you would have to adjust for head height and gravity and friction. Lots of factors. Also ball valves arent that accurate at adjusting for flow. Gate valves are much more accurate. However as soon as algae or coraline builds in the pipes you are adjusting the rates again because those adjust the flows. Its doable however it would require constant adjusting and a lot of time.
If drilling is out of the questioni would agree with FlyPenFly and use one 10 gallon tank and making it a small sump
Hey guys thanks for all the input lots to think about, do you think a 10 gallon is even worth bothering with on a 75 gallon. Maybe ill do it if the canister proves too much of a pain. One more question for you guys I want to buy a skimmer but again cabinet height is only 15 inches high and the hang on the back ones are to wide considering how close the tank is to the wall. Hydor makes one that goes in the tank but is only rated to 65 gallons do you think I will have a problem using it since the actual volume of water is less than 75 gallons with the rock in there. I am thinking that anything would be better that nothing and It would pull the majority of crap out anyway. What do you think.
accordsirh22
New member
just leave the canister. worry about the sump when you upgrade. because you will end up wanting to upgrade and change up all the mistakes you make the first go round lol and fwiw, i hardly ever clean my canister on my reef tank *shrug. and my nitrates are always pretty low and everything is doing great. it is soon to be a thing of the past though, my 125 will be comin in any day now once the stand is built
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