DIY Sump

[sailfintang]

Hello reefers,

Anyone have any archive links to some good DIY sump builds. I am moving my tank soon and would like to rebuild the sump.

I am using a 20 gallon long for the sump under a 72 Bow. Any ideas links photos would be great. Trying to decide what I want to put inthere or leave open for future adjusments or upgrades with the sump so I do not have to build another one.

Some ideas I already have:

refugium
bubble trap
possibly drilled for skimmer and return
DSB

Thanks for the assistance.

 

[MSU Fan]

www.melevsreef.com is pretty good.

 

[sailfintang]

Thanks

 

[Orangetruck94]

Re: DIY Sump

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13408189#post13408189 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
Hello reefers,

Anyone have any archive links to some good DIY sump builds. I am moving my tank soon and would like to rebuild the sump.

I am using a 20 gallon long for the sump under a 72 Bow. Any ideas links photos would be great. Trying to decide what I want to put inthere or leave open for future adjusments or upgrades with the sump so I do not have to build another one.

Some ideas I already have:

refugium
bubble trap
possibly drilled for skimmer and return
DSB

Thanks for the assistance.

I have the same question Sailfintang!
I have a 40 gal tank and would like to have a 20 gal sump.

I bought a 20 gal tank(tall tank)(dem Wx13Hx20Lx48) and would like some info on the dem for the chambers.

I am not stealing the thread... PROMISE!

Thanks Gang!!!

 

[marioensf]

I made mine out of a 36" long but you can see the design, the middle chamber is for the return pump; the left was for a fuge, slow flow; and the right for the skimmer

 

[marioensf]

Here's another one from the back, you can see the return pump section and the L shaped fuge area

 

[bugbdon]

i'm in the same boat....i'm putting together a 72 bowfront..... could you post what you end up doing?
thanks

 

[sailfintang]

I will definatly post my results, If I can I will try and get a shot of my current sump set up and what I plan to do after. Its tough to fit a nice size sump uner the bow fronts. I hope the extra 6 inches with the 20long will make a difference for me. Thanks for all the photos and links keep em coming.

 

[marioensf]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13414461#post13414461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
I will definatly post my results, If I can I will try and get a shot of my current sump set up and what I plan to do after. Its tough to fit a nice size sump uner the bow fronts. I hope the extra 6 inches with the 20long will make a difference for me. Thanks for all the photos and links keep em coming.

Tell me about that BF 46 Gallon...
But I think a 36" long one will fit under that stand

 

[jayco5]

I just put some acrylic baffles in a 30 gal glass aquarium. Very quick, easy, and effective. Nothing drilled, nothing fancy. Just dropped in a mag 9 in the return side, put some lights over top of the middle/fuge section, and put a hang-on skimmer on the side.

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13414902#post13414902 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marioensf
Tell me about that BF 46 Gallon...
But I think a 36" long one will fit under that stand

wow thats pretty big i dont think I could get a 36 in my stand because of the curve in the stand. I guess if you built your own stand you could get pretty much what ever in there, but I am trying to go with the stand I have now.

 

[firebirdude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13412798#post13412798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marioensf
Here's another one from the back, you can see the return pump section and the L shaped fuge area

I have thought about something very similar to the L-shaped you have there. But first problem I see is that evaporation will play hell in there. Your return pump will run dry. My solution I'm going to use..... install gutter guard screen instead of an actual solid divider. The divider is just there to keep solids out of the pump. The screen will prevent cheato, live rock, or whatever you have there from getting in the pump, but allow that entire area after the bubble trap to be used for evaporation. That entire area would have to be bone dry before the pump would be dry.

How do you install the screen into the sump? And have it not be permanent in case it needs easy cleaning/replacing? Get this. You know those cheap school report covers? The ones with the clear plastic front page and the plastic pressure-clip spine to hold the pages? There like .50 cents. Silicone the spine to the side of the tank and you can then easily side the screen in and out!

EDIT: If you're using sand, maybe a solid/screen hybrid wall would be better? Not nearly as hard as it may sound.

 

[sailfintang]

So I have begun my sump construction on a 20 Long replacing my 20 Tall. All I have done at this time is start cutting the baffles for the bubble trap and refugium sections. I plane to use a rotozip to add the teeth for the baffles near the refugium. I will post some pics late after class if I have time. ALthough I need to figure out how to build in the pumps and skimmer output into the sump. I havent decided if I want to drill the sump and add the bulkheads or jus leave the pumps in baffle sections. Getting alot of good ideads from melevs site and all his sump variations. Hope mine comes out just as functional.

 

[sailfintang]

sorry to wait do long been busy packing for the move but finally finsihed constructing the 20L sumo to replace my 20 H. here are the images of the new sump sorry no images of old sump till I make the swap.

Top Full View:
-Starting at the left, drain, skimmer return compartment, triple baffle system (over, under, over through teeth), fuge area, over teeth baffle, return.

Triple Baffle Top View:
-From bottom to top over, under, through teeth into fuge

 

[sailfintang]

Side_View_Full:
- from left, drain skimmer compartment, baffle system, fuge area, toothed baffle, return area.

Toothed baffle:
- Not the best cuts but will keep the snails in the fuge and out of the return pump.

Top View Triple Baffle 2
- Another view of the baffle system, you get tit by now.

 

[firebirdude]

Exactly like mine is/will be once complete. I have different ideas for baffles though.

Not using the 3 baffle bubble trap. Just one over baffle with teeth. Bubbles should dissipate easily once they're in the fuge. They're not making it through a ball of cheato.

And next, the problem I see with your last baffle is evaporation. Any evaporation that takes place will show in the return section. You loose 3 gallons to evaporation and that section will be dry. Possibly ruining your pump. I'm using a wall of gutter guard vice a solid baffle. Keeps solids from entering the return pump, while allowing both fuge and return areas to buffer for evaporation.

 

[sailfintang]

Yes I have taken the evaporation into account I figure with my drip system and Skimmer input should be sufficient enough to keep the water level where it needs to be. I contemplated the egg crate for a long time but the thought if sand getting to the pump seemed much more probable then with a baffle. I pretty much opted for meleves model f design but with the fuge and return section switched. We will see how it pays off after the move, I plan to reaquascape as well moving is awesom for the rebuild of your tank but a stressful thiing when transporting your livestock to holding.

 

[luv4paws2]

It looks like you silicone like I do

 

[firebirdude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13540123#post13540123 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sailfintang
Skimmer input

And I don't plan on putting sand in my fuge. Debating a bit of live rock, but leaning towards just the cheato.

 

[sailfintang]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13540156#post13540156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by luv4paws2
It looks like you silicone like I do

I like to have more than enough and ensure there is no reppair or leaks I need to patch. Plus getting in those tight area is tough. LOL