Getting my sump going!

[Jmnazari]

I've been wanting to get my sump/fuge going to several months now. I have a 46 bow and a 20 gal tall sump. The DT isn't drilled and I don't feel like buying a overflow box thing etc....So I have a siphon from my DT to the sump/fuge and a pump with a "snorkel" for the return. I can't really think of a way it could overflow. My only problem is getting the valves just right hahahaha. I don't have any fancy baffles or a skimmer in the sump (I do have a HOB on the DT,) I plan on using the sump as refugium of sorts; grow macros and extra filtration etc. Any thoughts, comments, reminders, tips and hints? Thanks, Justin.

 

[brettinteriors]

it's easy and cheap to have sea come out and drill your tank. Totally worth it, at some point te siphon will break. Coming from personal and friends experience Even with a aqua lifter to maintain a siphon malfunctions will happen. I felt it was like a ticking time bomb, and it was. It can overflow from the sump pump pumping water into your tank and the siphon on the return breaking. With a hob baffles are not a necessity. I recommend a mesh style filter sock as opposed to the thick clog in a day felt ones.

I've been wanting to get my sump/fuge going to several months now. I have a 46 bow and a 20 gal tall sump. The DT isn't drilled and I don't feel like buying a overflow box thing etc....So I have a siphon from my DT to the sump/fuge and a pump with a "snorkel" for the return. I can't really think of a way it could overflow. My only problem is getting the valves just right hahahaha. I don't have any fancy baffles or a skimmer in the sump (I do have a HOB on the DT,) I plan on using the sump as refugium of sorts; grow macros and extra filtration etc. Any thoughts, comments, reminders, tips and hints? Thanks, Justin.

 

[victornator333]

Here are my suggestions...

Not sure that I understand the description your setup, but I personally recommend drilling or getting a professional overflow/siphon. You would be VERY surprised at all the things that could go wrong when u add a sump into your tank. The last thing u want is a malfunction and saltwater all over the place(speaking from experience).

Baffles arent that hard to install and is quite cheap you want to DIY, but I like them because they offer flexibility in the sump. If you want to use it primarily as a fuge, i think baffles to separate the return from the rest of it would be nice because it would help prevent a possible clog of the pump.

Lots of people like to use a DSB in their fuge(again baffles are required here I think) because they provide that biodiversity everyone loves.

Im sure everyone else has some more input, but thats what I can think of now.

 

[Jmnazari]

Yeah, I for sure want it drilled, but I just had an itch to see the sump going LOL. I agree about the ticking time bomb part, it's all pretty scary! Thanks for the tip about the filter sock!

 

[Jmnazari]

I like the idea of baffles, but I'd also like to keep my 20g tall as a fuge to grow macro algae, and I don't know if I can get baffles tall enough. I do understand the clogging issue though. DSBs and the possibility of toxic sludge is a risk i'm not willing to take hahahahaha! For my setup, I have a tube that sits only about an inch into my DT's water, which is then naturally siphoned via gravity into the sump. I then have the return pump sucking water from 1 inch below the waterline in the sump. So that way, if I lose power or suction, there is only 1 inch of water loss or gain in the DT or sump, which hopefully wont cause an overflow.

 

[brettinteriors]

I forgot to mention a flapper style(no spring) check valve on the return line. They won't have them at ace/depot.

 

[victornator333]

you can get glass cut at lowes. they wont charge you any extra for cutting it. Let me know if u decide to do it and have some questions putting it together or need some help. Ill be happy to try and see what i can do

 

[Newsalth2o]

Look at www.beananimal.com I built that overflow into my 125 and I love it super silent and easy to set-up/maintain. You need a good amount of surge space in your sump though. I have built a few sumps with acrylic and silicone found that 3/16 acrylic in glass works well used GE silicone 1 clear. And don't be stingy with it. Don't be afraid to experiment with sump layout. I use the felt socks in my sump they last about a week then I just wash them in the washing machine no soap. I do bleach them in a bucket when I take them out and find that gets them clean enough. I have four sets of socks so they get to soak for a while in the water/bleach. So the washing machine trip is like two rinse cycles instead of a wash and rinse. Be patient you'll find a design you like. Buy a used tank off CL for your first few designs that way you're out like $40 for supplies and can do several designs 'til you find what you like.

+1 or Brett's valve