How to make a sump

RyanMcLaughlin

In Memoriam
I have a 100 gallon tank and am using two canister filters. I plan to run these for a while but would like to uprgade to a sump. Unfortunately the online ones look pretty expensive so I thought I could build one. I have a 20 gallon tank I could use. How would I go about it. My tank is not drilled nor does it have overflows. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Sooo many DIY sump ideas can be found on RC with a search. Me, I'm not very handy. I've got a simple 20 gal. plain-vanilla glass aquarium sump with no drilling whatsoever. My overflow leads into it via tubing and a PVC elbow at the bottom to keep it underwater and stop splashing. It's got 2 heaters, a skimmer, a HOB Phosban reactor, pH meter, temp probe, auto-top off, and submersible return pump to the tank via U-tube hooked over the top of the main tank.

I've got some LR and rubble in there but don't have sand because I want to be able to siphon off detritus so I can leave the DSB in the main tank alone.

It's not pretty, but that's why the stand has doors ;) I love the look of those slick acrylic sumps, but there's no way I'd pay for them. I'll be adding a remote fuge when I can, but for now there's cheato and a cheapy light in the sump that's doing just fine.
 
If you are handy with a drill and your tank is not tempered then you can drill the holes in your display yourself. The bits on ebay work great and are cheap.

www.melevsreef.com probably has the best collection of sump designs on the net.
 
<a href="http://s254.photobucket.com/albums/hh81/vance71975/?action=view&current=NewSumpPlan.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh81/vance71975/NewSumpPlan.jpg" border="0" alt="New and improved sump idea"></a>

Something like this?This is what im going to do using rubber maid tubs to lower cost.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11619518#post11619518 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tkeracer619
If you are handy with a drill and your tank is not tempered then you can drill the holes in your display yourself. The bits on ebay work great and are cheap.

www.melevsreef.com probably has the best collection of sump designs on the net.

Wow, nice. Thank you for that link.
 
Back
Top