making a sump

[chuckh]

i have a 30 gallon glass tank i want to use for a sump under my 90 gallon. i have been to many links here and most show plans for making your own from scratch with acrylic. i just want to add dividers to mine to make the seperate compartments.

how many would i need to add. i see ones for bubbles and the prot. skimmerm and live rock?

Should i put the skimmer in or out of the sump.

im just a little confused as to what all goes in the sump and how many compartments(dividers) it should have.

can i use plexy glass for the dividers as well. lowes or HD dont have acrylic so they say. they always point me to the plexiglass section.

Thanks
Chuck

 

[Avi]

Re: making a sump

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7206721#post7206721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuckh
i just want to add dividers to mine to make the seperate compartments.
how many would i need to add. i see ones for bubbles and the prot. skimmerm and live rock?[/QUOTE

If you pot the skimmer inside the sump, then you'd do well to place baffling that would seperate it from the return-pump. It's be best to use baffling that would stop any micro-bubbles from reaching the return-pump in the seperation.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7206721#post7206721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuckh
Should i put the skimmer in or out of the sump.?[/QUOTE

That would really be up to you...you can do it either way. I personally like it outside the sump. You might also consider plumbing the skimmer pump outside the sump because that would lessen heat transfer into the water in the sump and consequently into the reef itself.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7206721#post7206721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuckh
im just a little confused as to what all goes in the sump and how many compartments(dividers) it should have.[/QUOTE

I'd section off an area into which the overflow return(s) would bring the tank water...then an area for a refugium where you'd grow macro-algae under an appropriate light...then the area for the sump return-pump and have the skimmer and the skimmer pump plumbed outside. That would require two dividers.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7206721#post7206721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by chuckh
can i use plexy glass for the dividers as well. lowes or HD dont have acrylic so they say. they always point me to the plexiglass section.[/QUOTE

Yes, you'd be all right using plexi-glass but make sure they are in there securely, which you can do by using aquarium silicon on both sides at where it meets the aquarium glass.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Here is a current picture of my 30 gal sump (for my 75)

This is what it looked like right after I made it.

If this looks like something you are interested in having, I will gladly go into more detail.

 

[chuckh]

Avi, Thanks for the post. now all i need to do is get my tank and light out of layaway. i got all the gear for the tank prior to getting the tank so i wouldnt rush out and buy all the gear after the tank and break the family bank.

my typhoon 3 shoudl be ariving today says its on the truck for delivery. been home 3 times and its still not there.

 

[Avi]

I'd take Toddrtrex up on his offer. His sump/refugium looks like it's doing great and it's pretty much what I was thinking, though his skimmer's in the sump.

 

[chuckh]

todd thanks for the photos. that looks like my sump tank without the stuff in it yet. i sent ya a PM i hope you dont mind. im just not sure on whats all what in there and why? like where the water comes in and dumb things like that

 

[Toddrtrex]

Thanks AVI, I am pretty happy with it. Had to go use an internal skimmer. At the time space was an issue -- had to build a seperate stand just for the sump (wouldn't fit under the tank) as you can see in this picture, there wasn't an inch to spare b/t the wall and the tank.
(Ignore the towel that is used to block the fuge light at night --- I am working on getting something better for that -- only a year later )

Chuckh --- Got your PM, not a problem what so ever. But if you don't mind, I would like to cut and paste it in this thread. Not that I am an expert, but that way others can learn too.

 

[chuckh]

feel free todd. wasnt sure if that was ok to do or not that is why i sent the PM. didnt want to look to clueless

 

[Toddrtrex]

LOL too funny.

Here is the PM
that is what my sump looks like. well the tank I have for it. im a little lost as to what si what in there. maybe its because i dont have my tank setup yet.

looking at the picture after you first built.

going from right to left.

1) 1st section looks like that is the compartment for the skimmer.
Yes, that is the skimmer section, also the inflow section
2) 2nd section looks like it might be a bubble area(not sure, not even sure what thats does i just see it on all the Diy pages)
Yes, that is the "baffle section" Reduces bubbles from the skimmer
3) 3rd section looks like you have you live rock in there. why is that? is that where the algae grows to?
The live rock is for extra bio-filtration. (and I had extra LR in my main tank I wanted to remove) In addition the macro algae I use attaches to it.
4) 4th section looks like that might be where the water comes into the tank. i cant make out what is in there.
The 4th section is the return section -- gets the water to the pump, and than back to the tank. I used an "over the top" method -- didn't drill the sump. Will explain more later.
once again i could be all wrong which i think i am. please if you could kinda let me know what goes where and why its used that would help alot.

liek why the live rock, why do i need a light under there. that kinda stuff. only need a light if you are growing macro algae

I will post some more pictures to explain better.

 

[chuckh]

k thanks. that clears a little up. as far as what is where. i asume that the dividers are different size as well correct?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I hope some more pictures will help.

This is the skimmer section -- showing the inflow tube.

My main tank isn't drilled either, I am using an overflow box.

If you look at the far right of this picture, you can see 2 of the 3 baffles.
The water from the skimmer section goes over one, under the second, and over the third. I will try and take a better picture tonight.

This picture was taken during the build process, give an idea of how the middle baffle is off the bottom of the sump (only 2 baffles were installed at this point)

Hope that clears it up a bit. But ask any questions you have.
Also if you aren't going to drill the sump (for the return) I have some
pictures of how I did that too.

 

[chuckh]

looks great. pics help alot. no i dont plan on drilling. not great with power tools. im a network admin aka compter geek. LOL

btw did you use acrylic, glass or plexi glass?

 

[Toddrtrex]

I used what ever they sell at Home Depot. Think it was 1/4 inch think.

I will post some pictures of how I did the return part, without drilling the sump, later on tonight. Darn work

 

[Kevinnap]

I had a local glass shop cut 1/4in plate glass for my baffles. Cost was like $3 per baffle and after I siliconed them into place, they are very sturdy.

 

[chuckh]

i will be out and about during work today so i plan on stopping at the glass store and getting a price on them cutting glass

 

[Toddrtrex]

One thing to remember/consider before getting glass cut, it the bottom
of the sump/tank. The tank I used had a beed of silicone along the bottom, I had to cut off the corners of the baffles for it to fit.

Like this:

 

[techreef]

Now THAT'S something that would have required another trip to the hardware store. Thanks Todd. Great pointer. I'm building my 30G sump/refugium now too. This thread is right up my alley.

 

[Toddrtrex]

Glad I could help. Amazing how many smokes and a ton of cursing had to happen before I figured out why they weren't fitting right.

 

[jpeloveseoy]

bump

 

[Avi]

Another thing to remember is to measure the width of the baffles you'll need for the tank that you'll be using. The baffles have to be a little bit narrower than the tank, of course, so they'll fit in and then kept in place with hefty bead of silicon on both sides of the baffle at each place where they meet the tank's sides or bottom. But when you measure, measure at least two heights so in case there's any difference and you have the glass cut, you won't find that it fits on one place but not another. It'll be too late if you're using glass and the tank's uneven and the glass is already cut.