Rubbermaid sump

[coryjac0b]

i plan on using a rubbermaid container as a sump for my 90g, what size, gallon wise, would be ideal, and is there a way to make chambers, or would i really need them?

 

[stykthyn]

I have a 30gallon rubbermaid under my 55, if it is just a sump to house equipment there is really no need for chambers

 

[thor32766]

i would buy a small aquarium like 10 or 20 as the ref, then send it to the rubbermaid, which would be the sump. just an idea. would you three chamber a small tank, the sump side is usually small is had to be topped off quiet often. or vice versa, ref is small.

 

[RandyStacyE]

I use Rubbermaid sumps without chambers and it allows more room for evaporation/water level changes in comparison to a sump with chambers.

Chambers do help with skimmer micro bubbles and some handy things like that. Chambers will also surface skim the entire sump except for the chamber that the return pump is plumbed or submerged. If you’re not going to use your sump as a refugium you don’t have to worry about surface scum.

You could create your own chambers by plumbing multiple Rubbermaid sumps together using bulkheads or even DIY bulkheads like shown below. When plumbing multiple Rubbermaid sumps I prefer to do as shown below, but using threaded Unions separating the two.

 

[Vincerama2]

You can also just put buckets, or other shorter rubbermaid containers INTO the main Rubbermaid sump. That is effectively "baffles". For instance, if you put the return pump in a shorter bucket, you can maintain a higher water level outside the bucket.

V

 

[Blutowski]

"You can also just put buckets, or other shorter rubbermaid containers INTO the main Rubbermaid sump. That is effectively "baffles". For instance, if you put the return pump in a shorter bucket, you can maintain a higher water level outside the bucket."

Thats an excellent idea. How would you plum it for maximum effectivness? . Could you encorporate a refuge into it?

 

[r00onmac]

this is something i am definitely looking into as i cannot find a suitable used tank to fit under my stand... right now i have a 30 gal rubbermaid bin under there acting as my sump but i wanted a fuge as well - but didnt want to suck sand into my pump...

if i buy a shorter trash can and superglue it to the bottom of the larger tub, maybe even cut notches to skim the surface... i can create a separate return area for my pump - also allowing me to put in an ATO system with a float switch or float valve - leaving of the larger tub as my refugium... a little ghetto but right up my alley...

only thing i am worried about is the 30 gallon rubbermaid getting stressed from the constant heavy weight of the water, but i am pretty sure it is safe...

 

[mhj1580]

if you are worried abotu the rubbermaid sump just use 2 one inside the other (like they are stacked in the stores) or you could just build a wooden frame that is slides in.

 

[stykthyn]

only thing i am worried about is the 30 gallon rubbermaid getting stressed from the constant heavy weight of the water, but i am pretty sure it is safe...

if you get the rubbermade brand and not a generic knock off you will be fine. I have a 40qt rubbermade under my 55. going on 6 years and it hasnt broken yet.

 

[bad santa]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7901324#post7901324 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by r00onmac

if i buy a shorter trash can and superglue it to the bottom of the larger tub, maybe even cut notches to skim the surface... i can create a separate return area for my pump - also allowing me to put in an ATO system with a float switch or float valve - leaving of the larger tub as my refugium... a little ghetto but right up my alley...

...

This is exactly what I did. I got a small trash can to put my pump for my skimmer and it wroked great. I did cut notches in the trash can to skim the water. I was thinking of setting up another TC to set up a fuge but never got around to it. It looks GETTO, but it functions.

 

[Vincerama2]

Since the containers are pretty cheap, maybe you can stack/nest two containers as the main container? It might take more space, but I'm guessing two containers is stronger than one! Probably less likely to deform as well. I guess it depends on the exact container that you have. Just a thought!

V

 

[Divetime]

My getto sump is out of a couple of cheap Walmart plastic trash cans placed into a rubbermade container. I drilled holes to allow for water flow & act as baffles to reduce the microbubbles from my skimmer. A picture is in my gallery to give an idea of what I did.