sump design and build
- Thread starter EWC88
- Start date
Mariner
New member
Here's a link to some really good info.
I'm building one myself over the next couple of days. I've got a 15g allglass aquarium that I'm using to make the sump. I'm having three glass panels cut to use as baffles...will attach them with silicone... Voila! A Sump!
Mariner
I'm building one myself over the next couple of days. I've got a 15g allglass aquarium that I'm using to make the sump. I'm having three glass panels cut to use as baffles...will attach them with silicone... Voila! A Sump!
Mariner
EWC88
New member
Yes I will be researching alot on how to build a sump, I'm actaully looking up information now as I speak, I was just wondering if people on here were able to tell me what size tank I should use for a 37g fish tank. Also I was asking how to build. Basicually showing me set by step on how to build it. Were what goes and all.
lvpd186
Reefing in NE
If you go to the link that Mariner provided there is a ton of good information, even some info on building your own. As for what size it kind of depends on what kind of room you have and what you want to accomplish with it (ie just a place to put equipment, refug, or a combo of the two). The easiest way to build a sump is to just use a regular fish tank, size limited to what your have room for, and add baffles to it. The one I put together was made from a 40gal breeder tank. The baffles can be either acrylic or glass, you should be able to get either from a hardware store. The baffles can be used to section off your sump, giving you areas of the sump that will have a constant water level (like for a skimmer), or used to trap bubbles. Go to melevsreef and browse around, I think you'll find what you are looking for. 
Driftwood
New member
The overflow is usually quite loud. Like a mini waterfall. There are a few things you can do to silence them some though.
You should make your sump as large as you can. The biggest tank that will fit under the stand is a common answer.
Here is a simple design that doesn't need many baffles and works really well. I have used this design to build 10, 30, and 75 gallon sumps.
The height of the 3rd and 5th baffles is going to depend on the amount of water you calculate your tank will siphon back into the sump when power goes out. You want to make sure you have enough room. Gallons = 231 sq inches. Sq inches = depth x width x height. Figure out how much water will drain back in from measuring the depth between the surface of the water and your siphon break holes. Then use width and length from your tank dimensions. You can figure out the amount of gallons in certain chambers this same way.
The first chamber I call a crash chamber since that is where your water crashes down into the sump. I always put a skimmer here. The height of your first baffle is determined by the water height required by your skimmer.
The size of your last chamber or return chamber is going to determine how often you top-off with fresh water. Most systems evaporate 1-3 gallons a day. This is going to depend on temp and humidity in the tank area. If you have a small return you will be topping it off often.
Good luck!
You should make your sump as large as you can. The biggest tank that will fit under the stand is a common answer.
Here is a simple design that doesn't need many baffles and works really well. I have used this design to build 10, 30, and 75 gallon sumps.
The height of the 3rd and 5th baffles is going to depend on the amount of water you calculate your tank will siphon back into the sump when power goes out. You want to make sure you have enough room. Gallons = 231 sq inches. Sq inches = depth x width x height. Figure out how much water will drain back in from measuring the depth between the surface of the water and your siphon break holes. Then use width and length from your tank dimensions. You can figure out the amount of gallons in certain chambers this same way.
The first chamber I call a crash chamber since that is where your water crashes down into the sump. I always put a skimmer here. The height of your first baffle is determined by the water height required by your skimmer.
The size of your last chamber or return chamber is going to determine how often you top-off with fresh water. Most systems evaporate 1-3 gallons a day. This is going to depend on temp and humidity in the tank area. If you have a small return you will be topping it off often.
Good luck!
Tigger240
New member
http://melevsreef.com/. this is the one stop shop for all things sump, and gives you detialed building information.....
there are many glass / acrylic build threads, and not to sound mean or anything but searching would provide you with the correct methods of building (or going through melevs site). granted it may take a while but 3 months on this site and you tend to see a pattern in the questions asked, and no one tends to try and find things out for themselfs.
happy hunting, and usually the bigger the sump / refugium the better. well a sump itself doesnt have to be that big, but refugiums, i tend to make as large as i can fit in the space requirements.
two things should come to mind on *how big* a sump should be. what can fit underneath your stand, and what can fit through the stand doors.
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
Ok...I'm taggin along here cause I'm about to do a sump myself...I just want someone to verify my math...
Using a 30g tank as a sump...also using the above diagram for baffle placement...I believe the tank dimensions are 30" x 12 x 19.5...or something like that...but using those dimensions...
1st, 3rd and 5th baffles all 14" tall...from side to first baffle 8"...from 3rd baffle to 4th baffle 11"...and 5th baffle to side 8"...notice I did not include space between baffles...I'm leaving this out of calculation for any negligible math errors...
Using a 75g tank as the show tank...dimensions roughly 48" x 18 x 19.5...I'm figuring a 2" (max) drop in tank water...probably more like 1" but like I said, account for possible math errors...
Anyway, I figure I'll have about 7.5g drain from the show tank...these calculations, if I did them right, account for about 7.66g space in the sump...
Anyone see any errors with my math?
Using a 30g tank as a sump...also using the above diagram for baffle placement...I believe the tank dimensions are 30" x 12 x 19.5...or something like that...but using those dimensions...
1st, 3rd and 5th baffles all 14" tall...from side to first baffle 8"...from 3rd baffle to 4th baffle 11"...and 5th baffle to side 8"...notice I did not include space between baffles...I'm leaving this out of calculation for any negligible math errors...
Using a 75g tank as the show tank...dimensions roughly 48" x 18 x 19.5...I'm figuring a 2" (max) drop in tank water...probably more like 1" but like I said, account for possible math errors...
Anyway, I figure I'll have about 7.5g drain from the show tank...these calculations, if I did them right, account for about 7.66g space in the sump...
Anyone see any errors with my math?
Hopeful,
Don't forget to add in any water in the drain & return pipes. Probably won't be a lot, but that could make a difference if you flood or not.
Also, what depth of water will your skimmer work in? May have to
raise it or change baffle height.
How is everything coming. I am slowly working on my 75g as well.
Chris
Don't forget to add in any water in the drain & return pipes. Probably won't be a lot, but that could make a difference if you flood or not.
Also, what depth of water will your skimmer work in? May have to
raise it or change baffle height.
How is everything coming. I am slowly working on my 75g as well.
Chris
Hopeful Reefer
Premium Member
The way I'm designing my stand, it will be water-tight inside the sump compartment...I will also have a water alarm so if any water gets out of my sump (in a large enough quantity) the alarm will sound...the stand will hold approximately 5g of water, so if I'm off slightly on my calculations I am not worried in the least because the stand should catch it...
As for the 75g...slowly, very slowly...I have started amassing some of the equipment...mainly through donations from local reefers...I have ordered 50lbs of lace rock to seed the tank (I know, this is debateable but I've already corresponded with Randy Holmes-Farley and he instructed me how to handle it so that it works well
)...just waiting for it to come in...and, I'm getting a small kit to do a 10g tank hopefully in the mail tomorrow...this will be my elevated refugium...figure I'll start that now and have it cycled so that when my system is ready I can just add it in and viola...Ok...sorry, thread hijack mode turned off... :lol:
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