I need the opinion of the group here if possible. I have a 37 Tall Gallon reef and am currently using a canister filter. I am not happy with it at all. Even though things are going well. I think they could be much better. So I am trying to DIY a sump. The issue is I have a tall tank and my base it sits on is a vertical base. I have 17 x 19 x 20" tall to work with. So I'm think of cutting the top off a 5gallon water bottle and turning it into a sump. Please take a look at the drawing and let me know if you think it would work of if I would be wasting my time.
Vertical 5 Gallon Sump opinions please
- Thread starter keith10
- Start date
billdogg
Well-known member
That should work but I would be careful about the amount of flex in the water bottle once you cut it. The reality is that a "sump" can be any container that will hold an extra volume of water. I would set it up so that you can easily get to the return pump for maintenance.
nereefpat
New member
Just my opinion here...
I don't see the point in having a sump if it's that small. It won't add much water volume, and it can't hold any equipment besides a submersible return pump. I would go sumpless or figure out a way to at least get a 10 gal sump under there.
Edit: look into a Rubbermaid that would fit in the 17 x 19 footprint.
I don't see the point in having a sump if it's that small. It won't add much water volume, and it can't hold any equipment besides a submersible return pump. I would go sumpless or figure out a way to at least get a 10 gal sump under there.
Edit: look into a Rubbermaid that would fit in the 17 x 19 footprint.
nereefpat
New member
You can go sumpless without much equipment.
I ran a 90gal lps reef for 7 years with a crappy coralife hang-on-tank skimmer and some modified maxijet powerheads.
Now, running with a sump is much better, for many reasons. I would look into getting a tank that is a little oddly shaped that you can use as a sump, and that you can fit at least fit a skimmer and heater inside. Maybe check out glass cages or something similar.
If you can't find a tank that is at least 10-15 gallons, look into a plastic one. Take a walk through Container Store.
Surely someone on here has some better ideas than a culligan jug, I would guess.
I ran a 90gal lps reef for 7 years with a crappy coralife hang-on-tank skimmer and some modified maxijet powerheads.
Now, running with a sump is much better, for many reasons. I would look into getting a tank that is a little oddly shaped that you can use as a sump, and that you can fit at least fit a skimmer and heater inside. Maybe check out glass cages or something similar.
If you can't find a tank that is at least 10-15 gallons, look into a plastic one. Take a walk through Container Store.
Surely someone on here has some better ideas than a culligan jug, I would guess.
FamilyTank
New member
There are plenty of trash bins or plastic storage bins out there to suit your size needs. I'd run a sump just just to get the mechanicals outta sight.
