Thinking about getting a Sump

[Chris86]

Looking for some ideas on DIY things i can do so i can add a sump to my 36bowfront. I would like to drill but dont want to take the chance of it breaking the glass. How safe are the HOB overflows? How often should i clean the HOB so i dont have to worry about it breaking the siphon. I am also not sure on how to make the sump. Is there any DIY plans to make one or would using a rubbermaid container work? Or should i buy the sumps that my LFS sells for $200. I have the Corallife supper skimmer 65gallon i would like to make in sump so i dont have to worry when it goes crazy about flooding my floor again.

Thank You
Chris

[tims]

wow a lot of questions..
yes you can make one, yes you shoudl be able to find plans here in the DIY section, no you dont have to buy one unless you dont want to make it. Yes a rubbermaid will work( make sure it DOES NOT have feet on it). yes the skimmer can go in the sump as long as it is made to do so.
yes the HOB over flows work nicly. you can have one or 2 over flows. i use them, never had a problem .. once they get going they usally dont stop( break flow)
decide what size pump you want for the return to! make sure the over flow can handle what the pump is putting in....

[leveldrummer]

i have the 46 gallon bow tank, i bought a 20 long tank, glued some baffles in it with silicone, (got the baffles of 1/4" glass at ace for about 5 bucks) have a dump chamber, a bubble trap, a inline fuge, skimmer chamber, than the return pump chamber, what ever tank you can fit under yours would work great, i dont like rubber maid containers, because they are hard to fit baffles in, but alot of people use them. so... its up to you. the hob over flows are very safe imo. i would recommend a u-tube design, of if your really worried about it, they sell some with little pumps that keep the prime, as long as you have one return line that will suck air in a power loss, you really have nothing to worry about.
andy.