Hey Kimber,
I've used cheap plastic bins and tubs for simple skimmer-only sumps (still do), and visiting some of the websites of thereeftank members can yield neat pics of their plumbing setups. (Try RWD's site --I think he posted some pics on a recent thread of his on sump baffles)
Drilling an overflow is best left to professionals, of course, and you will have to decide if it will be a standpipe drain or a side-overflow. A standpipe is the standard and is easier to adapt to many aquarium stands/cabinets. Drilling a return is pretty much the same.
I prefer side overflows and returns for safety: Even if the seal (neoprene or silicone) about the bulkheads gives it up, your leakage is only the top couple of inches of tankwater. A standpipe seal-failure, because it's on the tank bottom, puts most of the volume at risk.
Simply, an overflow pipe into a bucket, which has a powerhead in it to send wtaer back up another pipe into the tank, and you're sumped. Fitting a fractionator (
protein skimmer) to acceot the drainage from the display tank is what usually follows.
There is of course, a benefit in compartmentalization, to create a sequence of water treatments via other devices. Glass or acrylic sumps are easier to compartmentalize than buckets, owing to shape, rigidity of material, and general applicability of common reef-safe adhesives.
I'd post a basic diagram, but I haven't had breakfast yet, heheh --and some of those member websites I mentioned do a better job of illustration
horge
[This message has been edited by horge (edited 01-04-2001).]
