DIY Sump

[kbolick]

I am new to this... ok, not so new really. I had a reef for about 2 years and had to give it up for a long distance move but recently started it back up. For filtration on my reef (55gal) I only have a CRP Backpack II skimmer and then the LR of course. No mechanical filtration. I guess there are different schools of thought on the filtration required. I want to build a sump for this tank, but don't know how. The tank is not drilled so it will need to take that in consideration. I also want to build it so it doesn't overflow and empty the entire tank if there's a power outage. Does anybody have any plans, pointers, etc for a sump for my 55 gallon reef.

BTW, I also want to keep it simple, under the tank out of sight and inexpensive.

[Geoff]

to get the water out of the tank and into the sump you will need an overflow. a simple hang on the back would be fine.

visit fatmans feef pages. this sounds like the setup you are trying to do. he also used an overflow to a sump. you can either get a wet/dry and remove the bio-balls and use this as a sump. or you can get any aquarium that will fit underneath the stand. with the narrow footprint of the 55 your options may be limited. 10g, 15g should fit. you can also use rubbermaid container.

what do you have in the tank? you will need to figure out how much flow you want. i would prolly not go much above 500gph at 5'. just guessing the height of the tank. but any faster than this and you may run into bubble problems from the sump. you also need to make sure the overflow can handle the amount of flow you are looking for.

HTH,

G~

[kbolick]

I don't understand the first thing about a sump and how to setup a DIY sump. Someone please help with some detailed explaination, plans if possible, for my 55 gal tank. In the past, all I have used is a CPR Bakpak II. I want to provide some more filtration for my tank. Please help. Thanks.

[Geoff]

where in NC are you?

what kind of critters do you have in there now? i do not want to recommend to much or to little flow.

i guess i do not know how DIY you want to go. a sump can be anything that holds water underneath your tank. i built mine, but many people use old tanks they have lying around. it is just a place to hold water. if you are looking for additional filtration than i would fill it with just LR. this is the workhorse of the aquarium.

to get the water to the sump, i would get a hang-on the back overflow. this consists of a small box that will be in the aquarium that tank water will enter. it is then siphoned out of this box into a larger box on the outside of the aquarium. this box has a pipe going down into the sump. the overflow keeps the tank from draining into the sump if the power were to go out. i would not DIY one of these, it is more difficutl than it is worth, IMO. they can be had for around $60 on up. depending on flow.

all that is needed now is a pump to get the water back in the tank. i would think a mag 5-7 would be about right. this would be placed in the sump to pump the water back into the aquarium. PVC or vinyl can be used here. if you want to get fancy you could use a SCWD to change the water currents a little.

try also looking here:

fatman thread

fatman again he was cranking there for a while.

more diagrams

search for sumps"

HTH,

G~

[kbolick]

I am in Charlotte. I just moved here in Jan.
Right now in my tank I have a brain, hammer head and a kenya tree,. As for fish, yellow tang and 4 blue damsels that I used to cycle it.

[Doug1]

Good thread Geoff, tag for archive

[Geoff]

i think around 500gph or less would be good for you. that would give you about 10 times the amount of water flow to the size of the tank. this is not including what the protein skimmer pumps.

do you have any more questions? or have i confused you even more.

G~

[laddy00]

For your problem of the tank siphoning when the power goes out you will need a check vlave or a hole drilled just below your water line on the return pipe. I would recommend the check valve because the hole can get gunked up from algae. If you decide on the check valve get a swing gate not one with a spring like they have at home depot. I have had two of the spring check valves fail. For all of your sump needs (besides the tank) I would reccomend checking www.aquaticeco.com. They have everything.

[Doug1]

Actually a hole drilled in the return line is cheap and simple and safe, check it once a week , plug the return with your finger momentarily, that will blow anything out of it. I also have a dedicated toothbrush that i use for cleaning algae and stuff off returns, elbow strainers and what not.
If you use a chech valve, IMO you need to have a shutoff above it and unions to remove it for cleaning, and yah they need cleaning, its only takes a little build up to allow them to leak.
They tend to restrict flow somewhat, so if return pump is barely able to keep up factor this in.
All in all the other option is a lot cheaper and safer

[wanareef]

I would pass on the checkvalve as well, too much to go wrong and not worth the $$. I have a hold drilled at the same place but too lazy to clean it. I did do the DIY overflow boxes and it's eaiser than you think. Once you get the theory down on how it works, it's a snap - just as long you can build with acrylics.

Make sure that you have a "resivior" in the out side box for the "u" tubes. One way to keep the siphon in the tubes if you turn off the pump to feed or power outage. The other way is to have a small riser coming up from the drain part, this way there is a "pool" of water to hold the water in the siphon box. Either design- there is still a chance for flooding.