DIY sump???

[sciknen]

i was looking at some of the DIy stuff on here n im utterly confused
so i figured i wud ask you guys
now i have a 55gal tank i wanna make a sump for
im thinkin 10 gal tank
or
20 gal
ok so how do i do it
liek i wanna put in the skimmer n heater n ----
but i dont want n e hting else
i want like it to filter to
im confused on wat else i need like refugium????
please help me out guys
start to finish would be awesome

 

[michaeltx]

are you marginally a DIY person or is this a first attempt?
the reason I ask my first attempt didnt turn out so well LOL it takes practice and patients and if have neither your best bet would be to buy one premade or have someone make one for you.
Mike

 

[sciknen]

well im pretty good at making things
n if i get good enuff plans n directions then im not worried
so if you could help
anyone please

 

[earlybird]

I'm terrible but here's my 10g sump pictures. https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/263563/10g-sump-fuge-i-finished

 

[renogaw]

here's what i did:
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/264780/sump-fuge-size

 

[sciknen]

so all i have to do is glue some acrilic things to zig ag n one at the other end
n throw in a protein skimmer
???
n heater
wat else is there to it
why bubble trap?

 

[renogaw]

ok... i hate to say it, because i can't say it very nicely, but please try to type a little better, it's hard to read your posts.
but yes, you just have to silicone glass to glass, or glue acrylic to acrylic (don't mix materials). the skimmer and your intakes will create bubbles in the first chamber that the bubble traps will remove, so they aren't messing with your main tank or getting stuck in your return pump.

 

[chuckcac]

here's my 'planning, thinking, & re-thinking' thread about building my own sump & refugium
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/248643/i-heard-squidd-is-the-man
heres my DIY stuff - this thread shows the process of actually making all the stuff i planned for...
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/t/256787/chucks-diy-journal

 

[sciknen]

so all in put in the sump is some sand n rock
???
as well as protein skimmer and heater of course

 

[renogaw]

and chaeto (best) or some other macroalgae.
it is also where you can tie in your calcium reactor, phosphate reactor, UV sterilizer, etc.

 

[sciknen]

wat is that macroalgea or chateu??
just like algea

 

[renogaw]

macro algae is algae you can see easily: chaeto, caulerpa, hair algae, halimeda.

 

[rockonreef]

melevsreef.com
phenomenal site for making DIY sumps, you can also buy from this guy with a custom order, but he gives full plans, material lists, and what DT it should be used for.

 

[renogaw]

Originally Posted by rockonreef
****.com
phenomenal site for making DIY sumps, you can also buy from this guy with a custom order, but he gives full plans, material lists, and what DT it should be used for.

may want to remove the website before it's removed for you. they don't allow that sorta thing here.

 

[chuckcac]

The refugium is where people put rock & sand to create a place for beneficial nitrifying bacteria to colonize. It also could serve as a 'safe-house' for peacefull species that may be getting 'picked-on' in the display...
The deep sand bed + Live rock in the refugium aids in filtration.
People put Macroalgae in the fuge because it consumes nitrates as one of it's food sources. PLUS since the benefical macro-algae is consuming those nutrients, it makes it very difficult for nuissance algae to grow anywher else in the tank.
The sump is where people house the equipment such as protein skimmers, UV filters, heaters, etc...
the bubble trap is in place to prevent bubbles getting into the return pump. Bubbles in the return pump will create lots-n-lots of micro-bubbles in your display. this is both unsigtly and unhealthy for marine fish...

 

[mrinelfrlz]

heres my 55 gallon fug/sump i finished a few days ago
"Turning Tim" helped me alot!