Help me Make a Sump

drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
Hey gang how are you, i need guidance! i know theres a ton of threads out there but every one is different and its confusing me like hell!
I have a 75gl display tank on a stand i built, i want to place the sump/refuge under it, there is sufficient size to place a 48" tank under it but it cant be too deep or i can place a shorter tank and it can be as wide as it wants (to an extent) I also want to use a glass aquarium tank as the sump (i dont want to get into making an acrylic one just yet)
I need help to design it from the over flow all the way back to the return, i have a aquamedic t-1000 skimmer that i got from the classifieds its not gigantic but with the pump the footprint is a little big but still not huge, i want a section for the skimmer, section for the refuge an section for return, i know about the baffles for the bubbles an the teeth at the top so the critters stay put, im mostly confused on the over flow and the return pump, if i get a over flow box that is rated at 800gph do i get a pump that is 800gph? i know there is minimal friction loss due to the short distance so a matching pump sounds good, or even a stronger one and just gate down at the valve, so someone please help me design this! from the over flow down to the sump to the pump and up to the return line! any help is appreciated let me know if you need pictures or any more info about my setup
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
No problem Doc! First of all, how big of a tank can you actually place under the stand? Give us the measurements thare and maybe a pic. Incuding(in the pic) if you can where you took the measurement from. Second, size the return pump slightly bigger than the OF. Do you want a sump or refugium? Or a sump/fuge? What other equipment is going in this puppy? Heaters etc.... A 29 Gallon makes a nice size refugium. It would be supreme for a 75 if it'll fit. Likewise we could do 2 seperate tanks if you like. One sump, 1 refugium.Lek this:https://www.saltwaterfish.com/
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
i can actually fit a whole nother 75g under my tank, but i have 2 canisters under there also so it cant be as deep, 50 wide by 14 deep and about 20 high, but i obviously dont want to go 20 high because thats right to the bottom of the top of the stand, i would love to put my skimmer and heater there, and i do want a sump/fuge so i can add cheato and some inverts in there,
heres a pic of what we are working with...
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Whats the chance of lowering the bottom platform? That would give you enough room for a 29 gallon. 20 inches is really going to confine you.
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
well its actually 21 inchs lol.....lowering it isnt really that hard but would be VERY scary since that is whats holding the stand together, and then i would need to excent all of the tubing for the filters, i dont want a very high tank down there, just something that is enough for the skimmer an heater and stuff, i mean how tall of a tank would i really need? how tall is a 29gl tank?
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
A 29 is 18-19 inches tall. You wont have much room to make all the plumbing connections above it. You can brace the stand temporarily above the platform. Then lower it and remove the bracing. You could build some small platforms for the filters. Use the space below them for storing food etc. Likewise you could du a smaller tank, but you'll be happier with the 29. I'm not finding the dimentions on a 20 long wich would likely be a suitable choice without moving the platform. Maybe someone will chime in. Otherwise see if you can find these measurements somehow.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Just found it. 30X12X12
So use the 20 long if you dont want to relocate the platform. Even though, with it 12 inches and the stand only being 21 inches, you wont have much room to access inside the sump/fuge.
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
2 black things = one is the digital thermometer and the other is the magnet for my korolia (spelling) power head,
will that be enough? is there any that are 48"s long and maybe like 15" tall? because i have a 48" light strip that would go great there i dont want to waste it lol....but i guess if is shorter thats not bad either cause then i have more storage space.
in that link you posted he has that 10gl refuge, is there any thing that height but just longer?
now onto overflows, ive seen a couple of those cpr over flows, how many gph do you think i should get, 800 is enough? and then i can get a pump lets say 1000gph an just gate it down so the flow through rate matches the overflow ....
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Sorry doc, I just got a sweet deal on a 135 Oceanic reef ready tank. It's setting outside as I dont have room to store it inside. So I had to make an insulated box with a light bulb in it to help stand the weather. Till I can sawp out my 125 AGA non-drilled with it.
OK back to you!
The 33 long will work fine,
but will it leave you room for the canisters? It will make a sweet sump/fuge, and you wont have much need for the canisters with it. But I still use a can. on my 125, just to help out. Yes a CPR 800 gph will do fine, but I preffer the U-tube style. You wont have a problem with them failing. Also wont need the aqualifter with the u-tube. Then a 1000 Gph pump will be a good choice, but yopu could probably match them up indentical(800gph each) if you arent going to have many bends/ far to lift in the return line. (head loss) However, you could do a 1000 GPH return pump and divert the excess back through the sump/fuge.
Are you going with cheato or calerpa?
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
BTW..,. That stand the way it it, will have all the weight of that setup up bearing down on 5 points. As opposed to being distrubuted throught the footprint of it. You should IMO. At least put some more lumber aroung the stand to keep the pressure distributed more evenly. Those are shear points and can be a problem.
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
ok lol lots of stuff to reply on, yes it will be enough room with the canisters there, i measured and its 13 inchs from the canister to the front of the stand, i didnt get what you where saying about the points of the stand, the stand has the 5 legs then has the cross beams then it has the beams goin back an forth, has in the middle an then on the outsides has doubled up 2x4's an also has 5/8th subflooring under the tank an has the foam above that, so not sure what you where saying still lol, and yes teach me about the U tube, i like that setup just dont know alot about it an just looked like the cpr overflow box looked easier, but if you can teach me about the u tube then i would love to go with that
 
drpaul84

drpaul84

Member
hey doc got another question what size pipe should i go with 1" ? and should my return and feed both have same size pipe? hrmm another question now lol, off the pump should i just use vinyl tubing or should i go straight pvc? so 1" pvc u tube overflow down to the sump, go through some sponge to cut down the bubbles then through the bafles into the main section, OR do i go down off that overflow and split it, 1 part goes to refuge one part to the skimmer then meet in the middle to go back to the tank, hrmm help me ! come back an get me help asap please
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top