newbie sump DIY

[ninjaskillzs]

Alrighty... i want to add a sump to my 29gallon tank. I was thinking of using a 20long tank to do this with. nothing will be drilled as it is an already set up tank... So i will be using an overflow box. I was thinking of having the overflow drain into the right side of the sump, where my skimmer will be hanging on the side of. in between the right compartment and middle would be a bubble trap, the middle being a fuge, and the left side for a return pump.
I have seen a lot of diagrams of peoples sums with the fuge on the left, skimmer on the right and return in the middle. They have a pipe going from the skimmer section to the fuge and i dont know how to do that. Does it really matter if the water goes from skimmer to fuge to return> here is a rough diagram done in paint to show my concept.

Any thoughts... recommendations, advice at all so i dont flood my room
Would like to know what size tubing and such, what size return pump and overflow as well. also any links showing exactly how to silicone the baffles in would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

 

[iyachtuxivm]

Skimmer fuge return is fine. Google diy sump there is a really good video demonstration on glueing the baffles I think its on myspace but not sure. Search here too thats how i found the video. Just type in diy refuge under search options you will find it someone has that video here. Good luck

 

[ninjaskillzs]

Alright... watched this guys videos and it looks like im set on how to silicone... questions...
A- what return pump would you guys recommend for a 20L sump and a 29gal DT water will be going approx. 4 feet from the floor to the top of my tank.
B- would glass work fine for the baffles? i have a friend who can get/cut it for me so it would be easier for me. IF it does work will the silicone work to hold it in place (glass 20L tank will be used) If not what will.
C- i have a pos seachem HOB skimmer... If i wanted to use this hanging on the sump i would probably need the skim compartment to be baffled up until 1 or 2 inches from the surface. Is this safe? if not can i extend the tubing to the MJ1200 powerhead it uses as intake?
THANKS!!!

 

[fishfreak1242]

Originally Posted by ninjaskillzs
http:///forum/post/2678662
Alright... watched this guys videos and it looks like im set on how to silicone... questions...
A- what return pump would you guys recommend for a 20L sump and a 29gal DT water will be going approx. 4 feet from the floor to the top of my tank.
B- would glass work fine for the baffles? i have a friend who can get/cut it for me so it would be easier for me. IF it does work will the silicone work to hold it in place (glass 20L tank will be used) If not what will.
C- i have a pos seachem HOB skimmer... If i wanted to use this hanging on the sump i would probably need the skim compartment to be baffled up until 1 or 2 inches from the surface. Is this safe? if not can i extend the tubing to the MJ1200 powerhead it uses as intake?
THANKS!!!
A mag 7 with ball valves on both the drain and return should work perfectly to get the drain and return in sync. Glass will work fine for the baffles and silicone will work to attach it to the tank. I have the same skimmer as you, but I do not understand what you mean in Q#C. Could you please reword it or put a drawing up or something.

 

[ninjaskillzs]

What i mean is that with this skimmer it needs the water level to be around an incha above the MJ1200 that it draws water through. Hanging off the side would mean that the water level would need to be roughly 2 inches from the top of the tank.
I know water level is set up through baffles, and i was wondering if it was fine for the water level in this compartment to be that high without worry of overflow or anything like that.

 

[ninjaskillzs]

Also if you could post a pic of how you have your skimmer set up (if its in a sump) that would be awesome

 

[haus]

Keep Me informed on how it goes I am getting ready to do same thing for 29 tank

 

[ninjaskillzs]

Alrighty. well tomorrow im gonna go to the fish store and check out some of the tanks... get a good visual of what i want to do. i think im going to go with a Via Aqua 3300 for the return pump, at 4' headloss it makes around 600gph... little over... So ill be going with an overflow with 600gph as well.
Found out how to silicone the baffles correctly(yaaay) and am going to look for acrylic sheets or some1 to cut glass baffles for me. (any1 know if lowes or homo depot does?)
So far so good. Once i actually get things ill post pics or PM you them haus. Im about as far as you are at this point haha

 

[zsqure]

You may want to consider water volume/velocity loss due to elbows in the pressure side of the system. Somewhere there is a chart/formula for that stuff........anybody?