Pro Help Please !!!about A 55g Sump

[philgmiami]

IM UPGRADING TO A 125G LONG INN A FEW WEEKS, CAN I USE MY OLD 55G TANK FOR A SUMP? IS IT TO BIG? AND CAN SOMEONE MAKE ME A DIAGRAM STEP BY STEP TO MAKE ONE?I HAVE A WET-DRY NOW20G.I JUST BOUGHT A IN SUMP PROTEIN SKIMMER THATS ABOUT 20' HIGH. THE 55 IS 20 DEEP. MY PROTEN SKIMMER AND CUP WOULD BE TOTALY UNDER THE WATER LINE IF I MADE MY 55G A SUMP. I DONT WANT TO BUY A NEW SKIMMER

. COULD I MAKE A LEDGE IN THE 55G SUMP TO MAKE IT SIT HIGHER SO THE CUP IS OUT OF THE WATER?.. A DIAGRAM WOULD HELP ALOT.. THANKSSS

 

[trainfever]

The 55 would be perfect as a sump for your 125. The skimmer would also work in it because you dont fill your sump all the way to the top. you have to leave allowance in case of a power outage and your tank overflows into your sump. Your sump is usually only about half to 2/3 full, but that will be determined by the amount of your overflow.

 

[teresaq1]

hi, i am using my 55 gal for a sump/fuge for my 150 gal. i started planning, but not quite finished. you might post on the equipment bb and ask for sqidd. here is what i have so far

 

[philgmiami]

Originally Posted by TeresaQ1
hi, i am using my 55 gal for a sump/fuge for my 150 gal. i started planning, but not quite finished. you might post on the equipment bb and ask for sqidd. here is what i have so far
CAN YOU BE MORE PACIFIC ON MEASUREMENTS?.. THANKS SOOOOO MUCH

 

[bdhutier]

I had issues balancing the input vs. output of the sump. i was always fighting the water level.
to resolve the issue as a quick fix, i placed a 10 gallon with the typical sump dividers on top of the 125 . i took my dremmel, and (over about 45 mins) created a hole in the bottom left of the 10 gallon. i "glued" two 4" piece of PVC inside and under the the hole in the 10Gal, creating a sort of drain pipe. i made a PVC tube system, whereby a powerhead draws water out of the main tank, above it into the 10gal sump. the water cycles in the sump and essentially pours back into the 125 from the top. to top it off, i attached one of those surface skimmers to the inlet of the powerhead, so all the little floating crumbs and slime are processed through the sump as well.
so, why?
1. power outage = no siphon.
2. no messing with GPM, trying to balance water level.
3. i'm male, and by nature must tinker and make things over-complicated.
i'm going to try and attach a simple schematic. hope it makes sense...

 

[teresaq1]

Phil, cant really remember, it was a while ago i was working with sqidd on this. I think it was 8 in, then 2 baffels 2 in apart then 9 inch then 2 baffels then the rest left over for fuge. it all depends on your over flows, and how big your skimmer is. I know you can put your skimmer on a shelf, but mine is a hob remora c. do a search on teresaq or teresaq1. I have to get back with squidd when i get ready to do this. i have to wait until my house is built to set up my 150 gal.

 

[scotts]

Lets see if I can post a picture.

 

[scotts]

OK, so that is my old 60 under my 125. I just use an overflow to drain to the bottoms tank and a pump to pump it back to the top tank. No baffles in the bottoms tank, just rock and sand. Not saying it is the best set up but it is what I have.
Oh yeah, please take your caps lock off, it makes it hard to read your posts.
Scott