Sump Design?

[hallzy]

Does anyone have any ideas or know of any good sites that you can PM me on how to build a good sump? I only have a 29 gallon tank. I have empty 10 and 20 gallon tanks in my basement that I can use. I would like to use the 20 gallon, and it does fit under my stand. I dont care how many chambers or anything, just as long as I can put my heater and a skimmer and stuff in it, then I dont care. I dont really know a whole lot about sumps, and Ive tried to research but everything I have found seems to make it look alot harder than it should actually be! lol I do not want to drill into my DT, so it would have to be a set up that doesn't involve drilling into the DT. Any ideas for me?

 

[2quills]

Look into the hang on the back overflows. Maybe the CPR cs50, or Eshopps pf300. You will need one in order to drain water from the tank to the sump without drilling the tank.
As always I would recommend checking out Melevsreef. com for some good info about how sumps work, building your own from scratch or DIY'ing one using a regular tank...as well as some good pointers on the do's and dont's.
The 20G would be a good choice for a sump...the bigger the better I say. You could do some internet searching to check out pics of different peoples sumps, you could also find some videos on u-tube of people showing their systems. All will help give you a better idea of what you're after.
Hope this helps.
Here's a pic of one I made when I was just testing it out...I got the inspiration from MelevsReef site.

 

[hallzy]

Yes actually that helped tremendously! after looking around melevsreef i got a little bit better understanding on how it works. But basically without drilling holes, i will have to have an overflow box hanging from the back? I was trying to avoid having anything hanging from my tank, but at least this way I wont have to have my heater and skimmer and stuff hanging.
I have yet to get a skimmer too. Is there any particular type I should get for my 29? To me, they all look the same right now, and I dont wanna spend a ton of extra money on a skimmer that is for say a 300 gallon tank! lol Or is that not how skimmers work? Does any skimmer work for any size tank, or do you have to buy accordingly?

 

[2quills]

Yeah, unfortunately unless you want to drill the tank then a overflow box is really the only good option. Some folks have built their own overflows out of just pvc pipe but I'd recommend just go with a box. Drilled tanks are the most reliable way of getting water from your tank to your sump, if you could do that then that would be my recommendation. Otherwise the box is your ticket.
Yes, your skimmer you want to size accordingly. You don't really need or want anything rated for more than a 100G though. The Reef Octopus 4 is a good little skimmer.

 

[hallzy]

Ok, i have finally taken the first step in getting stuff to build my sump. I have purchased the pump! I have been researching for 3 days about which type of design to go with when I build it. I have learned alot about how sumps work in the process (prior to my research, I knew absolutly nothing about them).
I'm kind of wondering now, does anyone have any input on the benifits of adding bio-balls to a sump? Most of the basic designs I have come across do not use them, but I've checked out a few of my friends and familys tanks that use sumps and they ALL have bio-balls. Should I find a design that incorporates them? What are the benifits?
Also, and this may sound really stupid on my part, but where do I put filter pads and stuff in my sump?! All the sites that show me how to design them dont show my anything about the filtration aspect of it, they just show me how to make it! lol
Anyways, thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[2quills]

Bio balls are debatable in this hobby. Mostly you will see them on freshwater system. Many folks claim they catch a lot of debris and turn into nitrate factories. You have to clean them often in order to keep them from doing so. They are designed to provide surface area for aerobic bacteria to grow which breaks down ammonia...etc. Having an ample amount of live rock is a better alternative IMO. I'd say you can do without them.
Filter pads really depends on your set up. Some people use filter socks that catch debris coming out of their drain lines. If you look up top at the pic of my sump I made some racks on the left side that I can put filter pads onto if I want. Some people don't use any mechanical filtration at all and just let their clean up crews and filter feeders do the work. It's really up to you which way you want to go.

 

[hallzy]

Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3293479
Bio balls are debatable in this hobby. Mostly you will see them on freshwater system. Many folks claim they catch a lot of debris and turn into nitrate factories. You have to clean them often in order to keep them from doing so. They are designed to provide surface area for aerobic bacteria to grow which breaks down ammonia...etc. Having an ample amount of live rock is a better alternative IMO. I'd say you can do without them.
Filter pads really depends on your set up. Some people use filter socks that catch debris coming out of their drain lines. If you look up top at the pic of my sump I made some racks on the left side that I can put filter pads onto if I want. Some people don't use any mechanical filtration at all and just let their clean up crews and filter feeders do the work. It's really up to you which way you want to go.
Awesome, that is kind of the answer is was hoping to hear. I really dont wanna mess with bio-balls! lol Where can I see a picture of the sump you built?

 

[2quills]

Originally Posted by hallzy
http:///forum/post/3293480
Awesome, that is kind of the answer is was hoping to hear. I really dont wanna mess with bio-balls! lol Where can I see a picture of the sump you built?
Up on the top of this thread...the picture that I posted in my first response. The white looking racks on the left side I made to hold filter pads.

 

[hallzy]

Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3293481
Up on the top of this thread...the picture that I posted in my first response. The white looking racks on the left side I made to hold filter pads.
Ah, I see! Ok, another question. Can my skimmer go into the same chamber as my return pump?

 

[2quills]

It could if it really had to...but I think you'll find that 99% of people won't put the skimmer in the same chamber as the return pump. Reason being is that the skimmer will put out a lot of tiny micro bubbles that will be pumped into the tank by the return pump. This is very annoying and makes the tank look cloudy. Typically the skimmer will have it's own chamber and there will be a set of 3 baffles inbetween chambers called a bubble trap. The bubble trap is designed to give the bubbles time to rise to the waters surface in the sump before they reach the return pump.

 

[hallzy]

Yeah I plan on implimenting a bubble trap. I will just find a design that gives the skimmer its own chamber! I STILL havnt started building it yet! I need to figure out a design that I like, and then I think i'm just going to get the dimentions that I need and have a local glass shop here cut out what I need and make it all glass rather than use acrylic. The glass shop in my town does a GREAT job and they are very inexpensive! I will use scrylic to make my own overflow box though.

 

[2quills]

Cool...keep us updated. We love to see pics of projects coming together.
Make sure you ask the glass shop to polish off the edges on the glass for you so they aren't real sharp.

 

[hallzy]

Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3294226
Cool...keep us updated. We love to see pics of projects coming together.
Make sure you ask the glass shop to polish off the edges on the glass for you so they aren't real sharp.
Oh I will! And I will probably make mor ethan one because I will figure out better ways of doing ti as I go! But I will get pics up on this threat when I get started!