sump help
- Thread starter scott270
- Start date
lionpicasso
Member
lionsohmy i'm in your position i too have a
75gal fowlr.
75gal fowlr.
jastim
Member
I recently set up a 75 gallon tank (FOWLR--at least it will have live rock eventually). I bought a CPR overflow/skimmer and hard plumbed that into a wet/dry filter and sump I made myself. I use a RIO 2500 to return the water to the tank (it is also hard plumbed). Wet/dry filters and sumps are very easy to make yourself. I estimate I saved around $150 or so. I made it out of materials you can by at Home Depot or WalMart. I currently have BioBalls as the media but eventually when I get live rock I will most likely remove the media and just use the sump as circulation and for protein skimming. There are several DIY sump plans on the internet but if you want more details on mine in particular let me know.
Good luck!
Good luck!
jastim
Member
The items you will need are:
1) container for your sump--I used a 29liter Rubbermaid tub from WalMart.
2) media container--I used a 10 gallon plastic trash can from WalMart. The bottom is cut out to allow water to flow through into the sump. Egg crate is placed where the bottom of the trash can used to be to contain the media.
3) drip plate--I used one of those 10-12in long rectangular Rubbermaid food storage containers. Drill holes in the bottom so the water leaving your tank drips onto your media.
4) media--I used bioballs but if you use lr you may not want media
5) PVC for plumbing
6) return pump--I used a RIO 2500 for my 75gallon tank
7) Something to lift the media container off of the bottom of the tank (so the media is not sitting in a pool of water.
8) You will also need an overflow box if you don't have a built in overflow with your tank.
The only thing that was expensive is the overflow which I bought off the shelf.
Basically the media container sits in the sump. The media container is lifted off the ground using 3" PVC cut to about 5" lengths. Egg crate sits between the media container and th 3" PVC to keep the media from falling out. I use a CPR overflow box that is hard plumbed to the drip plate (food container). I left the lid on with a circle cut in the top and the PVC from the overflow enters at that point. The return pump is hard plumbed back to the tank. This is a very simple design but is working great. Costs very little and so far seems to be very reliable. This is tough to describe and I know you'll have questions so let me know what they are. Keep in mind this is just my design. You can be creative and design it any way you want using many different materials. The main thing is that you have water "dripping" down across media (or without media if you have lr) into a sump which collects the water and pumps it back to your tank. Wish I had some good pictures to show you but I can't paste them here (I guess you need them posted on a web site to reference...you can't just cut and past here). If you leave your email address I can send you pictures of the sump.
Good luck
1) container for your sump--I used a 29liter Rubbermaid tub from WalMart.
2) media container--I used a 10 gallon plastic trash can from WalMart. The bottom is cut out to allow water to flow through into the sump. Egg crate is placed where the bottom of the trash can used to be to contain the media.
3) drip plate--I used one of those 10-12in long rectangular Rubbermaid food storage containers. Drill holes in the bottom so the water leaving your tank drips onto your media.
4) media--I used bioballs but if you use lr you may not want media
5) PVC for plumbing
6) return pump--I used a RIO 2500 for my 75gallon tank
7) Something to lift the media container off of the bottom of the tank (so the media is not sitting in a pool of water.
8) You will also need an overflow box if you don't have a built in overflow with your tank.
The only thing that was expensive is the overflow which I bought off the shelf.
Basically the media container sits in the sump. The media container is lifted off the ground using 3" PVC cut to about 5" lengths. Egg crate sits between the media container and th 3" PVC to keep the media from falling out. I use a CPR overflow box that is hard plumbed to the drip plate (food container). I left the lid on with a circle cut in the top and the PVC from the overflow enters at that point. The return pump is hard plumbed back to the tank. This is a very simple design but is working great. Costs very little and so far seems to be very reliable. This is tough to describe and I know you'll have questions so let me know what they are. Keep in mind this is just my design. You can be creative and design it any way you want using many different materials. The main thing is that you have water "dripping" down across media (or without media if you have lr) into a sump which collects the water and pumps it back to your tank. Wish I had some good pictures to show you but I can't paste them here (I guess you need them posted on a web site to reference...you can't just cut and past here). If you leave your email address I can send you pictures of the sump.
Good luck
F
fossilcrab
Guest
I'm using a 10 gal glass sump. I got it for 9.99 at *****. In there I put my thermometer, skimmer, carbon filter (its on only 3 hrs per week). I use a fluval canister filter to return the water back to the main aquaruim (55 gal).
Ray,
Ray,
jastim
Member
I constructed a diagram of my sump that I have sent out to those that requested more info. on my DIY sump. The drawing was done in Word 2000. I can convert it to another file type if necessary. If anyone else is interested just post your email and I'll send it. The design is very simple and inexpensive (probably less than $75 plus overflow and pump). It's very easy to make modifications to this design to fit your tank or preference. It has been working great for about a month now. I'll include pictures of the finished product as well.
jastim
Member
I managed to get these uploaded onto my web site. The link below takes you to the DIY wet/dry diagram and also the photos of the actual wet/dry filter and sump. This design is very simple and basic. Modifications of this design are very easy so you can customize the sump or plumbing to your specific needs. Hope this helps someone.
<a href="http://home.adelphia.net/~jstimits/Aquarium%20Photos.htm" target="_blank">DIY Wet/Dry filter and sump</a>
<a href="http://home.adelphia.net/~jstimits/Aquarium%20Photos.htm" target="_blank">DIY Wet/Dry filter and sump</a>
deuce biggalow
Member
I have a 240 Gallon, would a 60 gallon acrylic tank be suitable for the sump? Thanks, Justin