sump or fuge withthout drilling or hang over

[toddh]

is it possible to have a sump or fuge setup without a reef ready tank or drilling. I know u can use a pump to return water from sump/fuge to tank and use hard plastic tube that fits over the lip of aquarium, but what about drain side. Is this what a durso stand is for?? or can u use some kind of suction pump with a level switch for safety. Maybe natural siphon with some kind of orrifice to control flow??
any ideas would be great
thanks

 

[coachklm]

thats what overflow boxes are for

 

[blesum]

I'm trying to find a solid DYI plan for a non-drilled sump/fudge. Does anybody have any good links/info? I was planning to use one of those Walmart plastic storage bins (Marked for 30 gallons but can't hold that much due to the bin expanding outwards at the top. :scared: ) but wonder if that's strong enough?
Also I keep reading about how if the overflow gets clogged or loses it's siphoning effect, the sump pump keeps on pumping water into the tank until the sump is empty, typically resulting in the tank overflowing. I don't understand why people can't just put their sump pump up high in the sump so it will just suck air after pumping out a few gallons and having the sump water level drop low enough.
Somebody must have a decent page somewhere with detailed photos/instructions using Walmart and Home Depot/Lowes parts.
:help:
-Blesum

 

[cain420]

well, check out the DYI section...... as u said ur trying to find a DYI plan...
u can reinforce the top of the bin somehow so it wont spread open, or buy a 20 gallon fish tank.. they dont cost that much and are nicer to look at.. not that it really matters what it looks like..

 

[blesum]

Originally Posted by cain420
well, check out the DYI section...... as u said ur trying to find a DYI plan...
u can reinforce the top of the bin somehow so it wont spread open, or buy a 20 gallon fish tank.. they dont cost that much and are nicer to look at.. not that it really matters what it looks like..
I've already read everything in the DYI section, but the information wasn't as detailed as I wanted it to be (what size plumbing, lengths, brands, etc). Also a 20 gallon fish tank would be too small - a sump/refug should be half the size of the viewing tank from what I've heard. I've been reading up and looking at other forums/sites.
-Blesum

 

[cain420]

a 20 gallon tank would hold as much as not filling that 30 gallon tote....its alot easier to cut into the rubbermaids though.. so that gives a + on that end.. plumbing.. u will need a bulkhead for sure found easily online.. if u want a sump/fuge, u will need bigger then 30 gallons if u want it to have the wet/dry filter in there, your heater, skimmer, and a fuge to boot... im cookin up my own concauction..
a 75 gallon tank.. already have a 20 gallon sump with wet/dry.. and i am going to pipe in a separate 15 gallon fuge that is blacked out on the sides and back and has a cover on the front so i can run the lights at night, or 24/7 if i decide to, without interrupting the fish, or causing alot of algae growth in the sump..
so far i have drilled a 1 1/2" hole in the glass of the soon to be fuge (15 gallon tank) but now noone sells bulkheads locally at all! so i have to order them online b4 i can drill into the sump.. silicone wont adhere to pvc very well especially on a rubbermaid that can flex and break a seal! that is why u will want a bulkhead for the hole.. if you would like to see pics of what i got so far, and how it looks, let me know and i will post pics for ya..
id be happy to help u out if noone else can... even if i can only help a little or just give ya a few ideas..
i just wanted to make sure u checked the DIY section first, thats why i said that.. some people just come in and dont know about that section...

 

[blesum]

Cain, I'd love to see the pictures! Thank you for offering and all of your input.
I was thinking of hooking up two of those Walmart tubs side by side with a pipe running between the two of them. I figure I'd get 25 gallons in each for a total of 50 gallons. One would have all the mechanical stuff. I'd only have a protein skimmer and I'm not sure what else I would put in there. No heater thats for sure since it's a cool water tank and I certainly can't afford a cooler. The second tub would be for the return and hold LR, LS and double as a refug. Good or bad idea?
-Blesum