Sump ?

[mermaidgrrl13]

Ok..Im wanting a sump..badly. Major problem..my tank is not drilled. Is there anyway to make a sump without drilling your tank? I assume If there are canisters then Its possible right? Also if this is a possibility do any of you have experiance with building one or how i would go about doing it? Thanks guys.

 

[eric b 125]

there are HOB overflow boxes you can just toss on your DT. i would research them, though, and ask around for reviews. certain makes have a tendency to lose siphon. they make aqua-lifter pumps for those kind of overflows, but i've also heard that they are not greatly reliable.

 

[kspops]

There are some good threads here and on -- about overflows and DIY Overflows. My 135 has a Modified Durso that drains up and over into my sump. Just search and re-search. They all have pros and cons.

 

[mermaidgrrl13]

ok. so it IS possible to make a sump without drilling your tank? and youll have to excuse my lack of knowledge here but, a sump and an over flow are two different things right? Im wanting everything In my cabinet, my filter, heater, skimmer, (power heads obviously stay in tank). I just up graded my skimmer cause i had the dreaded sea clone (its ok you can all gasp in horror.

) and i swear it takes up half my tank....its seriously making me miss the dreaded sea clone. Ill snoop agian..I search, but havent gotten it down to a science yet because I my scearches dont seem to bring up anything.

thanks guys!

 

[spanko]

Check out the CPR aquafuge with the built in skimmer. May be just the ticket for you.

 

[twood]

Yes, a sump and and over-flow box are two different things.
A sump is a separate tank that shares the same water with your main tank. They are used for housing equipment like skimmers and heaters. They are also often used as refugiums, which can house live rock and macro algae that aid in filtration.
An over-flow box is a small box with teeth on the upper edge. It sits inside the main tank and the teeth allow water to spill into it (or over-flow). It has a drain (or a siphon to a drain box on the outside of the tank) that drains down a hose or pipe into a sump or filter.
You can find hang-on-the-back (HOB) over-flow boxes that will allow you to use a sump and not have to drill your tank. As I just described, the water flows into the over-flow box inside the tank and is siphoned into a separate drain box that hangs on the outside of the tank. The drain box has a drain on the bottom that allows a hose or pipe to be attached. This is what I have on my tank and it works great.

 

[kingsmith]

I have an overflow I think its a CPR I have'nt had a problem with it and it was working constantly over a year, as long as the flow is strong siphon stays fine, if you want to know I can give you specifics when I get home

 

[mermaidgrrl13]

Twood thanks for the clarification. I needed that. Now that i think about it one of our tanks at work has an hob overflow filter style set up. WOW. go figure something i work on and around every single day and physically set up...DURH DUR DURR.

This may be a great option for me. They seem a little difficult to access/clean.
Spanko. I will look that up thanks.
Kingsmith that would be great. Pics are always a great thing. although if you are as strapped for time as i am i completly understand. I have a 55 gallon tank. currently running a hob marineland 350 and a new protine skimmer..which the name escapes me atm..but its the time with the heavy duty wheel and its rated at double our tanks capasity. (i hate the thing)
THANKS for the help guys! I am so glad i found this fourm! you guys have expanded my knowledge ten fold!

 

[twood]

I too have a 55G tank. I just built a sump for it out of a 20G long tank. Its pretty easy to do. I based mine off this article:
http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/s...ass/index.html
I measured the inside height and width of the 20G. I subtracted 1" from the height, then had a local glass shop cut 4 1/4" thick glass panels to those dimensions. These panels are to create dividers or baffles. The purpose is to keep micro-bubbles from the skimmer out of the refugium and the main tank. I then used aquarium safe silicone (GE Silicone I is what I used) to glue the panels into the 20G tank to form baffles.
Here is a diagram: