Under the tank setting up

thereefer9

thereefer9

Member
Im building a sump/ refugium for my 70 gallon reef. Im posting to make sure I have all the equitment I will need when i place my order. Okay heres my list so far:
1. vinyal tubing 1 inch thick(Home depots stuffs okay right?)
2 Coral life super skimmmer rated 65 gallons
3 aquarium safe epoxy
4 1" single bulkhead continuous overflow rated 800 gph
5 MD pump rated 700 gph
6 plexy glass for baffles
For assembly how should the baffles be spaced and does the tubing just drop into the tank? do I need to buy special attachments for the pump and overflow?
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
The type of tubing I'd recommend for use here is called "Spa-Flex." It's available commonly in 1" diameter. The reason I prefer that is two fold. First, it fits directly into 1" plumbing fittings and cements in place with ordinary pipe cement such as Oatey cement. If not for this you'd need to get hose barb fittings and clamps. Second, it has an internal plastic coil spring that keeps it from kinking when flexed, something vinyl is notorious for.
I know for sure Lowe's carries it. You can also buy it online from a number of places.
You'll want to install a ball valve on the drain from your overflow, just so you can cut off the water flow for maintenance purposes, such as removing the sump, etc. I caution you now... do NOT attempt to use the ball valve to regulate the flow from the overflow. Leave the valve completely open in normal operation.
The Mag 7 has a 1/2" outlet. How were you planning on returning water to the tank from the pump?
Also, how were you planning to secure the baffles? Are you using the epoxy for that?
 
scsinet

scsinet

Active Member
Originally Posted by theappe3
should a regulating ball valve go on the return side of the system?
I think I answered this in anothre thread you had going...
A ball valve on the drain (from tank) side should never be used to regulate. Only to cut off water flow for maintenance. Never try to regulate the flow of water coming from a tank drain.
On the return (to tank) side, yes, there should be a valve.
 
thereefer9

thereefer9

Member
sorry the company i planed on buying from dosent say the pumps outlit measure do u have any other pumps in mind that would work? I plan to secure the baffles with the epoxy.
thanks for the help
 
jonthefishguy

jonthefishguy

Active Member
Originally Posted by THEREEFER9
sorry the company i planed on buying from dosent say the pumps outlit measure do u have any other pumps in mind that would work? I plan to secure the baffles with the epoxy.
thanks for the help
what pump were you going to get?
 
thereefer9

thereefer9

Member
The tank im useing as a sump is a glass 29 gallon tall. Where should i place the baffles? how thick should they be? I plan to secure the baffles with epoxy. How can i connect the tube from the tank to a plastic tub that i plan to attach to the tank. Above the tank so it will go through this tub and empty into the skimmers chamber. In the tub will be carbon and sponges for better filtration. How should i secure it? epoxy? Anyone know a good pump that i should use?
 
buckster71

buckster71

Member
I got three of them.
If you are going to use a glass aquarium, it might be easier to cut a hole in it (check a glass store if they can, because you need special tools for glass) and run the pump external. .
However, it might be just as easy to buy a similar sized plastic tub at walmart, which you can do yourself.
I'm considering building my own out of acrylic, to suit my tastes and glass and acrylic don't adhere very easily to one another. One guy told me I needed to use tube gasket to seal between glass and acrylic and I hadn't attempted anything yet.
Most LFS guys just by a simple plastic 29 gallon (or so) container at walmart.
 
blazehok68

blazehok68

Active Member
what i did was buy 2 plastic rubbermade totes from the store, one half the size of the other, but just as tall, put the smaller inside of the bigger, slice some holes in the top of the smaller tub at the top for overflow and thats it. the smaller tote acts as my fuge, while the bigger is the rest of the sump.
 
thereefer9

thereefer9

Member
For the lighting on the refugium do I have to worry about what type of light? Does it need to be a certain spectrum? Should I get an aquarium specific one ?because I dont want the light getting wet and start a fire or fry or something. What type of pump should I buy?
 
thereefer9

thereefer9

Member
I think I will run the pump externally like suggested above. If I run the pump externally all I would have to do is put the intake part of the pump in the tub and seal the cracks with epoxy so it dosent leak right? Also if Im running the pump externally do I still need Baffles between the pump section and refugium?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top