Walk me threw building a sump.

[predator]

Well, I'v heard it is'nt that hard to make a sump.So I was wondering if anyone could walk me threw it.I'm pretty dumb when it comes to sumps so I'll not only need a list of equipment I'll need but I'll need the advice in dummy terms as well.
It will be for a 75 reef tank.I'v heard of multible chambers and so on and like the way it sounds.click here to see pics of my reef

 

[option720]

Well it really depends on what you want. You could go with a wet/dry set up that has bio ball that the water trickles over. I don't recommend this for a reef because they have a tendancy to become nitrate factories. You could go with a refugium type sump that uses slower water movement and caulerpa (a macro algea) to filter the tank and provide a place for amphipods and copepods to grow safely. Or you could do a sump that just adds water volume to your tank, which is essential just a smaller tank under your existing tank. Like i said it is really up to you and what you want. I say you go look at others websites and see how their sumps look, what they stock in their tank and then decide.
here i will start you off....here is my sump.
www.geocities.com/option720/sump.html
Good Luck!!!

 

[jtoliver]

you can go to your lfs pick out what you like, and then copy it. use a small fish tank that is about the size you want and make the inside walls with plexaglass or lexan and silicone it to the place you want it. Good luck

 

[justinl]

I too would like to know how to go about making a sump. I'm a bit confused as to what a sump should include (i.e. should it have a DSB and protein skimmer and if so hwo do I incorporate these things)?
Could I use a modified wet/dry filter to make a sump (minus the bio blass and stuff)like this

And how many pumps or safeguards to prevent overflows do I need?

 

[trigahappynigerog]

sumps are pretty simple. they are just an extra tank with all your equipment and adds to water volume for a much more stable system. all it is is a tank with all your filtration equipment. a overflow is used to bring it to the sump and a pump to pump it back to the tank.