sump questions?

[mcginnisandrew]

Has anyone used this sump?
http://www.aquariumguys.com/allglass...ow-sump-3.html
I would probably take all the bioballs out, but would the bubble trap raise my nitrates a lot? Like enough to worry about?
I have never had a sump before (i have a 29 gallon tank) but i want to get one.
Could i fit an auto top off system, my skimmer (its a HOB aqua c remora, could i like set it up next to the sump so that it doesn't take up to much room inside the sump?), heater, and small aquaclear filter (just has carbon but probably would be used for quarantine tank) inside this sump do you think?

This is a pretty big sump for a 29 gallon tank, but i found a cheap one on craigslist XD so if this one is a decent sump then i think i will get it. I'm mainly concerned with nitrates from the bubble trap, space, and bubbles if i need to remove the bubble trap


Is there a better sump i could use that is just as affordable?

Thanks!

[mcginnisandrew]

bumppp

[mcoomer]

I think that would work fine for your 29. As you said, I'd remove the bio balls and use that space for your filter or skimmer. You could easily plumb an ATO to the sump as well. I wouldn't worry about the sponge in the bubble trap. You can simply pull it out. If the price is right I'd get it.

[mcginnisandrew]

Ok thanks! I would get it but i just measured my stand and everything and it's not going to fit.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a 75 gallon, would this be a decent sump for that? or too small?

[mcoomer]

It will work on a 75 but it's probably a bit small. Another thing to consider is that you can have a sump built for you or build your own. Check with local reefers to see if anyone in your area does acrylic fabrication. You can also buy a cheap aquarium, RTV some glass baffles in place, and you're good to go. If you go that route you can pull it off for quite a bit less than it would cost to buy that sump you're looking at.

Mike

[Potsy]

I don't know how much you can get it for on craigslist, but take a look at the eshopps sumps on www.drsfosterandsmith.com

[patsfan1130]

Go buy a 30L and put in baffles yourself. Much cheaper plus you get a good sense of accomplishment. Spend the money you save on something else.

[MCary]

Expensive, unnecessarily complex, small for the money, no place for filter socks.

[mcginnisandrew]

Yeah i think i will probably build my own. I don't really like how that sump is set up either. How big of a tank should i use to build the sump? Where do i get glass/acrylic panels also?

Let's assume i would use a typical AGA 75 gallon aquarium and a stand that is 48"x18"x28"

any approximations on how much it would cost to build this sump? not including the cost of the tank (which i can probably find cheap & used on craigslist or something), so just the cost of other materials (silicone, glass panels, other stuff)

thanks!

[LaOtIn]

buy yourself a 33 Long aquarium (48 1/4" x 12 3/4" x 12 7/8")

that will give you about 25 gallons of water in your sump, but more importantly the 33 long aquarium is the perfect sump due to its length. its basically the same length as your 75 but shorter and not as deep front to back

then you can get 5 pieces of acrilic from home depot. that way you can make an inlet area, skimmer area, fuge area and a bubble trap

so you would basically end up with water flowing in through a felt filter sock, flowing over into a skimmer section, flowing over to a fuge section then through a bubble trap area and finally into the return area

I would get a mag 7 for a return pump and plumb in a 20" DIY spray bar on the back of the tank shooting towards the front of the tank

you do all that and youre out:

mag 7 = $40
acrilic = $30
silicone = $8
pvc to plumb = $10
DIY pvc overflow and return spray bar = $20
33L = $75
misc DIY fund = $20
protein skimmer = $120

Grand Total = $320ish

[mcginnisandrew]

Any links you can share on how to set this up? I have a pretty good idea of how it would look but i don't know what size pieces of acrylic i would need/how high to make them, etc.

Originally Posted by LaOtIn

I would get a mag 7 for a return pump and plumb in a 20" DIY spray bar on the back of the tank shooting towards the front of the tank

^ what exactly is a spray bar? Sumps are completely new to me haha. Also what do you mean by "shooting towards the front of the tank"?
Also, regarding filter socks, what do they do exactly? and how would i fit it onto this setup? Is it necessary?

thanks for all the help so far everyone! i really appreciate it

[LaOtIn]

Originally Posted by mcginnisandrew

Any links you can share on how to set this up? I have a pretty good idea of how it would look but i don't know what size pieces of acrylic i would need/how high to make them, etc.

try this link on for size: sump design


^ what exactly is a spray bar?
a length of pvc with holes drilled in it

Sumps are completely new to me haha. Also what do you mean by "shooting towards the front of the tank"?

direct the holes in the spray bar towards the front

Also, regarding filter socks, what do they do exactly?
filter out the larger particles of junk

and how would i fit it onto this setup? Is it necessary?

you fit a felt sock over the pipe that comes from your tank to sump, necessary? yes, its a great idea

thanks for all the help so far everyone! i really appreciate it

youre welcome, so far

[MCary]

Filter socks aren't necessary and can filter out pods, but I use them.

I like to build with the same materials. If I have a glass sump, I like using glass panels. The reason is, I have had trouble with silicone sticking to acrylic for an extended period.

[LaOtIn]

Filter socks aren't necessary and can filter out pods, but I use them.

True! but hey, it makes for a clean tank lol

I like to build with the same materials. If I have a glass sump, I like using glass panels. The reason is, I have had trouble with silicone sticking to acrylic for an extended period.

news to me, lol, but good to know

[vikubz]

I also had issues using acrylic and silicone. I just redid my sump with standard window glass and it worked great.

[mcginnisandrew]

Would glass panels be more expensive than acrylic?

How often would i need to replace/clean the filter sock?

[Toddrtrex]

My oldest sump is about 8 year old now, and I used silicone to hold the acrylic baffles in place (( glass tank )) and they are still holding fine. Same goes with my other 2 sumps.

Excluding drying time, it should take less then an hour to make a sump out of a glass tank, it is surprisingly easy once you do it.

[mcoomer]

Check out Melev's Reef for some really useful info on sump design. He builds his using acrylic but the designs and principles are the same whether using glass or acrylic. As noted above, a breeder tank, some glass panes, and silicone RTV can make for a nice, functional sump.

BTW...if you end up using acrylic baffles in a glass tank be certain to get cell cast acrylic and not extruded sheets. Extruded sheets absorb more water than cell cast acrylic and expand more as a result. This can crack a glass tank if when you're dealing with very tight clearances

[jakesalk]

You can get smaller sheets of acrylic at home depot or lowes for pretty cheap. 18x24 .222 thick for like 12$

[rainydave]

Originally Posted by jakesalk

You can get smaller sheets of acrylic at home depot or lowes for pretty cheap. 18x24 .222 thick for like 12$

And they will cut it for you. Just glued up my sump with panels cut at Lowes on Sunday.

[mcoomer]

Found a good example of a sump built from a small aquarium. This is what we're talking about.

Mike

[pjewett]

Originally Posted by mcginnisandrew

Has anyone used this sump?
http://www.aquariumguys.com/allglass...ow-sump-3.html
I would probably take all the bioballs out, but would the bubble trap raise my nitrates a lot? Like enough to worry about?
I have never had a sump before (i have a 29 gallon tank) but i want to get one.
Could i fit an auto top off system, my skimmer (its a HOB aqua c remora, could i like set it up next to the sump so that it doesn't take up to much room inside the sump?), heater, and small aquaclear filter (just has carbon but probably would be used for quarantine tank) inside this sump do you think?

This is a pretty big sump for a 29 gallon tank, but i found a cheap one on craigslist XD so if this one is a decent sump then i think i will get it. I'm mainly concerned with nitrates from the bubble trap, space, and bubbles if i need to remove the bubble trap


Is there a better sump i could use that is just as affordable?

Thanks!

I'm using one on my 65 in the cabinet. Absolutely removed the bioballs. My heaters and skimmer are in it along with a small ph for water movement as I keep chaeto in there on an opposite light schedule from the DT.

My probes from my Apex controller also sit in there and there's lots of live rock rubble. This week I'll be adding miracle mud and I'm going to seed it to boost my copepod population as I want a mandarin.

Also have an ATO plumbed into it and plumbed the PS into the return line so there's one less powerhead running in the sump. There's a filter sock on the PS return.

Happy with it after 7 months.

[mcginnisandrew]

Thanks guys! It might be awhile before i can start building it, but at least now i have a pretty good idea of how to do it [=

[mcginnisandrew]

actually, what would you guys recommend for a skimmer?
I've heard good things about reef octopus skimmers