Sump and Skimmer question

[jacksonimaging]

Hello all!

Here is what I have:

1. 38 gallon reef tank with an Eclipse 3 hood
2. Coralife Super Skimmer (for 125 gallons)

This is what I need:
1. 38 gallon reef tank with an intact Eclipse 3 hood with a working skimmer and sump



I can't/ wont drill into my hood so I need to install a sump for the skimmer. I am new at the saltwater addiction and I need some direction. I have been doing some reading but I still need some help.

First off -

Could I start with a 10gallon tank (as a sump) with my skimmer in it? Should I go bigger so there is more room for an overflow situation or doesn't it matter?

I know I need a return pump (any suggestions?) and do I need an overflow "box" or what is the best way to get the water to my sump? I have access to people that can help me out in designing/ building something if need be. I just need to fugyre out how to get it to work.

I have to open ports on the hood, one on each side. I was thinking to have the overflow/water to sump line on one side and the return on the other. The sump will be directly under the tank in the stand.

Can you build your own overflow system?

How do you regulate the water into and out of the sump so you don't overflow it? I am assuming this is were the overflow box comes in, can you build something or is this a must buy, or can you do with out?

Is there an idiot guide for this? Any suggestions/ideas are welcome!

Any good books that I can read that would help lay it out for me?

Thanks so much for the input!

Thanks so much all!

[Yum Cimil]

Here is my homemade 30 gallon sump refugium with plexiglass baffles and home depot lights. I am using the same skimmer your using. I hope this helps.


Sump




Skimmer


Return pipe from skimmer in sump

[Yum Cimil]

I think your best bet would be to buy an over flow box for your tank and a pump rated for the overflow box you buy. You can buy a hang on return nozzle for the display tank. I used plexiglass cut to size to build baffles in a standard glass tank I had laying around. I then used aquarium safe silicone to install the baffles. The center section of the sump is a refugium, I used 2 120 watt nvision light bulbs from home depot (The coil type that screws into a standard light socket) and cheap clip on shop light fixtures for the bulbs. I used EcoSystem’s miracle mud. Make sure you leave room for your skimmer and pump to fit in the sump. If you design the sump and baffles right you should have no bubbles from the skimmer getting into the display tank. Just keep all the bubble making things (Returns and skimmer output) far away from the return pump with baffles in between. I had to modify the way the skimmer returns water to the sump because I put the skimmer in the last chamber of my sump for easy access.