DIY sump Need Input

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koop171

Fire Eel
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Feb 1, 2008
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Ok I've got just about enough stuff to make my own DIY sump. So I'm putting it into the planning stage.

This is what I have come up wiht so far and I need some input.


The tank is a standard 75 gallon Glass tank. I'll be using filter floss instead of socks b/c I have a TON of floss left over from my big tank.

My only Concern right now is what to put over the growout area to keep the fish from getting out. I was thinking more egg crate but I'm not sure how to attach it to the glass (minus putting a rock on it)

I figured that I could use some of the extra area to hold bags of chemical media also.

Here's a key to the picture.

BLUE - Glass dividers
YELLOW - Egg crate or drip plate
BLACK - Just measurements.



Please comment away. I'm looking at glass prices as soon as I get done posting this. and Hope to at least start on it before the week is out.


P.s. If I get this done I'm either going to just straight up sell it (idk for how much) Or I'm going to stick it under my 220.

Untitled.jpg
 
Design looks pretty good to me, except you might end up with a lot of microbubbles from the water dropping over that last divider. I guess it depends on how deep you plan on keeping the water though.

As far as the growout area, I would think just set eggcrate on top, and set a rock on it. You could maybe make a shelf just under the lip of the dividers to rest the eggcrate on, but I think you'll still need to weigh it down with something.
 
Conner;3921320; said:
Design looks pretty good to me, except you might end up with a lot of microbubbles from the water dropping over that last divider. I guess it depends on how deep you plan on keeping the water though.

As far as the growout area, I would think just set eggcrate on top, and set a rock on it. You could maybe make a shelf just under the lip of the dividers to rest the eggcrate on, but I think you'll still need to weigh it down with something.
Click to expand...


The water level I hope will stay right around that 10" mark. But that all depends on the pump I think.

Yeah I think that for the time being I'll use the rock idea.

what thickness of glass should I use The local place has single and double strength. And they will cut it but I'm not sure how thick this stuff will have to be.

Edit: the tall glass piece is accutally only 14.5" tall and off the bottom 3" to get the 17.5" totall height.
 
For the dividers, you can use whatever size glass you want. I used 1/8" glass in both of my sumps, and it works just fine. You could also use acrylic if that is easier/cheaper for you.

There's really not any pressure on the glass dividers, so they don't need to be strong like the walls of a tank need to be strong.
 
Oh, and I'm guessing that, unless your 220 is horribly overstocked, you'll have at least twice as much bio media in that sump as you'll need. You could shorten the bio chamber, and add a few inches to the grow out area and still be in good shape.
 
Conner;3921350; said:
For the dividers, you can use whatever size glass you want. I used 1/8" glass in both of my sumps, and it works just fine. You could also use acrylic if that is easier/cheaper for you.

There's really not any pressure on the glass dividers, so they don't need to be strong like the walls of a tank need to be strong.
Click to expand...


I didn't think about that. There will only be minor pressure on the largest glass panel. And that won't even be that much.

I think I was quoted 5-10 per panel After cutting. So 30 tops for the glass being cut.

I might have to run out today and get glass and silicone. I'll have to look at what types of silicone that I can get I know that I can get tubes of some DAP stuff that is aquarium safe but I think there is some other stuff that might be cheaper.
 
The GE silicones are pretty cheap at my local HD and Lowes. Just make sure you DON'T get the ones with mold and mildew inhibitors...
 
Didn't have a chance to read through this all the way, but.....

What size tank is this going on?

You can use glass or acrylic to make the dividers. I used acrylic in my 75G sump as it was easier to work with. Acrylic will run you right about the same price.

You can you the plastic mesh screen to keep the fry from getting into the pump area. If you filter it well enough, you won't have to worry about debris build-up. Fry do not make a whole lot of mess. You could use veggie clips or something similar to hold onto the screen. Just a quick thought.

I agree, GE silicone at Lowes works well. It is what I used.
 
I do not understand why so many people bypass mechanical filtration in sumps or wet/drys… I just don’t see a sock or floss on top of a drip tray being adequate…
　
Sump.jpg

　
That’s my design… The sand is “experimental” and will not work with a high flow system… chances are you will just bypass that step…
　
A Drip tray could be placed where the water spills from the third sponge into the refugium… the refugium could be replaced with a bio chamber… or half of the refugium could be bio chamber and the other half refugium…
　
If your 220 gal is functioning just fine right now, then why would you want to add so much bio media? Dedicating what looks like 20” x 18” x 12” to biomedia just seems excessive… I would make the bio a lot smaller and add mechanical…
 
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