1st time diy sump...gonna work?

[SilkyPimP]

lol ok here we go, first time ever doing the sump thing so tell me if this will work.

its running two 55 gallons i grow out fry and have a mating pair in the other!

i have a 54 gallon rubbermade for the sump and two smaller ones stacked inside that dont even take up half the space inside filled with pot scubbies and sponges (going to add bio balls/cut up straws and maybe some chemi-pur or whatever the lfs gives me).

have a drip plate drilled and both smaller bins are drilled with pump on otherside.....done with diy overflows.

 

[frasertheking]

a few pics of each bit and an assembled pic would help us get an idea of what is going on.

 

[BushFishRox]

I would highly recommend switching the rubbermaid sump to a glass\acrylic fish tank, I had the rubbermaid bin one size smaller then that but it was the exact same shape and it got a small crack in the bottom of it causing a slow leak in a matter of weeks...

My old wet/dry design:

My new wet/dry design:

 

[SilkyPimP]

I would highly recommend switching the rubbermaid sump to a glass\acrylic fish tank, I had the rubbermaid bin one size smaller then that but it was the exact same shape and it got a small crack in the bottom of it causing a slow leak in a matter of weeks...

damn good looking out! thats what im most worried about!
i thought these would be ok (alot of forums say to use them)
what size tank would you use on two 55 gallons?

lol sorry supposed to have more pics damn cell phone camera on this "rumor" phone is ok but it takes forever to send the pics (some pics are taking a while to upload)

 

[Dr Joe]

I'm concerned about the sponges, they look like the ones that disintegrate if left in water too long...makes a mess in the tank and isn't good for the fish. If you can rub them hard with your hand and it starts flaking off look for a different sponge (better yet more scrubbies or flat scrubbing pads (like scotchbrite pads)).

Is the poly-fil on top of everything for filtering or sound deadening? You may have some extra evaporation from it wicking water up.

Good work,

Dr Joe

.

 

[BushFishRox]

a 30 gal should be ok depending on how the bio tower is setup, my new one is a 38gal on my 220...

really it all depends on how much space in in the stand (looks like a lot) and how much you want to spend, but a 30 gal seem to be a popular choice.

 

[SilkyPimP]

great replys guys, im at work on the phone right now lol!
hmm i just thought the sponges would be good, ill take them out ( i have alot more of the scubbies).

and a 30 gallon might be cheap? i was trying to save money (maybe use pond liner in the rubbermade?)

just so i know i have the same ones as in the above sump bushfishrox has, those are the ok ones right?
but ditch the flat ones i have on top?
and what about the straws/bio balls?
i plan on laying the floss filter on top on the drip plate? or under it thanks all!

btw whatever i do to these two tanks i have ALOT more to make for the rest of the room lol!
pics soon


also on the overflows....there restart if power off then on ......but im scared of them flooding out or whatever i cant find a venturri valve anywhere (home depot,lowes,all my hardware/plumbing places in the are)

 

[BushFishRox]

The brown one I had is the one that cracked, a pond liner will work but I picked up a brand new 38gal for $79 w/tax so you might be able to find a used one for next to nothing...

 

[johnuskglass]

I understand how the pump draws the water from the tank into the sump, but how do you manage to send the water up through the plastic tubs and into the tank at any decent of a speed? I was thinking of doing something like this myself, but wasn't sure how to design it.

 

[BushFishRox]

I understand how the pump draws the water from the tank into the sump, but how do you manage to send the water up through the plastic tubs and into the tank at any decent of a speed? I was thinking of doing something like this myself, but wasn't sure how to design it.

lol, you have it backwards my friend...

the overflows drain the water from the tank, down into the sump (gravity feed) then once the water has run through the bio tower the pump returns it to the tank...