So I have a 240 Gallon Glass tank that is undrilled and have decided to set up a sump for it. I got a 55 gallon for $20 on CL the other day. Can you guys recommend a good overflow, return pump, and how i should set up my sump? I'm thinking about filling it up with biomax at the moment.
Building my first sump
- Thread starter Chizzle
- Start date
Overflow
The best overflow is always one which is drilled and plump directly into the tank. But if you don't want to drill due to certain reasons, a good overflow box would be Eshopps overflow boxes. You can get them at F&S here
Return Pump
I personally like Eheim pumps as they are reliable, last long and most importantly, dead quiet. Only downside is the price. But since my setup is beside my bed, I need it to be as quiet as possible. When I sleep, I can't even hear the eheim pump just 2' away from me.
Setup
I would start of with mechanical filtration vias a filter socks. Try to get one with a small micron size like 50 if you don't mind washing it a few days. I hooked a 200 and still see some gunk escaping from it. As for holding the socks, I just tie some raffia strings onto the socks on one end and clip the other end to the sump glass.
After that you just fill the rest of the sump with biological media. Make a baffle for the last part of the sump which would be for your return pump and heater. If you decide to go live plants for additional filtration, get those clip-on aquarium light, and clip it onto the baffle so that the light unit is closer to the plants.
The best overflow is always one which is drilled and plump directly into the tank. But if you don't want to drill due to certain reasons, a good overflow box would be Eshopps overflow boxes. You can get them at F&S here
Return Pump
I personally like Eheim pumps as they are reliable, last long and most importantly, dead quiet. Only downside is the price. But since my setup is beside my bed, I need it to be as quiet as possible. When I sleep, I can't even hear the eheim pump just 2' away from me.
Setup
I would start of with mechanical filtration vias a filter socks. Try to get one with a small micron size like 50 if you don't mind washing it a few days. I hooked a 200 and still see some gunk escaping from it. As for holding the socks, I just tie some raffia strings onto the socks on one end and clip the other end to the sump glass.
After that you just fill the rest of the sump with biological media. Make a baffle for the last part of the sump which would be for your return pump and heater. If you decide to go live plants for additional filtration, get those clip-on aquarium light, and clip it onto the baffle so that the light unit is closer to the plants.
Biomax will be expensive to add a lot, but the nice thing with a sump is you can keep adding more media. Depending on the flow you want, i really like my reeflo pump, and surprisingly it isn't that loud considering it pushed 5555gph but i wouldn't want it next to my bed. Filter socks work great, just be sure you can access them easily
OVERFLOW
id go with a CPR overflow. the one on my tank is rated for 1500 gph. two stand pipes on the inside to reduce water falling noise and id reccomend putting a gate-ball valve on your intake to reduce any falling noise in the pipes [something i forgot to do with mine]
RETURN PUMP
mag drives and quiet one pumps are probably the best and most quiet pumps on the market. also put a ball valve on your return piping to adjust the flow if needed.
SETUP
my sump goes, 2x 100 micron filtersocks with ceramic media right underneath, eggcrate [used as a divider], bioballs/ceramic media, eggcrate, heaters and pump.
**oh and hey Che i plan on ordering some ceramic media from charlie. so if you want to do a group buy hit me up sometime.
id go with a CPR overflow. the one on my tank is rated for 1500 gph. two stand pipes on the inside to reduce water falling noise and id reccomend putting a gate-ball valve on your intake to reduce any falling noise in the pipes [something i forgot to do with mine]
RETURN PUMP
mag drives and quiet one pumps are probably the best and most quiet pumps on the market. also put a ball valve on your return piping to adjust the flow if needed.
SETUP
my sump goes, 2x 100 micron filtersocks with ceramic media right underneath, eggcrate [used as a divider], bioballs/ceramic media, eggcrate, heaters and pump.
**oh and hey Che i plan on ordering some ceramic media from charlie. so if you want to do a group buy hit me up sometime.