DIY filter design for dummies (me)

[IKeepPacu]

ok, ive read through alot of the DIY articles, yet im still not 100% on making one. i have a spare 55g id like to use for my 250.

first question so far.....my tank isnt drilled, nor do i perticularly want to start drilling holes in it. so exactly how would i go about getting the water form the tank, down to the sump??

for some reason, i still dont quite understand the whole flow of water thing thru chamers, and how the filter takes in and returns water at the same rate

 

[andyc228]

me neither , try using a pump to pump water out and another for in

 

[LFN]

You can make an overflow to get the water from the tank to the sump. Use a pump to get the water back to the tank. If done right the overflow will keep the water level of the tank stabilized.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=101156

 

[rallysman]

me neither , try using a pump to pump water out and another for in

You're almost guaranteed a flood if you do that.

 

[??SLEEPY??]

i want to know this as well.like what gph pumps i need so i wont flood..

 

[mike dunagan]

i want to know this as well.like what gph pumps i need so i wont flood..

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47105

read here...

then once you know what turnover you need, make overflows from the DIY overflow, or... buy overflow boxes

 

[Dr Joe]

ok, ive read through alot of the DIY articles, yet im still not 100% on making one. i have a spare 55g id like to use for my 250.

first question so far.....my tank isnt drilled, nor do i perticularly want to start drilling holes in it. so exactly how would i go about getting the water form the tank, down to the sump??

for some reason, i still dont quite understand the whole flow of water thing thru chamers, and how the filter takes in and returns water at the same rate

There are a lot of threads on here about this, but I'm not at my computer to reference them. Start with this one
http://www.telic.us/SaltwaterFishTanks/Equipment/HowDoesItWork/tabid/68/Default.aspx

And
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Uthup_Sump_Filter.html

Dr Joe

.

 

[IKeepPacu]

There are a lot of threads on here about this, but I'm not at my computer to reference them. Start with this one
http://www.telic.us/SaltwaterFishTanks/Equipment/HowDoesItWork/tabid/68/Default.aspx

And
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Uthup_Sump_Filter.html

Dr Joe

.

ive read them all. yet for some reason, i still cant freakin understand it. you might as well write the stuff in chinese

 

[FSM]

You need one of those hang-on-tank overflow boxes. The siphon water out into the sump. The overflow has to be able to flow faster than the pump though, so make you get one that is big enough. When water in the tank drops down too low, the overflow doesn't work anymore, so it can't flood your sump if the pump quits.

If the overflow can't keep up with the pump, bad things will happen.

Lots of sump chambers isn't really necessary. The sump that came with my tank is pretty simple. On one side is the wet/dry chamber, which is elevated up above the bottom of the sump a few inches. There are holes in the bottom so water can flow down and out the bottom, and also lots of holes in the top, so water spreads evenly over the media. The water level is right at the bottom of the wet/dry chamber. Then the pump is next to it, pump the water that has just gone through the wet/dry thing.

You can add baffles and stuff, but its not always necessary.

 

[mattheuw1]

So to build a sump....you must start with the overflow box first? I was under the impression that a sump is more of a giant canister filter that has more flow...I was mistaken. The sump just pumps filtered water back in the tank. Is there any other way to build a sump without an overflow box? Clarification would help a lot