DIY junkyard sumps. What am I looking at?

[FishSwarm]

On to my next project! So I am setting up a couple junkyard 180's and I found these DIY sumps and think maybe they would make good filtration. These will be freshwater setups. I'm a complete sump noob and don't understand how these were originally setup. Looks like no matter what direction I stand them, I am at least missing one side of glass? Do these look serviceable to you, any advice appreciated.

 

[Gpdriftwood]

Looks like 2 trickle towers to me. If they are they would be placed vertically in both ends of an actual sump. U would fill them w bio media on top of the eggcrate. Gravity fed w overflows. Then returned to the tank via pump. However I can't say that's what they r for sure. I can't see how they would function as sumps unless they were missing glass on the open ends. Best of luck.

 

[blackwolf911]

Yes they look like 2 wet/dry filters.. I think you have the right idea how they work.. it looks like they had pipes from the tank plumbed to be over that open spot and then it goes over the media and gets sucked back into tank by pump.. like you said though it is missing one side at least.. if you are familiar with sealing tanks I'd say you can definitely do something with them.. between the two of them you have enough pieces to put something together

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I’d just get a Craigslist 55, 75, or 90 for each one and put baffles in them for your sumps. I wouldn’t mess with those two trickle towers if I were you.