DIY Overflow using PVC pipes

[Maich]

Ok, i would like some advice on building the sump to the overflow i will be building....

So if i were to lets say buy a 55 gallon sump......
what i want to know is.

what to put where basically... such as where to put the walls, what to put between the walls and ect..... this is for a discus tank. so like whatever works better i would like to hear it....

I got a good way to build a overflow, and now i want to know what i need to do to build a sump for it.....
where i got the overflow info was from:

http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/diy-overflow/120.asp

And if anyone could give me some advice on... well what i need to finish this.... overflow on.... it does use a sump right?
but if not or if so... please give me as much info as possible because i am fairly new to this type of stuff...

Thanks
john

 

[Rivermud]

Instead of giving you random advice, my best suggestion is to do searches on the forum for the keywords you are wanting to know more about. The stickies sections has agreat little thread for DIY compilations. Good place to start. Then just take your time and read as much as you can. Narrow down your questions, because right now your questions are extremely broad.

 

[julsy]

really need to know what kinda filtration you are going to use, ie scrubbies, bio balls, plants, all the above... you might look up wet drys also

 

[Maich]

really need to know what kinda filtration you are going to use, ie scrubbies, bio balls, plants, all the above... you might look up wet drys also

i will probbably use scrubbies (cuz they are the cheapest) and whats the diff between a wet dry and a trickle?

 

[Sirspifalot]

wet/dry and trickle are the same thing. If you are going to go with scrubbies then you need to make sure you have a large bio chamber as they do take up a larger amount of space compared to other media. How big is the tank? Srubbies are similar in capacity to bio balls and usually 1 gal of bioballs will filter 40 gal of freshwater or so. Also, here is a good thread for sizing your pipe for the overflow and also another idea for a boxless pvc overflow design.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205645

 

[Maich]

Thanks sirspifalot. that is basicly just andwer all my questions... and btw the tank will most likely be about 150 gallons.

 

[Maich]

STILL UP FOR SUGGESTIONS

 

[CHOMPERS]

Just like Rivermud said, the questions are broad but the answers are even broader. The good news is that there isn't a right or wrong way of making a sump. Your sump should be in the ball park of 30% of the size of the tank, so if you end up with a 150g tank you should look for a sump in the 50g range.

Just to illustrate the wrong way of doing it (or the right way, depending who you ask) the sump for my 250 is about 30 gallons. I don't recommend you doing this because I had plenty of hurdles that had to be overcome. I had tight space constraints so my options were limited. I used scrubbies because they are the most efficient in terms of surface area to volume. I also didn't follow standard sump designs. I made a large bio chamber to maximize the amount of scrubbies and then made the smallest pump chamber possible, and that is all there is to my sump. It's all bio-chamber and very little wasted space. It doesn't get any complements and very few people realize that it is a mighty-mouse. But still it does its job well.

 

[Maich]

Thanks Chomps.