DIY Overhead sump for nitrate control

[Lawlboom]

Has anyone built an overhead sump out of a windowsill planter for partially aquatic plants to do a dent in the nitrate levels? I got the idea from the King of DIY on youtube. The only part I don't quite understand yet is he somehow used a powerhead to pull the water out of the tank and into the planter. Anyone else doing something different?

 

[Ihsnshaik]

It's very easy to make this. Okay so the exit of the pump where it pushes the water out find a hose that you can clamp on it and feed it to the planter. At the end of the planter make a hole with a bulk head and put a pvc or a hose to enter tank.

Honestly petco right now has dollar a gallon tank so you can just get a 10 gallon and it will work better since it's bigger and more media etc.

That works the same inside the bottom sump connect a hose and put it inside the tank. Make sure your entry is on the other side. Same way but with gravity.

King is diy has all the videos it's very clear I hope I made things easier

 

[Ihsnshaik]

That video is informative but this is better same exact thing but better

 

[duanes]

Here's another example.
I spliced a line from my sump to the main tank, with a tee and ran another line to a 20 gal tank full of plants (papyrus, etc) in a window. The half inch line, mid right sends water to the the refugium, the 1.5" line (more left) drains water by gravity back to the sump, as you can see, the 20 gal is drilled on one end, for ease in sending water back to the sump.
It did not eliminate the need for water changes, but with water changes, my nitrate level averaged in the 2-5ppm range.

 

[Ihsnshaik]

Here's another example.
I spliced a line from my sump to the main tank, with a tee and ran another line to a 20 gal tank full of plants (papyrus, etc) in a window. The half inch line, mid right sends water to the the refugium, the 1.5" line (more left) drains water by gravity back to the sump, as you can see, the 20 gal is drilled on one end, for ease in sending water back to the sump.
It did not eliminate the need for water changes, but with water changes, my nitrate level averaged in the 2-5ppm range.

Yup same thing! I like how you added this setup I have the same sort of.

My sump has its media and all sorts and in that same sump I run plants right before it gets pumped out to the main tank. Mine is a 40 gallon and half is plants so it's similar setup.

 

[Lawlboom]

Thanks for the info guys. I actually have a 10g and two 20g talls on hand. I want to do this for a 125g which is not drilled. I am limited on space and the way the stand is setup I can't really squeeze any tank underneath. Which is why I don't have a sump. I also was planning on a canister filter which I have, so I backed the tank almost flush with the wall so I can't get behind it. I do have a windowsill behind the tank which is not very big, but can fit a windowsill planter.

So I though of putting the planter on the windowsill, this the plants will get natural light, and I'll get some nitrates removed. I just don't know how to pull water out of the tank without housing the pump in the main tank itself. Which comes with it's own challenges and might devalue the entire project.

 

[Lawlboom]

Here is when I first set it up

 

[paulW]

Thanks for the info guys. I actually have a 10g and two 20g talls on hand. I want to do this for a 125g which is not drilled. I am limited on space and the way the stand is setup I can't really squeeze any tank underneath. Which is why I don't have a sump. I also was planning on a canister filter which I have, so I backed the tank almost flush with the wall so I can't get behind it. I do have a windowsill behind the tank which is not very big, but can fit a windowsill planter.

So I though of putting the planter on the windowsill, this the plants will get natural light, and I'll get some nitrates removed. I just don't know how to pull water out of the tank without housing the pump in the main tank itself. Which comes with it's own challenges and might devalue the entire project.

I am sorry for stating the obvious.. ]have you considered just floating hornwort, water sprite or some other fast growing plant in the show tank.
It accomplishes the same thing and there's no work to it (and no risk of flood/spills) You'll need a light on top of the tank obviously. I do this on many of my tanks.. I periodically throw out the excess hornwort.

 

[Lawlboom]

Yeah, my green terror HATES hornwort. I haven't tried anything else. Haha. It all gets shredded after a couple hours.

 

[duanes]

You could run the return of your canister first into the planted window box and have it drain into the tank.
Or as you suggest, put the pump inside the main tank, hidden behind a rock or log.
I am also a big fan of plants in the main tank, but many of my fish see that as a salad bar, so not always feasible. The only plant my cichlids seem to find distasteful is anubias, and because of its slow growth it does not remove nitrate in any kind of significant way.