DIY sump help.

[mrfeddown]

A few months ago I got a 6ft 135 gallon tank. In the process of getting the tank set up (had to reseal and reinforce the stand) I neglected to plan for a sump. I was too overwhelmed with the newness of a large tank.

Well, now I wish I had. The weird thing about this tank stand is that it has 6 small access doors instead of fewer larger ones. Complicating this is the fact that the whole stupid stand weighed less than 20lbs, and I wasn't comfortable setting around 2k lbs on it without reinforcement. So now between my 2"x6" and 2"x4" reinforcement I have around 7" of free space to get into the stand from each door.

What I've been thinking about is a way to build a sump, or ideally a refugium in the stand, out of something durable, that I can access for maintenance, without removing the tank on top. I really don't want to have to deal with draining the tank.

Here's a pic where you can kind of see the stand.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[Pharaoh]

Do you have pics of the inside?

I would guess your probably going ot have to drain the tank.

 

[LowCel]

Do you have pics of the inside?

I would guess your probably going ot have to drain the tank.

I'm not seeing any other options either unless you want to get into building a sump from scratch inside the stand (as in a complete build from glass or acrylic panels).

I believe it is sort of common for people to not be able to remove or put their sumps in their stands without emptying their tanks, mine is like that due to space. I don't even have room to slide it out the side of the stand. If I would ever crack mine or have a leak I would remove it in pieces and replace it with two 29 gallon tanks linked together.

 

[mrfeddown]

Alright, That's what i'd figured. Thought about building a box that could fit together with notches, the assembling it inside and adding some plastic liner, but if I make it a refug, then I'd really like to be able to see inside.

I'll add a sump for sure when I switch to real monsters.

Thanks

 

[jsodwi]

Can you cut the side of the stand open to slide a sump in? you would have to make sure there are no supports in the way and then have to fix the stand once you are done

 

[mrfeddown]

Nah, same problem, big 1x6 in the way, though if I reinforced the sides around it I bet it would be feasible, the biggest problem is that I lack the cajones to do that with a full tank on top.