DIY sump, need input!

[Maich]

This is my failed attempt at drawing my 80 gallon sump design, its for a 125 gallon discus tank. Will it work?

Also, ive never really figured this out. between the heaters and the pump, do i need two peices of glass (on both sides) siliconed, to keep the water level? ive seen tons of people do that but im not sure what its for. or do i not need that.

 

[Midknightskie]

why are there 2 inlets? the reason for the two pieces of glass would be to keep the water at a certian level to keep the heater correctly submerged.

 

[Maich]

I have two inlets because i have two overflows. and also so i can have twice as much bio media. Ok so i guess i do want the pieces of glass.

 

[JakeH]

I use the drawers too. It looks sound to me, but you may need to weigh the drawers down somehow to keep them from floating open. Other than that, looks killer!

 

[remo1997]

my sump pump kicks off enough heat to keep my tank at 78 degrees, so i took out my heaters(running to hot 82-84)but you set up should work,fail safe would be valves on your pipes to control rate of flow

 

[Maich]

Ah, no valves needed. I have a 3000gph in-line pump, brand new! just got for a killer price for Lab-x.com 25 bucks shipped! and then i found another killer price on a 2 phase motor controller that will work to control it, Reg, like 250 bucks got for 60 shipped! Its awesome, im so looking forward to use it!

Thanks for all the input guys! and now i'll have a killer sump! YAY

 

[bomber]

I would add to your mechanical filtration. Even though you have two drip trays, they can clog fast and all that crap would just get into your return and back to your tank. Post photos of the project.

 

[Maich]

I definitely will post pics. But i am going to have a 3 inch thick piece of this hard mesh like stuff on top of the drip trays. It works miracles. Nothing will get by it.

 

[JakeH]

Bomber is right about needing plenty of mech, but I think your design is perfect because its easily changed. I promise you will end up rearranging the media in the drawers as you go. My prediction is all your bio will end up in the bottom drawers & you'll add more mech stages up top... Everybody goes overboard on the bio in my opinion, though.