DIY Sump

[scrubnurseshelbie]

A few people have asked about the noise, and me being the wife of the house, let me tell you it is not as noisy as some of the other filters we have running. It is a peaceful sound compared to one of the filters we have on our 150. I'm impressed with the way the tank and sump turned out. Yes Bret and Levi, I'm COMPLIMENTING YOU!!

 

[JD_MAN]

thanks jd. im gonna start up a 55g sump i just got also, and i like your design a lot. the only thing i wanted to do different was fill the entire first chamber with poly filter instead of a sock. do u see any impeding trouble in this idea? i really dont see anything wrong with that, but if there's something about water flow, then im all ears.

I will let rallysman answer that, since he is the one who helped me build this and is more of an expert than I am.

I would say that it's possible, but would require some redesign.

 

[fishdance]

***Hint*** Look at the assembly pictures to when it is actually up and running.

I had another look and cant see anything out of place apart from you lengthening the water hose on the pump.... ? It all looks pretty good to me. Anyway I am posting to say that you dont really need barrel union joins above your filter sock. Just use 45 degree PVC fittings and push fit them on. Easier/faster to remove and much cheaper cos barrel union joins are about $8 each in Australia. (Actually I make up my own with a heat gun and small length of PVC pipe).

I like the idea of corian. I use thin acrylic with 1cm sides made into a tray (to strengthen & stop flex) or placed over egg crate atm.

 

[rallysman]

thanks jd. im gonna start up a 55g sump i just got also, and i like your design a lot. the only thing i wanted to do different was fill the entire first chamber with poly filter instead of a sock. do u see any impeding trouble in this idea? i really dont see anything wrong with that, but if there's something about water flow, then im all ears.

You can do that, just make the PVC go "deeper" in the sump so the water is forced to come up through the poly fill. I would even leave a gap between the bottom and the poly (with egg crate or something) so there is a place for heavy debris to settle. Then you can vac it out with a python or something later on.

I had another look and cant see anything out of place apart from you lengthening the water hose on the pump.... ? It all looks pretty good to me. Anyway I am posting to say that you dont really need barrel union joins above your filter sock. Just use 45 degree PVC fittings and push fit them on. Easier/faster to remove and much cheaper cos barrel union joins are about $8 each in Australia. (Actually I make up my own with a heat gun and small length of PVC pipe).

I like the idea of corian. I use thin acrylic with 1cm sides made into a tray (to strengthen & stop flex) or placed over egg crate atm.

There is 1 mistake, and it also involves the mirror back in a way It's hard to catch, be we both had the "we're morons" look when we found it.
I don't trust just pressing the fittings together in this application. If one does somehow work loose it will make a mess, and there is not much room to get in there to twist and pull on it. It would also put unnecessary stress on the bulkhead fittings.
Unions are pretty cheap here. If you get them from a big chain hardware store they're about $4, and they're even cheaper from online distributors and specialty stores. It's cheap insurance.

The corian is AWESOME though.....

 

[iORi]

thank u rallys and jd. you've both been very helpful. now its my turn to make my own sump

 

[JD_MAN]

thank u rallys and jd. you've both been very helpful. now its my turn to make my own sump

It will be fun. Take a lot of pics and let us know how it goes. Good luck.

 

[kyleking007]

I am inspired to do one for my 125 now. Ill keep in touch and may have to contract some help out. Great Post!

 

[JD_MAN]

I am inspired to do one for my 125 now. Ill keep in touch and may have to contract some help out. Great Post!

Thanks! Let us know. I found out that they are really easy to do...with some help from rallysman.

 

[kyleking007]

yeah im out in the brownsburg area probably not to far from you two.

 

[iORi]

It will be fun. Take a lot of pics and let us know how it goes. Good luck.

ill let u know how it turns out. the acrylic sheets i ordered should come soon.. hopefully tomorrow..