Good Step x Step Instructions on Sump builds?????

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$INI$T3R

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Dec 29, 2008
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Stuttgart Germany
Hey guys,

Im looking at my big build here soon, and asking alot of questions because im a "know what your doing before you do it" Kinda guy... So i think i pretty much have my tank build down and i have started to get the supplies for that. But now i am looking into makeing a plywood sump to go under my plywood 600g tank.

I am a HUGE picture person (i just understand more if i can see what your talking about). If you guys have some builds that you have done, or know where i can go to see some, it would be greatly appriciated...

My plan for the stand was to have 3 32" wide open areas 48" long and about 36" tall. So my sump would be roughly 30"w x 40"L x 26"T, and I am going to also run two FX-5's for Mechanical filtration. I think this would be plenty of filtration for the tank (well i hope lets see how bad i get murdered here)..

So i have a few concerns!!!!!!

1. How would i stop it from overflowing onto my basement floor if the electricity goes out?

2. How do i set the bulk heads up (to be honest i dont know what im getting myself into yet)?

3. How do i set it up so i can take it out and clean it (i was thinking about making some really strong rollers like the ones in a kitchen drawer)?

4. is this sump going to be big enough to properly filter that many gallons?

5. what type of pump do i use and where does it go?

Sooooo..... here are the starting questions i have for all you DIY'ers.... And thanks for all the imput on the tank build also.....
 
"1. How would i stop it from overflowing onto my basement floor if the electricity goes out?"

You have to allow for room in the sump for just this purpose.

"How do i set it up so i can take it out and clean it "

Yeah I struggled with the idea of this. I finally decided to have half the sump (the half with the media...) sticking out from the side of the stand so I can access it easily. Only come out a foot and thats where the plumbing had to go anyway so no real space lost.

"what type of pump do i use and where does it go?"

The pump goes in the sump... and there is a sticky (up there) that will guide your pump choice.
 
Burko;3480898; said:
"1. How would i stop it from overflowing onto my basement floor if the electricity goes out?"

You have to allow for room in the sump for just this purpose.

"How do i set it up so i can take it out and clean it "

Yeah I struggled with the idea of this. I finally decided to have half the sump (the half with the media...) sticking out from the side of the stand so I can access it easily. Only come out a foot and thats where the plumbing had to go anyway so no real space lost.

"what type of pump do i use and where does it go?"

The pump goes in the sump... and there is a sticky (up there) that will guide your pump choice.
Click to expand...

Awesome!! Thanks.... Do you have any pics of your set up, and how you did it? I was thinking if i made the bulk heads like 4" from the top, then and had the water like 2" above that, i would be safe? But im not sure, because what if the water leavel drops (from eveaperation) and i dont catch it wouldnt that burn up the pump?
 
$INI$T3R;3480924; said:
Awesome!! Thanks.... Do you have any pics of your set up, and how you did it? I was thinking if i made the bulk heads like 4" from the top, then and had the water like 2" above that, i would be safe? But im not sure, because what if the water leavel drops (from eveaperation) and i dont catch it wouldnt that burn up the pump?
Click to expand...


yep it would thats why i put on mine a "fill to line" and an "add water if lower than this"
 
"Do you have any pics of your set up, and how you did it?"

Ummm yes I do....but its not up and running yet, I resealed the tank last night... I hope.

"because what if the water leavel drops (from eveaperation) and i dont catch it wouldnt that burn up the pump? "

I think most good pumps have a 'thermal shut off' (?) to stop this from happening.
 
Burko;3480952; said:
"Do you have any pics of your set up, and how you did it?"

Ummm yes I do....but its not up and running yet, I resealed the tank last night... I hope.

"because what if the water leavel drops (from eveaperation) and i dont catch it wouldnt that burn up the pump? "

I think most good pumps have a 'thermal shut off' (?) to stop this from happening.
Click to expand...

Ok how do you measure the the amount of water in the tank to the over flow in the sump when building it the tank and sump?
 
"I was thinking if i made the bulk heads like 4" from the top, then and had the water like 2" above that, i would be safe?"

You can put the bulkheads wherever you like, then run the external pipe work up to the water level required and back down again to your sump. This limits the total amount of run off possible from the tank, which is what stops the sump from overflowing.
 
ah ok!!!! So like an L shape and i can cut it or extend it as far as i want to? Now the FX5's can i make bulk heads for them also, or would i have to run them the same as i do now over the top?
 
"how do you measure the the amount of water in the tank to the over flow in the sump"

Measure...shirly you jest.

Guesimate that the overflows are running at 75% capacity...times the surface area of the tank by 75% of the diameter of the overflow pipe...add a bit for good luck and suck it and see.
 
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