Least Expensive DIY W/D?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Mosdefenate

Mosdefenate

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jun 5, 2006
555
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Ft.Lauderdale Florida
I still have the thought in my head of one day building a W/D for my 120 and ive been reading up on what everything is and how everything works, and my friend recently got his own W/D and ive been able to see the parts working in action. But some questions i had were are there any other main item that i can use for a sump instead of another tank? what are some inexpensive things that i can use for the dividing part for the chambers for media, sumps water level ect, and i recently figured that a store bought overflow would not fit on my tank due to the glass cuts on the top of my tank, so what other ways could i make a overflow for the tank, and what other kinds of tubeing / piping can i use for the water return and feed. Also what are some other media i can use besides bio balls ive seen random threads talking about the "scrubbies" what else can be used? Thanks for all little bits of input you guys give !
 
Some people use rubbermaid drawer systems dripping down into larger rubbermaid tubs. I would imagine that would be a cheaper alternative to a tank depending on how big you intend on going with the sump.

As far as the overflow, you can either have your tank drilled and put a durso standpipe in there made out of pvc. In a pinch, a buddy of mine just used a pvc "u" tube to siphon water to the wet/dry.

Run to the home depot plumbing section and ideas will jump out at you for piping/tubing.
 
skill level i guess not so high =) budgettt uhhh not suree im sure im not going to have everything all at the same exact time so i figured dooing little by little so budget shouldnt be TO high
 
Walmart special baby !! :) I had somne rubbermaid drawers layin around.. PVC is extremely cheap any way.. ONe 10' tube should do your hole system for a 120 and that will cost 3-5 dollars.. Then your pvc glue another 2-5 dollars... Then your 5-14 dollar tub (rubbermade) 10-45 gal. a return pump .. and also pvc pieces for making your over flow.. you could spend any where from 60 to 160 depending on what you already have laying aroudn :) Plus the pot scrubbies 1.00 at the dollar store gets you six :) Still spendy but you save from 100 to 300 dollars total... :) First time usually costs a little more cause you over buy :) I think mine totalled between 100 and 150 including a T for my return and a bunch of extra stuff :)
 
I have a filter that is along the same as kudas. It cost me around $40, but I had a lot of stuff laying around that I used. The pump cost the most, I got a Rena 10HF. I used a 5 gallon bucket because it was for a 55 gallon tank.
 
Personally I went for something that at 1' of head could turn my tank over at least 10 times. so for your tank you should look for one that at however many feet of head you will have it will do around 10 times turn over in an hour.
 
Head feet is a term for how far the water has to travel upwards. A pump that is moving water up a column will have less power going up 4 feet than 1 foot.
 
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