new project, need HELP.

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Ancient_Fish_Master

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jun 27, 2010
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Las Vegas
alrights guys and gals, winter break is coming up (i get one month off) and this gives me just enough time to start my sump build. i have a 130 gal with two eheim pro II and two AC110 on the tank. i want to get rid of the two AC110 and replace them with a wet dry - sump. so basically i will be taking the whole project the DIY way using a rubbermaid tub (around 35 gal area) and plastic storage drawers, etc.

questions:
1. will a 35 gal tub be just right?
2. how big of an overflow should i get or if i DIY it how big should the pvc pipe be?
3. how big of a pump should i get? (water will be pumped up to the tank around 3.5 feet)
4. how big should i make the wholes on the drip plate (first drawer)?
5. for the second drawer i plan on putting scrubbies and then the third drawer i plan on putter ceramic media.
6. for the first drawer, would it be ok to put a layer of course sponge and then quilt batting for mech filtration(then the water will drip to the scrubbies)?

thanks Colton
:popcorn:
 
I'll try to answere a few of you questions below


questions:
1. will a 35 gal tub be just right?
Have you considered getting a used tank for a sump, like a standard 55 gallon? You could find a great deal on a old scratched up tank for this. It would be a lot easier to set-up compartment for your media. if not, you might be good with the 35 gallon tub. just cut out the center of the lid and keep the lid on or the sides will bow.
2. how big of an overflow should i get or if i DIY it how big should the pvc pipe be?
I would get a pre-made overflow, select the drain sized based on the flow rate of your return pump - chart below
GPH : Drain Diameter size
200 : 0.58”
400 : 0.83”
600 : 1.01”
800 : 1.17”
1000 : 1.31”
1200 : 1.43”
1400 : 1.55”
1600 : 1.65”
1800 : 1.75”
2000 : 1.85”
2200 : 1.94”
2400 : 2.02”
2600 : 2.09”
2800 : 2.19”
3000 : 2.26”
3200 : 2.34”
3400 : 2.14”
3. how big of a pump should i get? (water will be pumped up to the tank around 3.5 feet) Get a retrun pump of at least 1200 ghp, 4X the water volume of your tank + 150 gph loss for each foot of lift.
4. how big should i make the wholes on the drip plate (first drawer)?
5. for the second drawer i plan on putting scrubbies and then the third drawer i plan on putter ceramic media.
6. for the first drawer, would it be ok to put a layer of course sponge and then quilt batting for mech filtration(then the water will drip to the scrubbies)?

The amonut of holes will have to be made to make sure the water flows freely through it. Just keep adding more until you get the flow going through it with no problems. Filter media really is a personal choice. Try to get the blue plastic bio balls. they seem to be really good in wet dry sumps

I hope I've helped

thanks Colton
 
yes i plan on using a rubbermaid tub. it would make it a lot easier fitting it under the tank. so if i end up getting a 1200 GPH pump does that mean i have to get a 1200 gph overflow?
 
Ancient_Fish_Master;4633349; said:
yes i plan on using a rubbermaid tub. it would make it a lot easier fitting it under the tank. so if i end up getting a 1200 GPH pump does that mean i have to get a 1200 gph overflow?
Click to expand...

Roughly a 600 gph overflow. You will loose about 150 gph for each foot of hight on your return line ( i rounded up to a 4' hight).

Just be careful picking out your pump. Some include a certain amount of hight return while other do not. Read the box carfully to see what (if any) hight was factored in to calculating the flow rate that is listed on the box.
 
I almost forgot, could you post some pics of the sump as you put it togther

I love following DIY projects
 
Cliff519;4633390; said:
I almost forgot, could you post some pics of the sump as you put it togther

I love following DIY projects
Click to expand...

i will. project wont start for a couple more weeks, i just want to get all my information and stuff at 100% so i feel "confident" with the project.
 
One thing I always thought would be neat to try was to have canister filters feed the water into the sump. You could load the canister filters with mechanical filtration and that way you can just do bio in the sump. If the canister's didn't have fast enough flow you could always add an overflow and just have a small film of padding before the bio media to keep the crud out of it
 
I would say the model 17HF. It will give you pretty good flow (approx 640 gph) after factoring in the additional 3" of hight
 
Ancient_Fish_Master;4633404; said:
i will. project wont start for a couple more weeks, i just want to get all my information and stuff at 100% so i feel "confident" with the project.
Click to expand...


I be watching for it :headbang2
 
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