Overflow sump tank 101

[Mymonsterfish]

So here is my first diy sump tank build. It is currently up and running on my 180g tank. I was limited on funds so I went with the least expensive build. The sump is a 32g Rubbermaid commercial trash bin. And inside is 2 smaller trash bins. The reason why I went with this overflow design is because it was the smallest chance for disaster incase of power outage(the amount of water, originally inside the sump, pumped out into the aquarium will drain back in with no flooding). My current stock is 2 barracuda(armatus) about 8 1/2 inches. Will be adding a black and silver arowana later on and planning to sell 1 barracuda.

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[Mymonsterfish]

This is what i started with. Originally I wanted to go with pvc piping but because of a black background, found abs to be an easier install. 1 1/2 inch abs pipe.

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[Mymonsterfish]

Got this design from the diy Joey guy on youtube.

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[Mymonsterfish]

32g Rubbermaid and 2 trash bins. Drilled holes on the bottom of both smaller bins for water flow and on the backside of the bottom bin to flush any stagnant water behind the bin. The top bin has Styrofoam siliconed around it to hold the it in place and prevent water from flooding out. Making waterflow go downwards. The brown container is a painters pan and supposed to hold the filter pads but I decided to take it off and used egg crates to hold the pads up.

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[Mymonsterfish]

For the return: pvc was used and a 3/4 Id hose. The pump is a 800gph and the model is: PP80006: 800 GPH High Lift Pump, Waterfalls/Ponds/Vertical Hydroponics/Aquaponics - 6' Cord. It does a really decent job.

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[Mymonsterfish]

Media is ceramic rings 2 sizes and black bio balls 2 sizes. Rings on top balls bin and balls bottom bin. Drilled an open hole for the overflow to come in and the 2 bins are suspended by 50lb power pro spectra fiber fishing line.

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[aldiaz33]

Nice man. Not sure why more people don't use ABS...looks so much better.

 

[Mymonsterfish]

The lights are also a diy led that changes to 10 different colors and stand is also a diy. Currently the sump is sitting next to the tank because I went with a low stand setup. All thanks to MFKers for guidance on making the sump and to the diy Joey guy on youtube.

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[Mymonsterfish]

The size of your overflow pipe depends on the flow rate of your pump. Here is a guesstimate of the flow of water through pvc(give or take): (not my chart)
.5" = 90gph
.75" = 220gph
1.0" = 375gph
1.25" = 580gph
1.5" = 840gph
2.0" = 1500gph
To make this more effective, suggested to double your pumps gph return. And go with that size pvc. If not, its good to have a valve to restrict the return rate incase. Some pumps have it built in.

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[flagtail]

Nice man. Not sure why more people don't use ABS...looks so much better.

ABS is used for drainage/sewage purposes......not sure how safe for fish usage!