Please walk me through this!

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

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

 

[RODinCALIFORNIA]

1. will a 35 gal tub be just right?
THAST THE SIZE I USE WORKS FINE.
2. how big of an overflow should i get or if i DIY it how big should the pvc pipe be?
I USE DUAL DRAIN OVERFLOW BOXES DO ABOUT 1600GPH
3. how big of a pump should i get? (water will be pumped up to the tank around 3.5 feet)
YOU DONT WANT A PUMP THAT WILL RETURN MORE WATER THAN YOUR OVERFLOW CAN DRAIN SO OVERFLOW GPH IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW.
4. how big should i make the wholes on the drip plate (first drawer)?
I MADE MINE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A WOODEN PENCILS GIRTH.
5. for the second drawer i plan on putting scrubbies and then the third drawer i plan on putter ceramic media.
SOUNDS FINE ITS A VERY EASY DIY PROJECT.
6. YOUR LAYOUT SOUNDS LIKE HOW I DO MINE.

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

do you have any pics of your set up?

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

btw how many gph is your pump?

 

[TheRealAndyCook]

you want your pump to be x3 your tanks size in GPH at the rated hight the top of your tank is at.

 

[WeeNe858]

"Search" feature is your friend.

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=205645&highlight=DIY+overflow

i would try and set up an overflow with around 600-700 gph and run a pump rated less than that for less risk of flooding. you can always aim closer to the overflow rate but that takes some experience and understanding.

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

Lol I finished my sump last night and it's running lile a champ

 

[Danger_Chicken]

Pic's, Spec's?

 

[Ancient_Fish_Master]

its a 40 gal sump with a cpr overflow (1500gph) drained into two micron filter socks. first chamber is left over bio balls and ceramic media. second chamber holds more ceramic media, my two heaters and a uv sterilizer when i get it. third chamber is my via aqua 4900 pump (1300 gph) and then plumbed up to my tank. i also have an extra pipe on the return pumping water back into the sump to get re filtered.

tank is a 130 gal stocked with one florida gar, 13 silver dollars and two bichirs.
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