Thinking of getting a eshopps royal 400 sump for my 540 gallon aquarium ?
- Thread starter rbeaudi
- Start date
I want to use K1 media decided to go the route of making my own Sump might be getting a 150 or 180 gallon aquarium I have no idea how to build a sump or Chambers any information you have will be appreciated . How is your setup?? Pictures please
It's easier to build a sump than you might think. If you use the search function for the DIY section there are a few really good and detailed threads on how yo make your own. But you can always check out YouTube as well.
I wanted a factory made suml becausenits cleaner looking and factory warranted. But, a quick search and a few videos later I made my own out of an old tank I got on craigslist for dirt cheap. Adding the chambers and silicone myself was fun and easy. I also liked DIY because I can set it up exactly how I want with the flow rate and media I wanted.
But, if you have the idea of a factory built sump might as well.
you can also go to the hardware store after you measure how many and what length baffles you want and just have them cut the glass to put inside a glass tank. you will save a lot of money and have a better sump when you are done than buying a prefab. also if you can find a large acrylic tank that would be even better. easier to drill and make your chambers. the size of the tank it sounds like you could prolly fit a standard 240 gal tank under it. just make sure whatever you do keep it simple and easy for maint. for mechanical maybe look at rollerfilters.
Beside the amount of extra filtration that sumps can provide, the biggest factor for me (whether DIY or commercial), is ease of maintenance.
If there is enough clearance to get my arms in between the bottom of the tank, and upper frame of the sump, and pull in and out pumps or media is most important, or if to do those things I need to go into some yogic asana to accomplish it, is critical.
Before I'd buy, I'd get a cardboard box cut to exact dimensions of the one I'm considering, put it where I intend the sump to be, and put a couple rocks in it, to see if its easy move them around, or pull in and out.
Although chambers are aesthetically pleasing, I prefer functionality, and don't find chambers any more functional than tossing in bio-media, in mesh bags. They then are easy to remove, shake off the grunge, and toss back in.
Another factor for me, is whether or not the sump needs to be directly below the tank, off to the side, or even in another room, or on another floor.
Sumps do not need to be directly below a tank where clearance, and ease of maintanemce can be compromised.
One of my current sumps is (of course lower than the tank to accommodate gravity), but offset to make maintenance a breeze.
I have friends that put their sumps in the basements 1 floor down, or behind walls, for reasons like noise reduction, and to be in a place where the slop of maintenance isn't as critical, and where consistency of ambient temp is important (cool water fish, or ocean type temps are easier to regulate).
I mostly built my own from cheap old scratched up tanks, and prefer to spend extra money on more powerful pumps.
The one I have now is a commercial one, and came with the tank, so I use it, at least until the time I build a much larger one, with space enough to use other functional filtration types that emerge with advancing filter technology, or where one could add a planted section, refugium, protein skimmer or other methods.
If there is enough clearance to get my arms in between the bottom of the tank, and upper frame of the sump, and pull in and out pumps or media is most important, or if to do those things I need to go into some yogic asana to accomplish it, is critical.
Before I'd buy, I'd get a cardboard box cut to exact dimensions of the one I'm considering, put it where I intend the sump to be, and put a couple rocks in it, to see if its easy move them around, or pull in and out.
Although chambers are aesthetically pleasing, I prefer functionality, and don't find chambers any more functional than tossing in bio-media, in mesh bags. They then are easy to remove, shake off the grunge, and toss back in.
Another factor for me, is whether or not the sump needs to be directly below the tank, off to the side, or even in another room, or on another floor.
Sumps do not need to be directly below a tank where clearance, and ease of maintanemce can be compromised.
One of my current sumps is (of course lower than the tank to accommodate gravity), but offset to make maintenance a breeze.
I have friends that put their sumps in the basements 1 floor down, or behind walls, for reasons like noise reduction, and to be in a place where the slop of maintenance isn't as critical, and where consistency of ambient temp is important (cool water fish, or ocean type temps are easier to regulate).
I mostly built my own from cheap old scratched up tanks, and prefer to spend extra money on more powerful pumps.
The one I have now is a commercial one, and came with the tank, so I use it, at least until the time I build a much larger one, with space enough to use other functional filtration types that emerge with advancing filter technology, or where one could add a planted section, refugium, protein skimmer or other methods.
when going with a 6' or larger sump it makes it to where you can have a moving k1 area as well as different types of media in the same sump. being able to redirect the water can make certain filtration more effective. not only that is you can control water height in certain areas so some parts cant dry out if you have a failure and kill all of you bb. all depends on how you want to set it up. you don't need them but depending on what you want your sump to do they can make a big difference. one of my favorite parts of keeping is designing the sumps, filtration, and plumbing. in fact I will be changing my plumbing not because I have to only because I believe I can do it so it is more pleasing to the eye and just as effective (actually more so). once you start going bigger on the tank size so does the underneath to either add a bigger sump or even add another tank for more stock.
Duanes makes a good point as well by you dont even have to add it in the same room or even have a sump. i opted to add another 8' tank for more stock in the stand and and went with above tank sumps with 60lbs of matrix/pumice in bags, a 24" diy ultima filter, and rollermats. plenty of ways to do it. plenty on here that have had success and failures that are willing to share. i know i have had my fair share.
So the 1st chamber I plan on having filter socks 2nd chamber I could have extra media like Matrix and bio rings and the 3rd chamber I want to have the K1 4 chamber will be the heater and return pumps. Do they sell a kit that I can have 3 filter socks to insert in my sump ?