Thoughts on sump?

[duanes]

No problem.
To me sumps are just boxes to hold stuff, it can be under the tank, or in another room, or even a different floor. Have baffles or not, mine never do. Be quite full of water or shallow.
I remember an article in Aquarium Fish mag where, in order to keep the tank cool, the writer put his sump in the basement on a cool floor, even though the tank was on the 1st floor. Drilled holes in the floor running the plumbing straight down.
I thought it was a great idea.

you can usually find 50 and 30(35?) gallon plastic drums like in duanes photo for cheap on craigslist, and I'd have much more faith in one of those than I would a trash can. you could accidentally slice, melt, or rip a trash can. a drum is a wise investment. just make sure they weren't used for pesticides or anything oily. fertilizers and foods will wash out easily, the drums in the link I posted have had chlorine in them. perfect!

my sump is 48"x24"x12" and I have 13" open above it with about 11" available between the top of the sump and the top "door sill" and it works. my 19"x24"x6" sponge layer is horizontal so I only need 4" plus hand/arm space.


duanes, I never get out to wisconsin, but if I do I expect I'll be sending you a pm to see if I can come look over that filter.