sump

[the2ndtinman]

hopefully this is the right spot to post this.

I have a 80 gallon tank that came with what I am guessing size wise, 25-35 gallon plastic sump. I had a problem with the sump draining and my heater burnt a whole in the side of it. Anyways my question is i have a 55 gal tank that is just sitting around, I wouldnt be dumb to use it as my sump would I? Next question I am wanting to make a refuhium out of it, anyone have a diagram on where to put the glass deviders in at as far as for where my protieen skiimer and heater and sand and what not goes?

Thank you in advance!!!

 

[BL1]

There's nothing wrong with using a 55g tank, if you have the space for it. You always want the most water volume that you can get.

 

[JohnDoe]

There are many people with smaller DIY Sumps that you could scale up to the 55gallon size. That size will also give you extra water space (which is actually a very positive thing).

Before you do any sort of actual building you should do sketch/mock-ups like lilreefgirl did here: https://www.livingreefs.com/diy-sump-newbies-t25343p4.html

This will allow for others to creatively criticize your plan, and help you make it an optimal design for the space and size of container that you are using. :mrgreen: Hope this helps!

 

[Bifferwine]

A 55 gallon tank makes a perfect sump. Ideally, you will want to put plexiglass dividers in to make 3 sections -- the first section for equipment like skimmer and heaters, the second for the refugium, and the third for the return pump.

 

[Sunshine]

I did mine by watching this video on Youtube. Very helpful.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxnugJGiT3o"]YouTube - Reef Tank D.I.Y. Sump part 1[/ame]

 

[PRC]

I use a 50g for a sump on my 90 and love it. My tank isn't drilled, I have an overflow box. I only run my 50g at about 35g capacity, so my display can overflow into my sump quite a bit. I don't have to worry about flooding, when I'm doing water changes I can pull alot of it right from the sump, and there's plenty of room for your equipment.

 

[lilreefgirl]

There are many people with smaller DIY Sumps that you could scale up to the 55gallon size. That size will also give you extra water space (which is actually a very positive thing).

Before you do any sort of actual building you should do sketch/mock-ups like lilreefgirl did here: https://www.livingreefs.com/diy-sump-newbies-t25343p4.html

This will allow for others to creatively criticize your plan, and help you make it an optimal design for the space and size of container that you are using. :mrgreen: Hope this helps!

Wow, I'm honored! Ive been referenced!!
I have only been "officially" in the hobby for about a month, but I am 2 baffles from completing my sump! (the glass place cut my baffles too short)
I have updated my sump plan, so here it is (see attachment) - the only thing I need to add to the file is that I found out that I need 9" of water for the skimmer, so I will build an eggcrate stand in the intake section to make that height adjustment (I have room in the stand for it)
I warn you, the silicone is MESSY!!..and can be awkward - but really, the sump does not have to be pristine! :mrgreen:

I also used that video that sunshine posted as my first point of reference, although my sump is not drilled.:D

Oh, and I am also planning on drilling my DT, using an internal overflow - my 29g sump has enough room above the highest baffle to accept quite a bit of overflow in case something goes wrong! (not sure exactly how much, but I think my overflow plans need about 3 or 4 gallons of room in the sump in case anything fails.)