DIY cheap sump

[Dow]

I would like to put together a cheap sump in the near future. I know that a small tank is needed as well as a pump but much past that, I have no clue what I'm diving into, here. Any products? Anyone willing to build it for me if I can provide the supplies?

[fishboyt]

PICT0041 (3).jpg

This is the one I made. Pretty simple. Just used a 10 gallon tank with plexiglass that I cut to size and siliconed into place.

[cichlid1409]

+1 on fishboyt's sump. although i would have made the media area bigger. plexiglass can be bought at HD or lowes.

[fshfrk]

I can help you build one. I will post more tonight.

[Dow]

Okay, so a 10g and a sheet of plexi glass with silicone... How would I put this together with ins and outs? What kind of pump would I need? It's going to be for a 55g highly populated cichlid tank. What kind of Media? I've heard of bio balls and carbon sponges but what do you guys think is best?

[Dow]

Thanks!

[fshfrk]

For your sump you could use a 10gal or a 20 long would be better. As long as it fits in under your stand. get a kitty litter bucket. The yellow one works good. turn it one way and the lips sit on the edge of the 10gal. turn it the other way and it will sit on the edge of the 20 long. This way it's held off the bottom of the tank 4"-5". Drill big holes in the bottom. You will use a hole saw for this. The holes could be 1" or 2" or any size in between. Then go to the Dollar store and buy 10 pks of nylon pot scrubbers. Fill the bucket with them. Then you will need a drip tray. Get another bucket and cut out the bottom about 1" lip on it. Drill a bunch of holes in it for a drip tray. You want a lot of holes evenly spaced. You could use a pattern like a broiler pan with holes, lay it on the back and mark holes with a shapie marker then drill. Or you could cut out the bottom with a 3/4" lip and cut some plasic peg board to fit in so you won't have to drill the holes. For the lid you need to use hole saw and drill lid for a bulk head. This is for the imput from the over flow. you could use some 1 1/4" pvc coulpings instead of the bulkhead and save some money. For your pump a Rio with about 500-600 gph would work and is inexpensive. Now what about your over flow?

[Dow]

Do you have pics of this process? I honestly don't know about an over flow box. I want to put this up in maybe a month or three... So it isn't extremely important that I get everything together quickly. I just need a lot of information on how to put them together and things of the sort. Why is a sump btter than a cannister or HOB?

[fshfrk]

A wet/dry is better because it super oxygenates the water. the areobic bacteria need oxygen to thrive so more is better. a canister filter with a return skimming the water surface is sufficiant to oxygenate the water but not any where close to a w/d. If I use a canister I set it up for biological because I hate cleaning them. Last thing I would do is set up a can for mechanical and have to clean it every month. If I was a fish and had to live in a toilet we call tanks. I would rather have the waste removed weekly. Not have the waste sit in the system with thousands of gallons running thru it. Could you please flush the toilet! I would set up a HOB for mechanical filtration and clean it weekly. But my filter pads only cost a couple of pennies because I DIY them too. I went and did it now the canister thugs are going to BLAST me!

[fshfrk]

Do you have pics of this process? I honestly don't know about an over flow box. I want to put this up in maybe a month or three... So it isn't extremely important that I get everything together quickly. I just need a lot of information on how to put them together and things of the sort. Why is a sump btter than a cannister or HOB?

I will make you a w/d. you buy your sump-tank and pot scrubbers. If a 20 long will fit get it. You will have to lift the stand and set it over the 20 though. Petco has the $1.00 gal sale on now. You will need to get a small over flow box, u-tubes and hose.

[jsnoravo]

20g sump tank--$20/10pk pot scrubbers--$10/Return U Tube--$8ish/Rio Pump--$45ish/Overflow Box--$40 to $50/Flex drain hose--$15ish/.75" return hose--$5 = about $140 for everything give or take a few bucks, just to give you a ballpark estimate on what you're gonna be looking to spend.

I have both wet drys and canisters and I love both. It's just a matter of which one you think will be more convenient and cost effective depending on situation and resources that you have available.

[jsnoravo]

just wanted to add that wet-drys are really fun to watch. haha.

[Oldsgirl]

let me know if you could use this:


link to pic- for some reason it won't show up here

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v675/OldsGirl/stuff%20to%20sell/overflow3.jpg

it does have a crack on the back piece, but its an easy fix



let me know if pics show up properly- had some trouble getting links to work for some reason

[fiftyfiveG]

You don't need a sump for 55g highly populated cichlid tank. You better off with a canister filter i.e Eheim, Filstar