Diy sump for 30 gallon

[Elykreefs97]

I'm looking into making a sump for when I start my 30 gal nano reef. I want it to be 10 gallon idk if I should drill it or use an overflow im using 1 inch PVC and a 100 gph pump its going to be a standard overflow setup bible trap refugium return. Is there any measurements you cold give me or any other info

 

[fort384]

I would vote drill if you can swing it.

As far as measurements for your sump, it is going to depend on your equipment. It will be tough to get a skimmer in a 10G if you are looking for one, and still have room left for a fuge, and leave sufficient volume for the return section. Remember as water evaporates out of the system, the return section is what will lower... so if you only have a gallon of water in the return, you could be looking a situation where your return pump runs dry pretty quick unless you use an auto top off system or top off every day.

What I would do is if you are going with a skimmer, decide which one you want, make the first section just big enough for it. The fuge in the middle should then be around 2/3 of what's left, and the last 1/3 is the return section. You also need to make sure you can fit your pump in the return section as well, though.

 

[Pbarkerhb]

Here are a couple of photos of my DIY sump in progress. I have 3/4 in drilled holes with a DIY overflow box. As u can see I am still testing, but I am getting around 300-400 gph I got the ten gallon tank from pet co for ten bucks. And spent 10 dollars on acrylic.

 

[Elykreefs97]

I was thinking about getting the nano biocube skimmer for 60 bucks bc it's very small and then making my return about 3-4 inches across then having live sand and some ruble rock in my refuge

 

[Elykreefs97]

Also I'm using inch PVC put idk the pump power I would need with that