What would I need to turn a 55 gallon tank into a sump? I plan on buying a 180 gallon this summer and I have a vacant 55 gallon in the garage. What kind of time/hassle am I dealing with? What materials would I need? Any help is appreciated.
55 Gallon Sump
- Thread starter Purevil21
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carey
Aquarium Advice Addict
Following along I may have the same issue....
David S
Aquarium Advice Addict
yep,big enough.but is it too tall to get equipment in and out of it in the stand
carey
Aquarium Advice Addict
Thanks I got my answer early on! I want a low stand so i can reach in and do stuff in the tank. lol
Appreciate the thread guys...a premade sump it is for me then!
Appreciate the thread guys...a premade sump it is for me then!
carey
Aquarium Advice Addict
lol sorry wish I could help. I am the super noob at this. i have my own help thread for dummies on here just for the basics. hehe
The guru's will come along, it's been kinda slow lately it seems here. Maybe the holidays and the beginning of the week explains it...
Still gonna follow though
The guru's will come along, it's been kinda slow lately it seems here. Maybe the holidays and the beginning of the week explains it...
Still gonna follow though
Strawman
Aquarium Advice Activist
We need details:
Do you want to drill the tank?
Do you want a fuge?
but in time/hassle it depends how able you are with your hands,
Being a computer nerd, I am not very good when it comes the those things and I built my sump in 5 hours total work time, not including silicone dry and cure time, and pvc cement dry and cure time.
But that doesn't include the research, I designed my own pipe style overflow, it's more of a self priming syphon to be exact, so that added some time to it.
Cost was around $120 considering I salvaged a pump I had lying around.
Hassle wasn't that much, considering I enjoyed my work.
But the time is really a relative thing, my sump is simple so it didn't take long, pipe in, pipe out, a fuge, a stand in protien skimmer, 4 baffles.
Do you want to drill the tank?
Do you want a fuge?
but in time/hassle it depends how able you are with your hands,
Being a computer nerd, I am not very good when it comes the those things and I built my sump in 5 hours total work time, not including silicone dry and cure time, and pvc cement dry and cure time.
But that doesn't include the research, I designed my own pipe style overflow, it's more of a self priming syphon to be exact, so that added some time to it.
Cost was around $120 considering I salvaged a pump I had lying around.
Hassle wasn't that much, considering I enjoyed my work.
But the time is really a relative thing, my sump is simple so it didn't take long, pipe in, pipe out, a fuge, a stand in protien skimmer, 4 baffles.
David S
Aquarium Advice Addict
feeds one sump,there are quite a few different styles you can have but I would keep it as simple as possible,3 sections with baffles,water inlet through filter socks into 1st section with skimmer and heaters in it,then onto baffles into 2nd section with sand,chaeto and LR,through to last section with return pump
Smitty
Aquarium Advice Addict
This may not be what you are looking for but I'm going to be building a 55g sump as well. Here is my thread with a couple different designs:
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/yet-another-sump-thread-yea-140895.html
I think I'm going to stick with the one where the fuge is at the far left and the return pump will be split having most of the water return to the tank and a small portion going to the fuge.
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f20/yet-another-sump-thread-yea-140895.html
I think I'm going to stick with the one where the fuge is at the far left and the return pump will be split having most of the water return to the tank and a small portion going to the fuge.
Ok everybody, the new tank is ordered. I went with a 220, so while I wait it is time to start building this sump. I will draw up something when I get a chance. I had read you should use glass to separate sections, is it not possible to use plexi glass and silicone?
As far as the design, I was thinking of 4 sections. The tank was a freshwater setup and has a center divider. Being that there are two small light fixtures fitted for each half i though I would keep one to set up the fuge. How much lighting does a refuge need?
I plan to plumb both overflows to one side of the sump with a ball valve following the tee that joins them. The first section would contain the skimmer, followed by 3 baffles then a section with rock rubble. That would be one half of the tank, the second half would be the refuge followed by a small section for the return pump. This is my first build so I'm not sure how well my plan will come together. Please feel free to offer input about anything, I'm open to changes.
As far as the design, I was thinking of 4 sections. The tank was a freshwater setup and has a center divider. Being that there are two small light fixtures fitted for each half i though I would keep one to set up the fuge. How much lighting does a refuge need?
I plan to plumb both overflows to one side of the sump with a ball valve following the tee that joins them. The first section would contain the skimmer, followed by 3 baffles then a section with rock rubble. That would be one half of the tank, the second half would be the refuge followed by a small section for the return pump. This is my first build so I'm not sure how well my plan will come together. Please feel free to offer input about anything, I'm open to changes.
Smitty
Aquarium Advice Addict
I've heard the same thing about needing to use glass as a divider, but have seen others use plexiglass and it worked for them so I'm on the fence about it. I was going to use plexi to build mine and see how it went because I think I can cut plexi where I would have to pay someone to cut glass.
The fuge does not need much light (IE: I was going to use a regular light fixture 60 watt bulb). Having one of those light fixtures should work very well.
So is your idea skimmer-rubble-fuge-return? I think it will work but I was never really sure how to get the fuge as part of the system myself because it seems like the water would just flow along the top. Also, from what I understand, the fuge does not need as much water flow as the other sections. It is good to have the skimmer first but I'm not sure if you want the bubble trap there or at the end? I'm still learning too.
I will be following along so I can learn for when I have to build mine in the next couple weeks!
The fuge does not need much light (IE: I was going to use a regular light fixture 60 watt bulb). Having one of those light fixtures should work very well.
So is your idea skimmer-rubble-fuge-return? I think it will work but I was never really sure how to get the fuge as part of the system myself because it seems like the water would just flow along the top. Also, from what I understand, the fuge does not need as much water flow as the other sections. It is good to have the skimmer first but I'm not sure if you want the bubble trap there or at the end? I'm still learning too.
I will be following along so I can learn for when I have to build mine in the next couple weeks!
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