Kinda Sump?

[MACATUA]

This seems very simple to me but maybe I am wrong. I have seen the DIY sump plans on the site, however I am running a very simple 55 gal FOWLR. My LFS gave me a free Visi-Jet protein skimmer yesterday, and of course I don't want this big ugly thing in my display tank all the time. My idea was to set up a very simple sump below my tank, like a 10 gal tank that I put the skimmer, heater, and a power filter on, and if I could pump water down to it and pump water back up to the display, would this work? I have seen all the glueing and cutting, but if this simple method would work and get my skimmer on as well as hide a power filter to run some GAC on, would this be a feasible option?

 

[kidafius]

if I could pump water down to it and pump water back up to the display, would this work?

it would take alot of work to set that up. A much easier, and very similar way, is to allow for the water to drain from your tank through a gravity induced siphon, and then pump it up to the tank.

This is very easy to do. Try a google search on DIY overflow, or check out our DIY forum on ideas about how to get the water out of the tank. There are MANY ways to do it, so don't worry about having to drill your tank.....unless you just want to. I set up a simple tubing overflow for my refugium, with the suction starting just below the tank's waterlevel. it takes me giving a slight toke on the end of the tube, but it flows beautifully and will only stop when the water level falls below the tubes opening.

 

[BBReef]

My LFS gave me a free Visi-Jet protein skimmer yesterday, ?

howd u pull that one off??

 

[fishfreek]

IMO it would be very difficult to size two pumps properly so as to match the pump out speed with the pump return speed. Two pumps of the same make/model will not pump the same amount since the pump returning water has to work aganst gravity.

a Gravity syphon as kidafius mentioned is the easist way to get water out of your tank.

I have a very simple sump on my 80 gal that consists of a 30 gal aquarium with some rock in it for extra filtration. The sump area would make a great spot for your skimmer and heaters.

If you have not done so check out our article on Sumps in our articles section to get some of the basic principles of the sump worked out in your mind.

 

[kidafius]

check out our article on Sumps in our articles section to get some of the basic principles of the sump worked out in your mind.

Where is this mythical "articles" section? I've been looking for it for a while. :x

 

[fishfreek]

Where is this mythical "articles" section? I've been looking for it for a while.

Front page of site on the left hand side you will see a box entitled "Board Navigation". If your using IE then 4 links down from the top you will find this link

Articles

If your not useing IE then it will be the 3ed link down.

 

[loganj]

You'll also need to silicone in a divider in the sump...probably in the first part. You'll have to keep the water level deep enough in that part for the Visi-Jet to work properly. The rest of the sump will have to be run at a much lower water level. The reason for this is if the power goes out or the pump quits, the water in the main tank will continue to drain into the sump until it falls below the edge of the internal overflow box.