My 10 Gallon Sump for 55 Gallon Aquarium

[ltkenbo]

Sorry I didn't post the pics of the protein skimmer yet, haven't had a chance too take it out. Anyways, I had a couple of other questions.

I just got my overflow box the other day (still need a return pump) and was wondering what the best way to hook the plumbing up to the bulkhead fitting would be? Also what is the smaller foam piece for, is it supposed to keep snails and stuff out of the siphone tube?

Also do you think I could put some chaeto in the sump kind of like a small refugeum area near the return? Cause I am currently battling green hair algae.

 

[garydm]

Use a 1" pvc pipe to go into the bulk head......I just fifnished my sump and used the same overflow......my set up is 1" to the sump from DT and then a mag 7 pump gets it back up to the tank.....can post picks if you need them

 

[ltkenbo]

Yeah but how do I connect it, PVC cement?

 

[ltkenbo]

Oh and also do those mag drive pumps shutoff when there is no water being sucked up? Wouldn't want to ruin one because a siphon broke or something like that.

 

[project5k]

ok, yea the bulkhead is a glue in type, so yea, pvc glue works real good,

no, the pump will not shut off, it will sit there and run dry till it dies...

if you set up your overflow correctly, then even in a power outage, the syphon will stay intact, and you should be fine.. if you notice little air bubbles congregating and collecting in the u bend, then you dont have enough flow going through it...Just from the pictures, that looks to be a "300" sized unit, so if i were you i would plan for something in the 275-300 gal / hour from your return pump(after head losses)

 

[ltkenbo]

Allright so this last weekend I got the sump all set up. Purchased a Mag 7 pump, did all the plumbing and everything:

And ever since setting up the sump and mounting the protein skimmer down there it has been collecting a lot more gunk. Also I am running carbon and since doing all of this my hair algae is dying.

 

[project5k]

is that one of the coral life skimmers? whaddya think of it, i was looking at one once.....

 

[ltkenbo]

Yeah it is. It works really well IMO.

I'm surprised, I thought I would get more than one comment about my sump setup.

 

[matthew1048]

THAT is slick bud. NICCCE WORK!

 

[Jschoon]

Help me understand one thing... In the area where the overflow enters the sump, you have a small glass box. What is this, what purpose does it serve, and how does the water get from there into the rest of the sump?

And it looks good, I am hoping mine turns aout as nice. Thanks for posting.

Joe

 

[daugherty]

looks great thanks for sharing you design just gave me some new ideas on rewireing my tank

 

[ltkenbo]

The little glass box is open on both faces, it's just to hold the filter sponge and whatever other filter media I want, for example I am also using activated carbon right now which you can see in the picture. The water just goes through here first and then through the media and out the bottom:

 

[ltkenbo]

Chaeto Algae

I know I don't have much room in my sump but would it work to throw some chaeto algae in the space I have and put a lamp down there? I know it doesn't need to grow on anything and it will help with nutrient control, I still have some hair algae in my tank.

 

[project5k]

sure, thats basically all my first fuge/sump was, a 10 gal tank that i put some sand, some plants, and a pump in....oh, and a light on top of it.. all i used was a cheap clamp on light with a "60watt" spiral compact flourescent bulb.

 

[ali1]

thinking of something similar to your idea

 

[jfannin]

i must say thank, your build helped me out alot. im very new to the hobby, and im wanting to save money when i can bu only in the right places of course. i was just wondering what you used on the glass to get it to stay in place. is it just basic silicone or some sort of glue/epoxy?

 

[jfannin]

oh yah where are you finding the glass that fits like it does? or are you using a glass tank and acrylic dividers? it looking like everything is glass (tank and all).

 

[Jschoon]

I just finished one very similar. It is all glass. I got the glass from an old window and Lowe's. I just took my measurements in and they cut it. To hold it in place I use Loctite clear silicone for aquarium use. Found that at Lowe's also. Here is a pic of mine.

Hope it helps.

 

[ltkenbo]

Yeah same here, measured the tank and then made a list of the pieces I needed. Brought the list to lowes and had the guy cut the pieces, then I have the fish tank with me in the cart and made sure they cleared fine. Then I used GE silicone to seal them in place. I used CD cases to support different parts during the sealing process.

 

[project5k]

yea, mine is just 1/4 inch thick glass i had cut at a local glass shop, and then i siliconed all my parts in with "aquarium" silicone...