Build Ideas for My 10G Sump

[ldreefer]

Hi,

I just bought a 72G bow front and I know it may not sound big enough, but I already have a 10G tank that I am setting up as my sump. This is the first time that I have had a reef tank and the first time that I have had to make a sump, so I am pretty clueless. I want to separate it into 3 sections, one for the skimmer, one for the fuge, and one for the return. My tank is drilled in the center with a 1" overflow (PVC) which then leads all the way down into the stand, which is where my 10G sump is at. Could I get some detailed step by step instructions on how to go about this? Thanks in advance.

Here are some pics of what I have so far:

[rbennett15]

honestly i think you might want to have a larger sump it'll be a lot easier on yourself

[childofgod]

I have built every sump I have had. On my first reef tank I put in a 10 gal. It was a little to small. I had it on a 75 with a canister because it was not enough. I would go bigger. If you don't have enough room go with 2 ten gal. One over the other I have seen that before in a corner bow. I don't have pictures of my other sumps I lost them but here is a few picture of the one I just built.

[nemosworld]

I had a 75 with a 20 long sump,work great, and if you do your pllumbing right, when power cuts off, you will have little to no drain, other than what's in the lines.
don't have a current pic of it, but i only used 2 baflles on it, one 9 inches for the skimmer/drain and the other for the return and fuge divider, set to about 7 inches.

[ldreefer]

How do I go about assembling my sump? If I have a 10G regular tank, I was thinking about seeing I I could find a couple of those aquarium dividers an sticking them in there, with silicone of course. Put one to seperate the skimmer from the fuge and one to separate the fugue from the return. Would this work? An if not how should I go about doing it? And also what plant or algae should I put in the fuge? Should I also put live rock in the fuge? And what is the easiest and cheapest light that I can put under my tank for the fuge? Thanks.

[nemosworld]

get the dimensions of your tank (inside) then order cut glass from a local glass shop. 1/4 inch should be fine.
not mine but good example:


http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ns-needed.html

just place the baffles where you need them, make sure to fit skimmer in there. good skimmers are tunze 9002, and a few others.

[childofgod]

Make sure you use aquarium safe silicone. I have always used glass. I used a 10gal tank once cut it up put it in the sump the only down fall with the thin glass was I dropped a rock on it and it broke. It's up to you what you want to use in it, I put in live rock and micro algae.

[ldreefer]

Ok, so here is the update on my sump. These are pictures before I adjusted the baffles. My skimmer will be on the left, then my return, then my fuge. At first, I had a very small section for my return, so I adjusted it and gave it a few more inches, taking away from the fuge a little. I also decided to go with an over/under baffle after the skimmer, instead of an over/under/over. I think it will do nicely. Anywho, here she is. I'm pretty proud of my first sump.

[ldreefer]

I have one question though. I used GE Silicone 1 on my sump. I was told and have read that it is safe for aquariums, but it says it's not safe for aquariums on the tube. What's up with that?

[RocketSurgeon]

Originally Posted by ldreefer

I have one question though. I used GE Silicone 1 on my sump. I was told and have read that it is safe for aquariums, but it says it's not safe for aquariums on the tube. What's up with that?

Liability.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=19

[dogstar74]

Honestly, I don't think this will work for you. I would plan about 1/3 of the display tank size for an appropriate skimmer. My 10 gallon sump, set up much the same as you are trying to set up is just BARELY big enough to catch all the water when the power goes out on my 29 gallon. The water level stops at 1/2 inch from the top of the sump. It really freaked me out the first time I pulled the plug to see if it would work.

Truthfully, You would do much better with a 20H. The foot print is only a little bigger, and the depth is enough to not ever worry about the overflow when the power is out. You'll still have enough room to make a chamber that's 8-10 inches deep for your skimmer to work properly, and enough room on the bottom to put a return pump.

I'd definately change it out now while you don't have the whole thing plumbed and set up.

Just my. .02

Aaron

[ldreefer]

I ended up going with a 20H. My tank is set up and running now and everything is going quite nicely. It's been up for almost 3 weeks and I haven't had Amy problems yet. Knock on wood.