SUMP HELP!?!?

[joander123]

jay needs to make a sump for his 110 gallon SW fishy tank.... LOL

I dont really want anything fancy, i see people with these acrylic tanks with all these dividers and such and i think to my self... is that really necessary? All i really want is idn like 20 gallons of water underneath my tank where i can store heater, protein skimmer, return pump, and maybe some LR and LS for a "fuge". I have seen people make these sort of things out of a rubber maid container, but are the sides really strong enough on those?? here are some questions i have

1. What is the easiest way to make a sump?
2. How many gallons do i want the sump to hold?
3. My tank is not drilled, so what do i use.. an overflow?
4. How do i make it so the same amount is being drained as being pumped back in?
5. What products do you recommend?

Any help is appreciated,
Jay

[WeeNe858]

1. What is the easiest way to make a sump? - rubbermaid tubs

2. How many gallons do i want the sump to hold? - at least halft of the tank size to be effective

3. My tank is not drilled, so what do i use.. an overflow? - you need to buy a hang on the back overflow or make one yourself

4. How do i make it so the same amount is being drained as being pumped back in? overflows have ratings on gallon per hour flow, just match up a pump

5. What products do you recommend? -dont have to go all out on some products, ASM G series skimmers can be modded and work just great, heaters are up to you but all glass heaters dont work all that well

[joander123]

is this considered a HOT overflow?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3642&Ntt=overflow&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=2004&Nty=1

[joander123]

hey, how would something like this work under my tank... if its dimensions are converted to gallons like an aquariums it should hold about 70 gallons of water.....

http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_1170000003341799P?vName=Computers+%2 6+Electronics&keyword=rubbermaid

My question becomes, with that much water in there..... the plastic is SURE to warp, so would i not fill it all the way or support it somehow???

-Jay

[psariandras]

you need to brace the sides(how I Don't know) I have a 50g sterlite plastic container and I filled it up with water just to see what would happen. It bowed out like crazy and the very top cracked about 1/8 inch.

If you do not brace your tub it might expand out into a wierd shape and not fit in it's space.

[joander123]

heh i need to find one slightly smaller than that one anyways unfortunately because my it doesnt fit in my stand (by 3/4 of an inch ).

Too brace it maybe build in wood platforms along the sides of it?

[dorkfish]

For 4: overflows are rated on the maximum amiount of flow you can put through the tank... they will only drain as much water as the return pump is pushing into the main tank... eg., if you just set it up on your tnak with no return pump on your tank... no water will be drained... but if you have a return pump pushing 300 GPH into your tank... your overflow will drain that much water...

You want your return pump to push a flowrate equal to or less than what your overflow is rated for, after head pressure is taken into account.

[joander123]

For 4: overflows are rated on the maximum amiount of flow you can put through the tank... they will only drain as much water as the return pump is pushing into the main tank... eg., if you just set it up on your tnak with no return pump on your tank... no water will be drained... but if you have a return pump pushing 300 GPH into your tank... your overflow will drain that much water...

You want your return pump to push a flowrate equal to or less than what your overflow is rated for, after head pressure is taken into account.


ahhh ok thank you that would make sense now that i stop and think 8)..... what is a good overflow product, i don't exactly no what i am looking for...

Thanks again,
Jay