DIY Sump

Seaman

Seaman

Shrimp gumbo, shrimp salad etc...
May 22, 2004
649
0
0
42
Im like air im everywhere (Dallas, TX)
this is one of the eaisest things to make as far as DIY. I bought a 10gal glass aquarium from Wallyworld for 9 dollars and some acrylic for 13 bucks and the return pump for 35 bucks misc. pvc pipe for return was 5 bucks and the overflow I allready had (those are kinda tricky to make). So you can see its well worth making yourself if you can do it. I started by siliconing the acrylic "walls" into the tank...that takes about a day to dry and after that thats pretty much all the stuff i had to do. Then i put my pump in the sump, ran the plumbing for it added some rocks to the refugium and its up and runnin!!! Sooooo easy!!

The gray lines represent the acrylic "walls" and the yellow is the filter pad all the rest is self explanitory!!! Have fun!!

also i left atleast a 1 inch gap between the tops of the acrylic walls and the top of the tank, just in case one of the chambers got clogged it will just spill into the next chamber.
sump.jpg
 
Last edited:
Does the sump have to be kept level with the main tank? How do you keep the water from syphoning into the sump faster than it gets pumped back out OR the pump from pumping it out faster than it's pulled in?
 
Ok, I assume that's what an overflow box is for. This page explains it pretty well for me. My main worry would be evaporation. I guess that would first affect the water level in the refugium which could be dealt with?
 
Thanks for the info! I may build one of these for my 55 when I get it.

I'm sure you could use a float mechanisim to cut off the flow if the water level gets too high.
 
I'm sure you could use a float mechanisim to cut off the flow if the water level gets too high. [/B]
Click to expand...


I wouldn't want to burn out the motor though. Maybe I could rig up a switch like the ball cock thing in a toilet to switch off the pump if the water level drops too far in the sump.
 
Exactly what I was thinking. By using a relay and a "reed" switch you could do this for under $10, and without putting exposed high-voltage wires near your water supply.
 
there is no need for any of that....when the tank is at the level where it is ALMOST flowing into the overflow box the pump is covers by 2 gallons...so the instant it pumps water into the tank more flows into the overflow and immidiately into the sump so the pump never runs dry. I made an automatic refil system for 5 dollars so I dont have to top the water off. I only fill the top off system once a week!!

The top off system was eaiser to make than the sump!!! Im at work right now but as soon as I get home Ill post how I made it!!!
 
Originally posted by jamjarjames
what i'd be more worried about is what happens if you have a power out in the middle of the night? the syphon will be getting rid of water to an already full tank
Click to expand...
I first wondered the same thing, but that's what the 'overflow' box he mentioned is for. Only water above a certain level in the main tank will pour down to the sump.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom