New Sump needed

Jason McKenzie · 01-29-2004, 08:20 AM

OK let me explain.
My First tank and stand was a 72G Bow front and therefore the stand was very narrow and tall. Because of this I had a sump custom built for the stand. I now have a 75G rec with the matching stand. There is no way I was able to fit my sump in the stand but through the top (With the Tank off the stand) Now I have this very narrow and tall sump in the stand and it is not really doing the job. I have placed my Red Sea Berlin in the sump because if it hangs on I can't get the cup off. Now do to evap through out the day, My skimmer is loosing what ever efficiency it had (Very Little) so I Would like to get a or make a Bullet style skimmer. But first I have to ensure my sump will not reduce the effectiveness of this skimmer as well. So I have two choices. 1) add Baffles to existing sump and build a mini bullet. Or 2) cut my current sump out and built a new sump in the stand.
You can see were my hesitation is. I'm not a DIY guy and as a first project I'm going to build a large acrylic box, that needs to be water tight, in a very confined space.

What do you Think. go simple and add baffles or get brave and make a really sweet sump that may turn into a nightmare

J

Matt Rogers · 01-29-2004, 08:40 AM

Why not fix the evap problem with a float switch first?
Every skimmer I have ever owned gets screwy from evap.

(where did your avatar go?)

Jason McKenzie · 01-29-2004, 09:03 AM

I don't know it just poof. I fixed it.

But adding a float switch dosn't let me cut and glue and make a big mess. I really want to get ride of the Berlin and upgrade. I don;t have room to do that now

J

Matt Rogers · 01-29-2004, 09:05 AM

Did you do the Venturi Mod for the Berlin? - Adding a 'kent-marine' venturi and using a Mag 7 or something?

Jason McKenzie · 01-29-2004, 09:16 AM

I was thinking about it. Need to find the mod with pics. As I'm kinda dumb and need a pic.

I was visiting a friend/Vendors personal Tank and if you had your eyes closed you wouldn't even know he had a Tank it was that quite. I want that! he had closed loops, Bullet Skimmer (DIY) 4 power heads, and two returns and it was dead quite. I took pics of his sump and I really think the sound or lack of sound was because of the design of his sump and its ability to handle all the equipment he had in it.
In another words it's cold and rainy here and I really need a project. Especially after seeing Omard's new set up it's making me all jealous for and upgrade.

Matt Rogers · 01-29-2004, 09:19 AM

I'll dig up some pics for you...

What made his so quiet?
What kind of pumps did he have?
Was he using bed foam in the stand to dampen the noise? [smiley=vulcan.gif]

Jason McKenzie · 01-29-2004, 09:22 AM

No foam, and all the pumps were Mark 7 or 12. There just wasn't any water gergle sounds. I think all the pumps were external so they could have been mounted on somthing that was dampening the sound. I'll check it out this week end. He has offered to help

J

Matt Rogers · 01-29-2004, 09:25 AM

What kind of overflows?
Take pics!

omard · 01-29-2004, 11:41 AM

Oh, Jackets you have triggered my interest.

I also need a new sump (am already unhappy with my "tub" which I have not even set up to use yet.)

Have looked about at prices for sumps - all cost prohibitive now for one size I want. Esp. if I need to have shipped...need ~40 X 18 X 15 to fit in stand and leave enough room for other stuff (ballast, overflow container, etc.)

Have communicated with a "local" sump manufacturer - (somewhat "local" for you - at least out of the 17.5% sales tax zone) - you may want to look at.

"Innovative Aquarium Products"

http://www.innovativeaquarium.com/

(Seattle)

He is "working" up estimate - but my "impression" is still going to more then I am ready to pay.

So thoughts of building own now in process. Like you, am dealing with many unknowns here. Local glass shop will cut me the pieces I need for about $150 out of 1/4" clear plexiglass (is that thick enough? - how to "glue" them together? - Is this something I really want to risk doing myself? - is the satisfaction of doing so, worth all the "imagined" possible catastrophies - just might be.

Needs some cogitating.

Will keep eye on what your plans are.

Rgds,

OmarD

Phil5613 · 01-29-2004, 02:39 PM

one suggestion i have is look for guys that work with acrlic other then a glass shop and see what they can do. Another suggestion is talk to lfs and maint companies to see if they have someone to do custom work.

01-29-2004, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jason McKenzie 3reef Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Posts: 4,885 Skin: Classic Karma: 25308	New Sump needed OK let me explain. My First tank and stand was a 72G Bow front and therefore the stand was very narrow and tall. Because of this I had a sump custom built for the stand. I now have a 75G rec with the matching stand. There is no way I was able to fit my sump in the stand but through the top (With the Tank off the stand) Now I have this very narrow and tall sump in the stand and it is not really doing the job. I have placed my Red Sea Berlin in the sump because if it hangs on I can't get the cup off. Now do to evap through out the day, My skimmer is loosing what ever efficiency it had (Very Little) so I Would like to get a or make a Bullet style skimmer. But first I have to ensure my sump will not reduce the effectiveness of this skimmer as well. So I have two choices. 1) add Baffles to existing sump and build a mini bullet. Or 2) cut my current sump out and built a new sump in the stand. You can see were my hesitation is. I'm not a DIY guy and as a first project I'm going to build a large acrylic box, that needs to be water tight, in a very confined space. What do you Think. go simple and add baffles or get brave and make a really sweet sump that may turn into a nightmare J _________ started 8/7/02 370G 3x400W MH + 8X36W T5. 30G Refugium, Bubble king 300Ext, Profilux with 3x Doser, 2x Wavy Seas for return. OM 4-Way Closed loop. My Tank Thread Try a Search to see if your question has already been posted My Tank Blog

01-29-2004, 08:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
Matt Rogers KingFish Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 40 Posts: 9,042 Skin: Mint Karma: 52616	Re: New Sump needed Why not fix the evap problem with a float switch first? Every skimmer I have ever owned gets screwy from evap. (where did your avatar go?) _________ Go slow, let it grow. My tank build thread <-- Support 3reef! - Now with monthly option for only $2! 3reef shirts here! - Now with free bumper stickers! Help Me with unanwered posts! Promote!

01-29-2004, 09:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jason McKenzie 3reef Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Posts: 4,885 Skin: Classic Karma: 25308	Re: New Sump needed I don't know it just poof. I fixed it. But adding a float switch dosn't let me cut and glue and make a big mess. I really want to get ride of the Berlin and upgrade. I don;t have room to do that now J

01-29-2004, 09:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
Matt Rogers KingFish Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 40 Posts: 9,042 Skin: Mint Karma: 52616	Re: New Sump needed Did you do the Venturi Mod for the Berlin? - Adding a 'kent-marine' venturi and using a Mag 7 or something?

01-29-2004, 09:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jason McKenzie 3reef Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Posts: 4,885 Skin: Classic Karma: 25308	Re: New Sump needed I was thinking about it. Need to find the mod with pics. As I'm kinda dumb and need a pic. I was visiting a friend/Vendors personal Tank and if you had your eyes closed you wouldn't even know he had a Tank it was that quite. I want that! he had closed loops, Bullet Skimmer (DIY) 4 power heads, and two returns and it was dead quite. I took pics of his sump and I really think the sound or lack of sound was because of the design of his sump and its ability to handle all the equipment he had in it. In another words it's cold and rainy here and I really need a project. Especially after seeing Omard's new set up it's making me all jealous for and upgrade.

01-29-2004, 09:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
Matt Rogers KingFish Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 40 Posts: 9,042 Skin: Mint Karma: 52616	Re: New Sump needed I'll dig up some pics for you... What made his so quiet? What kind of pumps did he have? Was he using bed foam in the stand to dampen the noise? [smiley=vulcan.gif]

01-29-2004, 09:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
Jason McKenzie 3reef Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Vancouver, BC,Canada Posts: 4,885 Skin: Classic Karma: 25308	Re: New Sump needed No foam, and all the pumps were Mark 7 or 12. There just wasn't any water gergle sounds. I think all the pumps were external so they could have been mounted on somthing that was dampening the sound. I'll check it out this week end. He has offered to help J

01-29-2004, 09:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
Matt Rogers KingFish Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Pt. Richmond, Ca. Age: 40 Posts: 9,042 Skin: Mint Karma: 52616	Re: New Sump needed What kind of overflows? Take pics!

01-29-2004, 11:41 AM	#9 (permalink)
omard Gnarly Old Codfish Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Silverdale, Washington Age: 60 Posts: 4,743 Skin: Mint Karma: 4558	Re: New Sump needed Oh, Jackets you have triggered my interest. I also need a new sump (am already unhappy with my "tub" which I have not even set up to use yet.) Have looked about at prices for sumps - all cost prohibitive now for one size I want. Esp. if I need to have shipped...need ~40 X 18 X 15 to fit in stand and leave enough room for other stuff (ballast, overflow container, etc.) Have communicated with a "local" sump manufacturer - (somewhat "local" for you - at least out of the 17.5% sales tax zone) - you may want to look at. "Innovative Aquarium Products" http://www.innovativeaquarium.com/ (Seattle) He is "working" up estimate - but my "impression" is still going to more then I am ready to pay. So thoughts of building own now in process. Like you, am dealing with many unknowns here. Local glass shop will cut me the pieces I need for about $150 out of 1/4" clear plexiglass (is that thick enough? - how to "glue" them together? - Is this something I really want to risk doing myself? - is the satisfaction of doing so, worth all the "imagined" possible catastrophies - just might be. Needs some cogitating. Will keep eye on what your plans are. Rgds, OmarD _________ http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a.../Omardsigs.jpg AG "125," AquaC EV 180, 30 gal sump, "SCWD", 80 lbs LR, CoralSeaLife "Moonlite" Hood, PFO 250W HQI Mini-Pendant (SPS HQI 14000k bulb) 12 Gallon NanoCube - 24w stock PC 50/50 light "...nothing good ever happens fast in a reef tank, only bad things happen fast..." - MIKE PALLETTA - (2008 Reef log) ("OmarD"/"Scott")

01-29-2004, 02:39 PM	#10 (permalink)
Phil5613 Purple Spiny Lobster Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Wheaton, Illinois Posts: 492 Skin: Mint Karma: 42	Re: New Sump needed one suggestion i have is look for guys that work with acrlic other then a glass shop and see what they can do. Another suggestion is talk to lfs and maint companies to see if they have someone to do custom work. _________ http://www.3reef.com/uploads/3phil.jpg Starting over with a 210 RR from All Glass, Lifereef Berlin sump, skimmer (installed) and calcium reactor (ordered). Aquatraders Catalina 72" 3x400 mh 10 k/4x96 watt blue PC, Closed Loop with Little Giant 4MDQX-SC and 2- 3/4 Seaswirls.