My DIY sump thread

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by Todd_Sails, Oct 19, 2012.

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  1. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Hello, For less than $25, you can build an adequate, large (mines 50g), sump that works great.

    Mine used to be in my stand, then I drilled my floor and put in below in my basement.

    I built a 3ft high stand for it so I could:
    -recoop 3 ft of head height for my return pump
    -siphon detritus every so often out of it
    -do my WC's from my sump by siphoning about 20g out of it and put my replacement SW back to the sump

    DIY sump Vid 10 13 12 - YouTube

    Here's a current FTS of my 125g
     

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    Last edited: Mar 21, 2013
  2. Click Here!

  3. NanaReefer

    NanaReefer Fu Manchu Lion Fish

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    Todd, you are amazing!!! Love this and love your overflow!! SUBSCRIBED!!
     
  4. budsbunny

    budsbunny Bristle Worm

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    gotta love a sump with space to work
     
  5. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Thank you!

    When I had the same 'Rubbermaid Roughneck' 50g sump in my stand, it was:
    -hard to work on- cramped in there
    -couldn't siphon it easily 'cause it was on the floor of the stand
    -couldn't adequately see/find a leak in it

    And b/c it somehow developed a very slow leak, that I couldn't find, it forced my hand (thank goodness) to drill 2 holes in my floor behind and set up it underneath in my Basement, on it's own stand!

    I did get a new 'Rubgbermaid Roughneck' 50g container at Menard's for the new location in the basement.
     
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2012
  6. akmorton

    akmorton Plankton

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    Man, I need to re-work my basement stock-tank sump. This looks great.
     
  7. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Thank you, with little tweaks, it gets better all the time.
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Daniel072

    Daniel072 Giant Squid

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    Todd I had one similar to this. The only difference was it was much smaller for my 55 gallon tank. When I put the tank together, I didn't know what a sump or skimmer was. I used an old stand that wasn't near tall enough to fit a sump. The 55 was sitting crossways in a corner so there was room behind the tank. So I stuck myself a Rubbermaid sump back there. Everyone laughed but it really did the trick.
     
  10. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Sounds good Daniel,

    I was wondering how you got gravity to work for you if it was on the same level as the DT though?
     
  11. Daniel072

    Daniel072 Giant Squid

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    The sump sat about 1 ft lower than my Display. With only about 6 inches of water in the sump, I had plenty of room
     
  12. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Makes perfect sense