SUMP BUILD... Just like Christmas!

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by mike007, Jul 6, 2010.

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  1. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2010
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    Location:
    Miami, Fl
    I have had my tank up and running for just under a year and I decided that I needed some upgrades. Most I figured could be done myself. So, First up, I decided the sump was most important. So it began, my very first DIY anything, and it's a sump. :) Not much that can go wrong really besides maybe a metric ton of bacteria just disappearing overnight (bio-balls), total loss of all livestock, flooding my whole office room with 3" of conductive salt water right next to 2 computers and a 100watt speaker system, etc. Really, not much to worry about right? :worried2:

    So, on to the basic design:
    After spending forever on sites like Melevsreef, and of course 3Reef, I decided to make a Sump/fuge out of a 30 gallon tank. Design is sump on one side fuge on the other both drain into the middle return section.

    Sump--> Return <-- Refugium

    Single overflow, split with a tee above a ball valve. More on the plumbing later though. Dimensions of the tank are 36" X 12" X 16". Since I do not have a DSB in my tank, I wanted the most filtration possible from a DSB in the fuge so.... I made it HUGE. I don't need much room for a skimmer as I will be buying the SWC 160 Cone and it has a very small footprint, and the return chamber should be big enough but I want to buy an ATO anyways. ;D

    Well, that's about it for now so..... PIC TIME!!

    Firtst two baffles. On the left, the refugium and the right is for the skimmer.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    The eggcrate is to keep the macro algae and snails in there 8)
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Let's hear what you guys think! Constructive criticism time!;)
     
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  3. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    Mike I love you man! (not in a gay way) LOL!! You have a sump simalar to mine and I have been trying to figure a way of keeping my snails & algae in. Ha, eggcrate on top. K+ Though I did build bubble traps on mine. Check my 90gal thread & you'll see.

    Thanks again!

     
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  4. Telgar

    Telgar Snowflake Eel

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    hehe, sadly the egg crate will not likely stop either.
    But I'll give you an A for the effort :jester:
     
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  5. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

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    Happy to help! ;) I was actually just looking at your thread right now! :LolLolLol
    I just replied to your Heat Wave Thread. lol

    Nice work with the router! :) Hope the eggcrate works out for ya! K+
     
  6. benbabcock

    benbabcock Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Montreal
    foam on th eggcrate will work! may stop bubbles too!
     
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  7. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    It will with the design I just thought of. ;D I'll pick some up tonight..
     
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  9. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

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    That's what it's all about :)

    Why wouldn't it work?
     
  10. ComputerJohn

    ComputerJohn Panda Puffer

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    Thanks. I wish it was a router it would of been easier. I used a RotoZIP. Not easy to handle & then scrapped the acrylic design.

     
  11. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

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    Foam requires maintenance and will restrict flow though... :(

    The snails are going to be huge turbos anyways.. I'm happy with all the cerithhs moving from DT to refugium whenever they want.
     
  12. mike007

    mike007 Sea Dragon

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    Ahh. I see. well goodluck!!