[Water World]

What size sump would be good for a 65 gal tank? Does anyone have plans for a DIY sump? I checked out Plexiglas at HD and look like I could make one for around $30...depending on size. Suggeston for a return pump? I'm thinking external pump at 600 gph. Any thoughts??

jc

[eses]

As big as you can fit, and big enough to handle all of your equipment that you'd like to put in it.

Here is a kind of bad rendition of my sump, you can get a rought idea how I put mine together just using a 10 gallon glass aqarium (for a 29 gallon tank.) You can use the same basic principal for a larger tank, or maybe this will help you in some way.



I have also heard that exterior air-cooled pumps are better and more reliable than water-cooled internal pumps. I personally use a RIO pump for my return, but I'm hearing all kinds of stories of them puking black sputum into the tank.

Also, I am pretty sure you want to use acrylic and not plexiglass. Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but I think there is a difference between the two for constructing a box out of. I know plexiglass will warp unless it is thick enough.

You will also want a pump that will return as much water as your overflow will draw out, or somewhere near 5 times your tank volume. So 600 gph would be big enough.

Hope this helps,
Wes

[mrok12]

We just started setting up a 65 gallon. We got a 30 inch tall stand so that we could use a 29 gallon sump. I wanted to get the largest sump possible!!! We think we might use a mag pump, mainly becuase they have a small footprint.

MROK12

[Water World]

Thanks Wes that was a big help! Few more question..... The area after the water leaves the live rock but before entering the pump you have filter media. Is this a biological filter? I'm going to be running a DSB and 60-70 pound of LR in the main tank would I really need to add more sand and rock to the sump??

thx

[eses]

The two added filter pads after the live rock area are mainly mechanical filtration before the water reaches the return pump & tank. I mainly put filter media there to grow the various pod critters that are growing in my tank. The media is removed and either rinsed, or replaced every 1-3 weeks depending on how bad it looks. It stays pretty clean, but picks up alot of the larger particles (broken plant, frozen food, etc.)

So in a way, it is biological filtration, but not super-effective as I do remove the filter pads and rinse them. The second pad I leave in much longer as it stays cleaner, this one grows the most bugs..both pads end up crawling with them. Its pretty neat.

You don't really need to add more LR and sand in the sump, oh, and with this setup I don't think you'd want sand, deffinatly gravel anyway, I think the current would cause sand to flow into the filters. But anyway, you don't need it..but since it is there, I figured why not? I put the LR in mainly for a foothold for the caulerpa to grow on, and the gravel bed is more for biological filtration...but you really don't need to add either. It looks much better with however, and most people end up putting something in their sump.

Also to clarify, I realize now I put 1/4" grate on the diagram, in reality it is the 1/2" white grating you buy for light fixtures @ the hardware store.