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sump dimensions, please help i cant figure this out!

onefish2fish

onefish2fish

I need help. I’m new to saltwater and am in the process of a DIY sump for my tank. My display tank is a 46 gallon bow front. My sump tank is a 48 gallon tank with interior dimensions of 35 ½ inches wide by 17 3/8 deep by 18 inches high. I have already purchased an ASM MINI G protein skimmer rated at 250 gallons per hour. Haven’t purchased the return pump yet. The questions I have involve the design and size of each chamber.

I was thinking one of these for an overflow box because my tank is not reef ready.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3587+18358&pcatid=18358

and one of these for my return pump.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+4590&pcatid=4590

can anyone help me with the dimensions of where to place each baffle or have any input or ideas? Ive been doing research on sumps and seem to not be able to find dimensions, can anyone help me here? Thanks in advance.
 
T

TheGuyFromNJ

onefish2fish said:
I was thinking one of these for an overflow box because my tank is not reef ready.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3587+18358&pcatid=18358
Click to expand...
I would suggest a molded design as opposed to the U tube design, maybe something like this:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3587+3642&pcatid=3642

and one of these for my return pump.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4585+4590&pcatid=4590
Click to expand...
Make sure you get a pump that won't push more than your overflow can handle, otherwise you will have to plumb a valve into your return to slow it down.

can anyone help me with the dimensions of where to place each baffle or have any input or ideas? Ive been doing research on sumps and seem to not be able to find dimensions, can anyone help me here? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
As far as dimensions, make sure you don't pack anything too tight, leave room to upgrade/work so you don't have to re-design it again. There really isn't a set rule for how big each section should be, basically I set mine up so it fits what I needed to put in it. Be sure to install a bubble trap between your inflow/skimmer section. Also remember the smaller you make the return section the more often you will have to top off.
 
M

mott768

The only U tube design I trust and will use is the one from lifereef, the only down side is they are more expensive but well worth the extra money. When I had my 46 gal bow I was only able to fit a 10 gallon tank as a sump/refugium. I used the lifereef overflow with a mag 5 with a scwd wavemaker for the return. I never had a problem for the 1.5 years it was setup. never had a overflow or loss of suction and always starts right up when the lights come on after a outage. I still use a Life reef overflow on my frag tank with a mag 7 and scwd wavemaker and it's been running for 3 years now. I highly recommend lifereefs overflows.

http://lifereef.com/frame.html
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I would go with the Overflow tha Mott (Tom) is linking you to. I have that one on one tank and the other one thats molded on another tank. I don't like the molded design because theres no way to clean up under where its molded. It gets soo dirty in there where it clogs the hole to the siphon pump. atleast with the U tube, you can see whats going on in there all the time and can fix the problem before something happens.
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I'm suggesting a U tube design. I've had all kinds and that one lasted the longest. Do you need that one. Probably not. You will most likely upgrade tanks before any overflow breaks.
 
onefish2fish

onefish2fish

ok interesting. i mean if it really came down to it id bite the bullet and invest in that overflow, i think however im going to go with a cheaper U tube one. not 100% on that just yet.. i think i have my sump all figured out and my baffles are going to be made out of those white cutting boards due to seeing a thread on here somewhere about someone using them..hopefully sump construction will take off first thing in the AM tom. morning..
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
If it's any eaiser, Home Depot sells acrylic pieces in all different sizes and they have caulk in a red tube that adheres to both glass and acrylic. The caulk would be right with the acrylic on the upper shelf.
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
If your like everyone else in this hobby, you'll grow out of your tank yearly.
 
onefish2fish

onefish2fish

lol, well im new to saltwater but not so new to keeping tanks.
theres currently a 125g,75g,55g(x2),46bowfront(my saltwater tank) 45g(going to be my sump,30g,10g,7.5g and 5g all set up except 125 is empty ( full of water but empty ) in my house right now..6 of those are in my bedroom! ;D hopefully my next tank upgrade will be the 75g that we already have if not one of the 55's that why i wont have to worry about buying/finding another tank and thats one of the reasons i want a 45g sump now.. i know ill be upgrading to a larger display sometime soon..
 
onefish2fish

onefish2fish

hah, i wish.. the 125 and 75 are my fathers and hes all about the easy keeping fish.. goldfish if you want to get technical. he used to keep tropical freshwater but i dont know what happened.. i think he wants to put the tank into the wall in the basement and get tropical fish again once its down there but im not sure.. i got the family pack on njreefers so i could get him involved.. hopefully he gets interested in saltwater keeping by going to a few meetings with me..i mean i dont see why not, he used to scuba dive, but i guess its the maintnance and cost that turns him away from saltwater but i guess time will tell
 
mikem

mikem

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
See if you can get him to go to Ed's meeting in Sept. Tell him you want to show him Ed's inwall tank so he can get some ideas for his. I think once he sees a few established tanks, you're in with salt in the 125. ;D
 
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