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Diy Sump Filter; DIY
Topic Started: Jun 25 2007, 06:03 PM (959 Views)
fishy
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Ammonia Cycle
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Hello :unsure2:
I am contemplation on making a DIY sump filter, but I don’t know if there are any draw backs to a DIY one over a bought one. Also if a DIY one was ok could you please give me some hints on how to go about this?

Thanks
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Stuart Elflett
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There are a number of layouts and designs for DIY sumps around the net, fishy (excuse me for grinning as I type this, but my daughters goldfish is called fishy...) - if you study those you can get a fair idea of how to go about it, etc...

Decisions that need to be made are how you plan on getting the water out of your tank, into the sump, what size you want, and how you're going to divide it, what media you're going to use in it, and how the water will be returned...

Will you be hiding the sump in a cabinet under the tank, or will it be in a room behind the tank, level with it?? That dramatically alters the prospects for plumbing... will you drill your tank, siphon out of it, or have a weir to remove the water?

One neat DIY sump I've seen has a plastic bucket full of the off cut sprigs from bio balls, draining into a bigger container with a submersible pump pumping back into the tank...

If you have your sump under (or over) the tank, you need some kind of cutoff if the pump stops (failure, or a power cut) to stop one or the other tank overflowing - that's alleviated if both tanks can be kept level...

Do you want to use your sump as a refugium, growing algae or plants in it to soak up nitrates, or *just* as a big biological filter??
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Dylema
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Hi in case you were looking at the syphon over the top type overflow I thought you might be interested in reading this.Dylan's overflow which I wrote when I was thinking of adding a sump to my tank and I came up with a design for an easy to make overflow. I ended up going for a huge canister instead.

I would think A DIY sump is better than a bought one in that you can get just what you are after and it will probably be cheaper too.

Dylan
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fishy
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:) Ok well first of I am open for suggestions on how to get the water out of the tank, and I am hoping that it will be a fairly large one made out of acrylic (It is a school project so price is not so much a matter because I can use the schools recourses.) I have some basic ideas in mind for the layout and media of it:

:dntknw (I have an Image of my layout but I can get it onto the post could some one plz tell me how) or I could e-mail it to you :dntknw


So as you can see (apart from there is no pic sorry) I was hoping that I would be able to have a pre filter, bio balls and a sponge in it. And before you say that’s a bit big I was planning on running it on a few tanks. But any way, it will be under the tanks, not in a cabinet, so I could place it in a convenient spot, plus my aquaculture teacher would like people to be able to see it so he can explain how filtration works. I plan on just using it as a big Bio filter too.

Thanks
Scott D
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Dylema
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I didn't ask, it this for salt or fresh water? That will make a big difference to your design.

For fresh water I would go something like, water sprayed onto foam or floss, then trickle over the bio balls (which are above the water line) then you can have some more media (such as noodles or similar) in compartments under the water with the water flowing over and under baffles to keep it flowing through the media the way you want. Then a fairly large compartment at the end to house the return pump.

I am not so good with salt water and all the DSB, skimmers, macro algae, auto-RO-topoff and things.
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fishy
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:oops sorry
Its for freash water, and what you discribed is what I have had in mind, It would be good if I could show you the design I made!

Thanks again
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Dylema
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Can you scan in and post up your plan. I would like to see it. Otherwise I guess you could draw it in paint or similar and post it up. Sounds like a great school project. For overflows, Google durso standpipe and see the device to make the over flow quiet. With that search I am sure you will also find plenty of sites with examples of different overflows.

Dylan
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RAZORFISH
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Hey Scott

The sump will be easier, cheeper and quicker to get if made from glass. Acrylic can be glued together but in my expirience the glue always lets go after being under water for long periods. The only other way is to do what they call plastic weld. This is not only expencive but hard to find someone that is good enough to make it water tight.

Are the tanks already built? What are they to be used for (eg breeding)? How many liters are we talking about?

If you can't get your pic's to post then fax them to Aggies on (08) 83597099 and i'll have a look at them! :thumb

Chris
Aggies Aquarium
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fishy
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RE to RAZORFISH

OK Ill fax them to you :thanks , but its just a ruff thing I did in paint.
And by tanks do you mean the sump? or the tanks it will be running off? Also, when you talk about glue, do you mean that the aquarium safe Silicone?

Thanks
Scott
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Aggies Aquarium
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Acrylic has a special glue aquarium silicon wont hold acrlylic at all.

Just like a certain tank getting around at the moment glass sides and plastic bottom 12 months and the plastic part starts to let water through.
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Stuart Elflett
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Ummmmm, any clues as to *which* tank that might be, just in case I've got one??? lol
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RAZORFISH
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Hey scott

Just need to know how many liters the aquariums are so i can make sure your sump will be big enough. :thumb

Stuart Aqua-one do a plastic bottom tank and i think there are a few more brands kicking around. If you run your finger along the bottom you can pull the silicon off brand new tanks! :blink:
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fishy
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Well as far as I know it will be running on ether 1 big tank or several smaller ones. If it will be running on several smaller (for breeding) I suspect that it will be some thing like 5-10 50L tanks, but if it was for the 1 tank it would be around 700L.
Also, would this special glue for acrylic be able to hold together for a long time or will it be the same as using silicone? Because I can make it out of acrylic from my school for free, but if it were glass I would have to pay.
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RAZORFISH
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I don't know what the glue is called but you'll have to contact a plastics place to find out, the name escapes me at the moment.
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fishy
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OK ill look in to it. I faxed that picture i did to you today. Thanks for that!
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