catcher Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 Hi all, I want to make a new sump for my 6x2x2. So I'd like any suggestions on go sites to go to or home made designs that are effective. I currently have a double end sump thats quite old and has leaked once already but currently ok after repairs, so I want to replace with a regular design type and make it myself. Has anyone used those plastic storage bins as one? I can see how a large one with a smaller one inside to hold the matrix might work, I am thinking of making it in glass but am open to all suggestions and opinions please. cheers glenn p.s. a double ender is one that has matrix in a compartment at both ends and the water pickup in the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 18, 2005 Share Posted May 18, 2005 http://users.tpg.com.au/ajhinds/fish/sump/sump.htm here's my dodgy setup - I'm too lazy with the finer filter material but it still works brilliantly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catcher Posted May 19, 2005 Author Share Posted May 19, 2005 http://users.tpg.com.au/ajhinds/fish/sump/sump.htm here's my dodgy setup - I'm too lazy with the finer filter material but it still works brilliantly ← Thanks Ash, I do remember your design being posted ages ago. Gives me something to think about. cheers glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 I have 2 different types of sumps/filters here... This one uses baffles to force the water through different types of media. It's quiet(ish) because it doesn't have any falling/trickling water in it. I bough the tank and then siliconed the baffles in myself, which wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. This sump sits on an old waterbed heat pad which does a great job This one is a more traditional trickle-style filter, but with a twist. I've made it inside a 2x2x2 and I run the water level quite high in it. This means that by simply draining and refilling my sump I am doing a 200L water change on my rack of tanks, and I do not need to drain water from each individual tank. This one was simple to make. I just had to divide off a section to hold the media and some egg crate at the bottom holds the media up. I've made a drip tray instead of a spinning arm simply because it was cheaper and I prefer to have less moving (and breaking) parts if possible. This sump has 2 stainless steel heaters in it, as it was the wrong shape to sit on a heat pad. You're welcome to come for a drive and check them both out in person if you like, they are hard to photograph sorry due to space limits Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanceswithDingoes Posted May 19, 2005 Share Posted May 19, 2005 The 'baffle' design that Baz uses in the 1st pic is IMO one of the best. You can add any media you wish including amagon etc in emergencies, charcoal to remove tannins, but best of all if you have several passes of sintered glass (matrix) you will achieve a complete nitrogen cycle and reduce the frequency of water changes (in lightly stocked tanks you may need as little as 2 per month) and every drop of water must pass through the medium, unlike bio towers. The baffle sump is cheaper than a biotower as well. They are also simple, as there are no mechanicals required (apart from the pump) so no arms to clog, drip filters blocking etc. and like Baz, if you measure your standpipes correctly you can drain 10-20% of the tanks volume by cutting off the return flow and emptying the sump, making it unnecessary to change the water in individual tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catcher Posted May 19, 2005 Author Share Posted May 19, 2005 I have 2 different types of sumps/filters here... This one uses baffles to force the water through different types of media. It's quiet(ish) because it doesn't have any falling/trickling water in it. I bough the tank and then siliconed the baffles in myself, which wasn't as hard as I thought it might be. This sump sits on an old waterbed heat pad which does a great job This one is a more traditional trickle-style filter, but with a twist. I've made it inside a 2x2x2 and I run the water level quite high in it. This means that by simply draining and refilling my sump I am doing a 200L water change on my rack of tanks, and I do not need to drain water from each individual tank. This one was simple to make. I just had to divide off a section to hold the media and some egg crate at the bottom holds the media up. I've made a drip tray instead of a spinning arm simply because it was cheaper and I prefer to have less moving (and breaking) parts if possible. This sump has 2 stainless steel heaters in it, as it was the wrong shape to sit on a heat pad. You're welcome to come for a drive and check them both out in person if you like, they are hard to photograph sorry due to space limits ← BaZ, Are they scourer pads? I've never liked spinners either, I currently let my water dump onto some Koi mat then it runs through to 50mm pond sponge, it saturates and distributes the water evenly then run it through the fine wadding before the matrix. cheers glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 20, 2005 Share Posted May 20, 2005 Yep scourer pads from one of those dodgy discount shops My wife sourced them for me, I think she was paying $1 for a pack of 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosco Posted May 23, 2005 Share Posted May 23, 2005 Yep scourer pads from one of those dodgy discount shops My wife sourced them for me, I think she was paying $1 for a pack of 9. ← Yep they are from Go-lo. I have found them even down here and I am buying them up ATM. I think they were $2 for 9 down here, maybe I pushed the price up due to supply and demand . I am filling a a 2x18x17 chamber in my sump. So far I have purchased 90 I am heading back for more, I am getting some funny looks from the girls behind the counter cheers Rosco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I avoided those funny looks, my wife received them all She rang me to tell me what she had found, and I asked her to grab 15 packs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catcher Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 I avoided those funny looks, my wife received them all She rang me to tell me what she had found, and I asked her to grab 15 packs ← G'day BaZ, Here's a question from left field, do you think matrix would do a better job than the scourers in a wet/dry situation or is it much of a muchness? glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I've never used matrix sorry. I've heard wonderful things about it from a few who use it, but I have never found a need for it. My water is clean, my fish are happy and breeding, and my maintenance levels are very low. I don't see the need to change anything I am doing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catcher Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 I've never used matrix sorry. I've heard wonderful things about it from a few who use it, but I have never found a need for it. My water is clean, my fish are happy and breeding, and my maintenance levels are very low. I don't see the need to change anything I am doing ← Thanks BaZ, I'm the other way round, I've used matrix in my sumps, but it is very expensive and if an alternative is just as good and does the job I'm up for it. cheers glenn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I think it all comes down to how much room you have. My understanding of Matrix is that it is just another type of media, but it has a very high surface area due to it being quite porous. From memory you only need to use 1L of matrix to every 300-400L of water, right? Obviously the surface area of these scourers is nowhere near that offered by Matrix, so you just need to allow more room for media. If I needed to downsize my filter for some reason I'd be tempted to use Matrix but that's the only reason I'd bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I have Seachem pond matrix in all my filters it seems to work very well. I also put bioball all the way around it. It is a bit to much but I got it all cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catcher Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 I have Seachem pond matrix in all my filters it seems to work very well. I also put bioball all the way around it. It is a bit to much but I got it all cheap. ← Hi Nigel, How have you got the matrix? Bagged in the center? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiger Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I suppose you could class this as an internal sump Very easy to maintain and extremely efficient Cheers Kevin BTW .its air driven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Yes Catcher the Matrix is just in filter bags. I use those big Eheim bags they use in the barrel filters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Um, more info on that tiger? Also, is there a little fish stuck in that bioball chamber nigel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 No I think what you can see is a bit of the filter bag. There is pre filters in the wiers so there is no way for fish to get down to the sumps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Or if they did get down there I'm assuming they'd get stuck in the spinner. Right Nigel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 I have just gotten a 4x8ft sheet of 1/2" acrylic sheet and am going to manufacture a sump. This post has been great in giving me ideas. All previous pics and info I have seen have been for salt water, and they utilise a reefagum section (where the little critters that would otherwise be eaten hang out). the info I have gotten comes from: www.melevsreef.com/ (just for your info, I am building the weir boxes, and am thinking of selling some if anyone is interested) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ash Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 You can build a refugium & put plants in it for an extra kick of de-nitrification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Rock Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 But then I would have to put lights under my tank and I think that I suck enough power as it is (at least thats what my wife keeps telling me ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaZ Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 Perhaps your wife knows my wife... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mianos Posted May 26, 2005 Share Posted May 26, 2005 If you don't mind giving in some tank space for the sump I used the following design: http://www.sarcanthinae.com/custom_bench_tank/detail You can retrofit it later. The pump is in the bottom of the sump and I use some plastic sheeting at the top to feed the drip tray from the skimmer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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