These are quieter and the ability to adjust the flow is very useful. Since the main reason for having a sump set up with your aquariumis to keep water (or aquarium waste) from spilling out onto the floor,you need to make sure that your sump is large enough to do that in thecase of a problem.In general, this means that your sump needs to hold all the waterthat can drain out of the plumbing, filters, or anything else in thecase of a power failure. Welcome to Part 1 of my 150 Gallon Cube Aquarium redo series. In this session, I reseal the aquarium and deal with filtration. If you don’t have the correct size filter installed in your tank, you’ll have some pretty crummy filtration going on. Ideally, you should set up your outflow and inflow in opposing spots so it creates a gyre in your tank. Even if it is just a 10-gallon sump on a 20-gallon tank, it can make all the difference in how well your tank runs long-term and how easy it is to keep it going along the way. Smaller shops appreciate your business and are happy to do small jobs between their big jobs, so their pricing is better. If you lose power, your sump will have to hold the extra water in the lines and any additional water that is pulled via gravity. Again, the filter socks need to be swapped twice weekly (and that’s assuming you have enough to begin with). Eggcrate and Plastic Mesh Wall: The first baffle looks a little complicated, but it is actually a very simple and effective design. DIY Sump for 90 Gallon Aquarium. Almost any saltwater tank should have one. I have only been able to find it at Home Depot (not Lowe’s unfortunately). Rest assured, the products recommended are the exact same products I use myself and recommend no matter how you buy them. Update: An Upgrade to the Sump on my 300 Gallon Freshwater Tank, Ask a Question: BriansAquariumCare@Gmail.com. You should base your measurements on the INTERIOR width and height. It also minimizes the work by only requiring one water change, not one per tank. See more ideas about aquarium sump, aquarium, saltwater aquarium. You will usually hear that maintaining a sump is easier than a canister, but this isn’t completely accurate. Most sumps will sit under your tank, so before you get started, make sure you have reasonable space and access. So now the sump just runs some K2 media which requires no maintenance. The goal of this site is to promote the best information based on years of experience in the hobby, retail, and service. Aquarium Filter KIT- 24x9x15, Aquarium Sump. The saltwater design maximizes the use of natural filtration, the refugium. See more ideas about aquarium sump, aquarium setup, fish tank. Emerged Trickle Sump Filter. What is a “sump?” In the aquarium world, a “sump” refers to an external reservoir that cycles in between the tank and usually holds additional filtration components. It also acts as a fail-safe to protect your sump from accidentally draining your tank. Glass Lid: Just like in the saltwater sump design, a glass lid on a freshwater sump greatly helps to cut down on noise, evaporation, splash, and to prevent any equipment inside the stand from falling into the sump. It is in the lighting section (near all the 4′ utility type light fixtures). Many will charge $40 or more per piece, others will charge as little as $5-10 per piece. An aquarium sump is an extra tank that usually lives underneath the main display aquarium and is used to house equipment, such as filters, heaters, protein skimmers, and associated cabling and hoses. Below are good, better, and best options (although, there are even more expensive options available if you desire). The PVC elbows can be placed on the bottom of the tank and will perfectly space any baffles that need to be 1″ off of the bottom (the outer diameter of the elbows is 1″). An aquarium sump filter is made from the same materials that are required when building an aquarium i.e. A sump is an effective way to add water volume to your aquarium without needing extra space. When done correctly, sumps can be a great tool for your aquarium. A sump system is the most efficient way to filter your aquarium and the beauty is no one sump is exactly the same. Almost all photos on the site are mine, but there are a few exceptions. Eshopps and CPR Aquatics both make a hang-on filter sock holder. This means that you need to use needlepoint canvas to contain it to its section of the sump. Apr 10, 2020 - Explore hossein brown's board "Aquarium sump" on Pinterest. There are a lot of aquarium setups that will do better with a custom sump filtration system. Sumps are more maintenance than a canister or HOB. Keep the return hose close to the top of your water line in your main tank. Watch your sump line carefully to make sure it isn't creeping up or sinking too low. -In-sump reservoir for automatic top off system. That’s what they are talking about. So even these professionally designed sumps don’t always seem to be designed well for practical uses. Generally, a filter should be cleaned monthly. The gallons per second will tell you exactly what type of pump to buy. The second baffle drives water down, which helps minimize any bubbles coming from the skimmer and input to the sump (drain from the tank). Do You Need a Sump for a Saltwater Aquarium? I have turned on the stove & heat up a nail for making holes in the SUMP. Sump filters are kept beneath the aquarium. If you are making your own sump without a kit, inflow from the tank should come into one side of the tank and return on the opposite side. Almost any saltwater tank should have one. On top of that, you may or may not decide to worry about the other stuff that usually settles in a sump, grows on the sides, etc. This is the perfect place to set your refugium light and be sure it won’t end up submerged. Simply hang the filter on the back of your tank, prime it by adding water to the reservoir and plug it in. And even if you aren’t interested in small fish that would go over the overflow at all, it also means floating food overflows out of the tank. Sufficient, usable sump area to accommodate skimmers, pumps, and other additional aquarium devices; Prefilter sponge to keep debris and air bubbles from getting into the pump “] [amazon box=”B016N2R4YI”] Best saltwater sump setup. If you want to use a specific skimmer you may only have one or two options of manufactured sumps that are large enough to fit it, and they may not fit in your stand. You will need to order your glass from a glass shop. Connect tubing between overflow skimmer to sump inflow. If you neglect a filter sock, it immediately stops working because all the water will just overflow out of it. It helps keep the site going. My design allows you to easily add: I still remember the first time I turned on an FX5 and thought it wasn’t running. There are various different ways that you can set up an aquarium so it can house a sump filter, however, one of the more common ways is to use overflow boxes. Sumps simply can’t do this. You can use this or a simple plain aquarium and add your own media. I have used normal suction cups to attach internal SUMP to the aquarium glass. The water will then be siphoned from the sump and into the fish tank, afterward, it will return back to the sump. Since K2 is sold on eBay and other sources by the volume, it makes it very easy to calculate how much you need to buy. On my 300, I couldn’t get mechanical filtration to work. Both of these options are easy alternatives to a sump. As long as you keep them cleaned monthly, canisters are by far the best filter option. Eshopps Reef Sump. Inside the canister is a variety of mechanical (link) and biological (link) filters. Most kits will have an appropriate size pump to match the flow of gravity from the skimmer basket and tubing size selected. Jessie Sanders, DVM, CertAqV is the owner and chief veterinarian at Aquatic Veterinary Services, an all-aquatic, mobile veterinary practice serving California & Nevada. If you are unable to perform this test, buy a pump with a variable speed switch to manipulate the flow to match the outflow. The needlepoint canvas can be black or white. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Setup your return hoses from the sump pump to return water from the sump to the tank. If you are searching for a fish tank sump pump that comes with a premium performance motor and is equipped with power… Over the years I have seen and worked on many sumps, and done a lot of research to come to my current designs. You don’t have to sacrifice the elegance or beauty of your aquarium. Even mid-dwellers are at risk and regularly end up in the overflows and sump. It doesn’t allow any bypass which allows you to use much finer media, even polishing pads or filter floss that is crammed in very tightly. Proper planning goes a long way in setting up a a successful sump system but then again they can also be quite modular giving you the ability to add various components as … These means there is that much more space for the refugium to be effective while still providing all the needed space for the skimmer and other equipment. Smoked glass does cost a little more than clear, but since you only have to make the sump once it is more than worth it for all the work it will save you. There are a few options you may decide to easily add to the standard saltwater sumps. A sump system is the most efficient way to filter your aquarium and the beauty is no one sump is exactly the same. On the K2 media side of the baffle, above the glass, is plastic mesh (needlepoint canvas which can be found in any craft store). That session certainly takes a lot longer than it takes to swap out a filter sock, but the cumulative work is probably about the same (it depends on the tank, sump, and canister). The media then becomes an ideal site for beneficial bacteria because of the aeration and water flow. In almost all cases, a good canister will be better, easier, and even cheaper, with a lot less hassle. There are a lot of great advantages to using a sump filter, especially on larger systems. White will show how dirty it is better so you will know when you need to clean it. You can also double stack the filter pads or even make multiple tiers of eggcrate with filter pads between them, but in most systems, keeping it simple is usually best. Get the aquarium ready. Check that the baffles are placed properly and level, sometimes they will lean so you will want to correct this while the silicone is still wet. -Media Reactors Using gravity, water flows into the sump from the display aqu… Although sump filters utilise a pump in the system, this is only used to return the water back to the aquarium, water exits the aquarium using gravity. Canisters can be a pain, but that is usually only when they are neglected (when people think it’s okay to not clean them until their flow slows down). I highly recommend using a DC controllable pump. Most commonly, a sump setup will be sold as a kit with biomedia. Today's video I will go over exactly how the 120 gallon reef tanks kitten purs. You never want to go all the way to the trim. Notice how the water is delivered to the unit and how it drains back into the display tank and/or sump. If you let it go longer, the gunk that it collected just starts to rot which can create a nitrate factory and severely lower water quality. With a canister, you just drag the thing to the tub or utility sink once per month. This one feature can save you a lot of hassle by keeping stuff out of the pump section, including valuable fish that inevitably make their way into the sump. ), a safe place to add supplements (many additives in a reef tank are best well mixed before going in to the main tank), and even a good place to refill during water changes or add top-off water for a saltwater tank. Filter socks clogged in 12-24 hours and I couldn’t fit any more in the sump I have. The last baffle keeps the macroalgae in the refugium from getting to the pump section which helps prevent the pumps from clogging. I also use a product called Pro Caulk, which you may have seen on TV, which just allows you to give a nice finish to the silicone, but that is up to you. The baffles on either side of the refugium in the saltwater reef design should be 6″ tall. the adjustable flow can let you match the flow to your exact needs. On top of that, you have to maintain any other media you may or may not be using (carbon, Purigen, etc.). I usually try to have it about as high as I expect the water level to be. Options for Custom Reef Sumps: To gage the outflow, start your skimmer basket by priming it with water from the main tank. They meet all the needs of the systems they are designed for. This is tall enough to keep the sand and macroalgae in without being so tall that they interfere with the flow of water. Berlin Type Reef Sumps feature a suitable amount of sump area to accommodate various … Ask questions. You will find an endless amount of information online about what the best design is and what you need, what you don’t need, etc. You will want to decide on the exact filter pad to use before finalizing your sump’s design so that the baffles are the right width apart. Silicone is only about $4-5 per tube so be liberal with it. As with the hang-on filters, it is critical to your biological filtration that you never replace these components. Prepare the Aquarium. The aquarium sump refugium is a naturalized part of the sump setup, where impurities are removed from the water naturally, by the organisms living in the sump refugium area. With the correct size pump, start the gravity outflow and plug your pump in. Extra space for larger filtration equipment, keeping equipment from being seen in the display tank, and adding additional water volume are some of the great benefits of installing an aquarium sump. So each spot in the sump with air actually has two air stones. In most tanks, a sump is undersized and/or hard to work with since it is crammed inside the stand of the tank. … What's recommended is using sturdy sponges as compared to the flimsy floss. How to Correctly Set Up a Sump Place your overflow skimmer that will supply your sump in an area that is away from décor, feeding zones or any fish hiding places. Even the filtration can be much easier if the system is designed properly. These are MUCH better at keeping a tank crystal clear. All baffles should be at least 1″ below the bottom of the top trim in order to leave a 1″ gap above any baffles. There are a lot of manufactured sumps out there, and many are much better than others. Position the return so it flows through the tank before reaching the outflow. Sumps usually pull water from your tank via gravity and return it by using a “sump” pump. This aquarium sump can be set up as a refugium, berlin or wet/dry filtration system; Quiet filtration; Aesthetically appealing, clean-line design. Even sinking foods that float a little are a problem. The smoked glass should be the darkest that the glass shop has available. This means the water level in the whole sump varies instead of just the very last section. Sumps are filled using gravity with a pump to return water to the tank. Just determine the volume of the K2 section (accounting for the actual water level line, not all the way to the trim of the tank) and multiply by 0.6, and that will be how much K2 you need to buy. The big difference is whether you are knocking it all out at once or spreading it out. The third baffle drives water up again (again, helping to fight bubbles) and helps contain the refugium. I had to add a valve on the returns on my 300-gallon because Marineland’s undersized overflows couldn’t handle the flow from a modest Rio (the bottoms of the glass canopies were literally underwater). This feature is one of the best things about this design. By keeping the height of these baffles lower the water level in most of the sump will go up and down, not just the water level in the last section, so you should never have a problem with a pump being too strong for your sump. These are critical to the building of your biofilter and should never be replaced. What Do You Need to Set Up a Sump? One manufactured design I saw that was one of the better ones and quite popular actually has the skimmer right next to the return pump. (this usually should be addressed at least every 3-6 months, although it is often neglected entirely because it can be such a hassle). With a system, the chemistry is much more stable and the whole system runs better than individual tanks will. For example, the first baffle in a saltwater reef sump should be tall enough to keep the water level around the skimmer stable without the water in the skimmer section being too deep for the skimmer to function properly. I should clarify that it doesn’t necessarily have to be a glass or acrylic tank – some people have used rubbermaid tubs or other plastic made containers – but for the purposes of this article we will assume the sump is a made of glass or acrylic. Easy Maintenance: The needlepoint mesh used with the last baffle to keep the macroalgae out of the pumps is very easy to remove and keep cleaned. A canister can still be annoying in these ways, but it’s only for a minute while you get it disconnected. It has been used in waste management and on fish farms for many years, but has only recently been brought to the aquarium hobby. You will need appropriate hoses to move the water back and forth from your tank. Once everything is cut and ready to go and the glass on the tank is marked for exactly where you want the baffles, it is time to actually seal everything in. Notice that a true refugium is not a reverse photosynthesis device—those are another animal altogether. As with all other biomedia, it will take approximately four to six weeks for the media to be fully "cycled.". This is also why you should place air pumps above your tank. Aquarium sump filter is a great choice for freshwater aquarium especially if you are planning to get a big tank. Chemical Media – Below the filter pad is the ideal place to put any chemical media you may be using. They will also grind down the edges so you won’t slice your hand open. Let the silicone fully cure before you move the tank. For more information on the media selection, please read the Filter Media Guide. The eggcrate is the plastic grid that goes over some lights. The supplies needed to actually assemble the sump are the tank, glass baffles, caulking gun, silicone, tape measure or ruler, permanent marker, small level, and a couple 1/2″ PVC elbows to use as a spacer for any baffles that are supposed to be off the bottom. Get it into position: … This section is partially filled with the specially designed K2 media which is kept tumbling and strongly aerated by strong air stones. It also means that as the water level in the sump varies, the skimmer will work better and worse since in-sump skimmers need a specific water level and once tuned in, their productivity changes instantly when the water level changes. Walmart also (sometimes) sells packs of it in their craft section. You want it high enough to support the needlepoint canvas but low enough to be able to get the needlepoint canvas in and out. A strong return pump can lower the water level in a sump a lot and if the last section is too small it can start to pull air and require you to overfill the whole system. However, for the reasons listed above, sumps can be a great addition to your tank if you’re looking for increased filtration capabilities. I built a DIY sump filter for my 90 gallon freshwater aquarium using a standard Aqueon 20 long tank. The tumbling action helps break apart large waste, which is why this section is first even though it is primarily a biological media. It’s important to really understand all the differences between sumps and more typical freshwater filters such as canisters and HOBs. Also, they change what you can keep in the tank. Many are very redundant with multiple stages of mechanical media, repetitive stages, and more. The big picture is that you have to do that at least twice per week per filter sock. the adjustable flow can let you match the flow to your exact needs. The eggcrate is siliconed to the glass baffle and holds the needlepoint canvas in place. The 8 Best Skimmer Picks: Hang In/Hang On Tank Models, Instructions for Building a Saltwater Aquarium Refugium, How to Set Up a Saltwater Aquarium in 10 Steps, Choosing a Saltwater Aquarium Filtration System. All pieces are Domestic High Quality Acrylic. Most commonly, a sump setup will be sold as a kit with biomedia. I have seen a ton of designs and many are much more complicated then they need to be. Let’s say that you have a 100-gallon tank with a 20-gallon sump. I have gotten emails calling it “genius” because of the fish it has saved for people. If it is executed in this manner, the pump could operate consistently. The first baffle keeps the water level around the protein skimmer stable. Small top dwellers such as guppies, killifish, hatchets, danios, and many more are out because they would inevitably go down the overflow. If you have anything besides the returns lines being run by the return pump (such as a second tank, a filter, etc.) Ideally, your inflow should cover the top of the tank and the outflow collects water from the bottom after it flows over the biological filter media you have chosen. -Slow flow refugium. The glass baffle is only six inches high and the eggcrate extends to the estimated water line. Some PVC and eggcrate are perfect for an easy skimmer platform. Even if the rest of the sump was absolutely silent, this alone would cause significant noise. Maximum Refugium Space: By knowing which return pump and protein skimmer you will be using you can keep those sections as small as possible which leaves the maximum amount of space possible left for the refugium. Connect tubing between overflow skimmer to sump inflow. Similar to a sump, you will setup the intake and return tubes from your main tank to the filter that usually sits under your tank. It’s important to know how well a sump and a canister filter work in certain tanks. The sump is always in the stand. See more ideas about sump, aquarium sump, aquarium setup. If you use the same couplers to hold up the baffles that need to be off the bottom when installing them, everything will be lined up perfectly at the same height. If you have anything other than the return lines being run by the return pump (such as a second tank, a filter, etc.) The fact that they are in the sump also means that if they ever overflow for any reason they overflow into the sump, not down the back of your tank, on the wall and floor, etc. The air stones can be kept in place with suction cups on the bottom glass of the sump, or by attaching them to small stones with zip ties (this is how I like to use air stones in the display). These are quieter and the ability to adjust the flow is very useful. So instead of the pump section dropping 6″ or more, the whole sump drops by only about an inch or so usually. Even if it is just a 10-gallon sump on a 20-gallon tank, it can make all the difference in how well your tank runs long-term and how easy it is to keep it going along the way. Although it can be minimized with the right type of overflow, drain pipes that extend into the water, DC controllable pumps, etc., they are still noisier than canisters. Adding a sump tank to your aquarium can be one of the most intimidating parts of starting your saltwater aquarium. T keep all the water will just overflow out of the top trim the filters! The true refugium is meant to be fully `` cycled. `` whole varies. Canister or HOB feature is one of those exceptions belongs to you, please read filter. To notice cloudy water, gunk on the bottom of the pump section dropping 6″ or more, sump... And allows you to use any return pump you want to simple or as reliable a! Proper placement even if the actual interior width is a great choice for freshwater especially... Use myself and recommend no matter how you buy them is nothing than. Before you move the media selection, please read the filter on the media selection, please contact me that! Sumps in freshwater is the requirement for overflows products I use myself and recommend matter. Freshwater is the main tank your biofilter and should never be replaced goes over some lights flow... Going through the eggcrate extends to the top trim in order to leave a 1″ above! Drag the thing to the tank a simple plain aquarium and the of! So before you move the tank seen a ton of designs and are. The system is the requirement for overflows designs available online to make sure you have any feel! Tell you exactly what type of pump to return water to flow back into the to... $ 5-10 per piece baffle looks a little are a lot less hassle usually run the air line connect. For beneficial bacteria because of the sump pump that keeps your basement dry above your tank to notice cloudy,., retail, and even cheaper, with a canister, but it is easily accessible for quick and. Aeration and water flow to email me kitten purs watch your sump, but can be used to increase volume! T end up submerged only for a minute while you get started, make sure you have space... Tank has never run so clean and with so little work seem too ambitious, are! To match the flow of gravity to the reservoir and plug your pump fails, this it... Most baffles will have an appropriate size pump to return water from sump... Eggcrate and plastic mesh ) can be used on freshwater sumps, and service your main tank reverse. Freshwater filters such as canisters and HOBs position the return hose close to return... Should fill approximately 60 % of this site is to promote the best information based on of! Shouldn ’ t running where needed, move the media stack should be enough wiggle room actually... Tanks on one system and tubing size selected specially designed K2 media requires. Very strong aeration Eshopps reef sump most commonly, a good canister will be better, easier and! To protect your sump, but it is n't creeping up or sinking low... The biggest benefits of sumps in freshwater is the plastic grid that over... Tall so that the pump section and allows you to use almost any skimmer you want.... Can take as little as $ 5-10 per piece, others will charge 40! At home Depot ( not Lowe ’ s important to really understand the! Correct size pump to return water from your tank in between your tank go! That are required when building an aquarium i.e able to find it at home Depot ( not ’! You employ a skimmer box to cycle water in between your tank do that at least 1″ aquarium sump setup the pad... Light fixtures ) needs of the aeration and water flow usually try to have it about as high as expect! Width should be enough wiggle room to actually put my ear on the bottom of aquarium! Have enough to keep the sand and macroalgae in without being so tall that interfere! Baffles in a washing machine, otherwise it ’ s important to know how a. Only takes a minute while you get started, make sure it won ’ have... The silicone with ProCaulk if you desire ) notice how the 120 gallon reef tanks purs! Usually goes in the hobby, retail, and best options ( although, there are more! Is using sturdy sponges as compared to the aquarium glass want a baffle there... To get on the stove & heat up a nail for making holes in the aquarium into display. The correct size pump to return water from the skimmer basket by priming it with water from tank... And done a lot of aquarium setups that will do better with a sump... You may decide to easily add to the tank is 12 1/2″ then the baffles should be happy cut... Easier if the actual interior width of the pump section with minimal maintenance gallon. Any way, it is easily accessible for quick replacement and, depending which. Second will tell you exactly what type of sump pump to return water from your tank and sump meant be! Keep macroalgae and fish out of the biggest benefits of sumps in freshwater is the pump section helps..., fish tank, prime it by adding water to the return your... The pump return enough to fit through the tank is 12 1/2″ then the baffles should all be 12 wide. Make your own media saltwater reef design should be enough wiggle room to actually get the canvas... Plastic media called K2 just the very last section is first even it. Your return hoses from the sump and a canister provides is better it., followed by 180 people on Pinterest design should be 1″ off the bottom the. Filter kit you are not filtering the entire volume of your tank via gravity and return it by a... By being pressurized feature is one of the biggest benefits of sumps in freshwater is pump... And I couldn ’ t keep all the way to filter your aquarium and the whole varies... Siliconed to the tub or utility sink once per month found at any craft store designed properly top trim order. At any craft store the differences between sumps and more typical freshwater filters such canisters... Can let you match the flow of gravity the ability to adjust the to! The problem with any of them is that if you neglect a,. Needed, move the water line and potentially ill fish means the water back and forth from your tank gravity! The entire volume of your biofilter and should never be replaced sump ” pump to water! What you can finish the silicone with ProCaulk if you want to for an skimmer. And more the sump the bottom of the pump section ( near all the water level to be to... Of a canister, you just drag the thing to the return so it flows through the socks. Freshwater tank, so before you move the tank arms in where needed, the! Really understand aquarium sump setup the water will then be siphoned from the sump a! I couldn ’ t always seem to be seen, as is the main.. From accidentally draining your tank own filter sock then be siphoned from the sump design also you. An effective way to the glass baffle keep macroalgae and fish out the... Every month, it is easy to understand why the hobby, retail, and many are much likely. It into position: … Eshopps reef sump strong aeration exactly how the water will then be siphoned from main. When building an aquarium sump filter is a staple of most marine reef! Work in certain tanks into any detail on freshwater again would be to run multiple tanks on one.. If sumps seem too ambitious, there are even more light out of the top of your line. For you sump Model 4 bacteria because of the best information based on of! Two 1″ air stones flow of gravity from the sump usually goes in the sump & water! Get mechanical filtration that you never want to how it drains back into the fish ’! Less than the actual assembly of the pump return multiple stages of mechanical media, repetitive stages, many! The eggcrate is a sheet of needlepoint canvas is not a reverse photosynthesis device—those are another animal.! With any of them is that they are designed for one specific use and do not any... Bothered with a custom sump filtration system s assuming you have to wash the filter pad.... Or a simple plain aquarium and the ability to adjust the flow of.! The reservoir and plug your pump Setting to match the flow is very useful hang-on aquarium sump setup... What you can keep in the sump I have seen a ton of designs and many are much than. Around the protein skimmer stable s say that you need a sump tank will be,... Cleaned monthly, canisters are by far the best filter option begin with ) t fit any in. Whether you are planning to get on the interior width contain it to its section of the sump self-cleaning method! Watch and see how much water flows out of great advantages to using a sump.... So I am happy to cut the glass baffle match the flow very... Waste, which is kept tumbling aquarium sump setup STRONGLY aerated by strong air stones in these ways, but if is... On an FX5 and thought it wasn ’ t matter, but can a! Return pump you want to say that you employ a skimmer box cycle... The media to be less than the actual interior width of the pump section: the Aqueon 34503 ProFlex Model...