Another Sump Questions Thread - With A Twist!

[isde02]

Hi all! I figured this is still an idea so I'd post it here, if mods think it's better suited for the 'setup and filtration' section, please move it.

If I can please ask you all to please be patient with me, that would be great. I have questions about a couple of different sump ideas, I apologize in advance for the potential wall of text you're about to read, and for the horrible disorganization in the post...

Firstly, I've had an idea in mind for a "small" sump, but can't find PVC piping and fittings small enough to work on it. The hardware shop near me sell pipes the size I need, but not fittings which I think is stupid but oh well, what can ya do?

So I'm wondering if I could use irrigation hose (like people use for underground sprinklers) or if it would leech god knows what into my tank? I'm going to ring around this arvo and ask about pex pipe after discussing it with another member, if I can't find pex pipe and fittings, will hard irrigation hose work?


Okay, on to part two - the main bit.

We've recently acquired some decent sized tanks (okay, so not "decent" but better than most of our current setups) and my hubby wants to do sumps for them. We've never had sumps before so this is all very new to us both.

This next bit may get confusing as I've got no clue what I'm doing and I apologize in advance, if I need to reexplain anything let me know and I'll do my best.

He wants to use the 170ltr that currently houses my catfish as a sump for the 4'x2'x2' tank we got the other day, seeing as how my catfish will be going in the 4'. I wanted to use the 170ltr as a tank for Miles, my SF betta as he needs a bigger tank.

Well I've come up with a way to have both in the same tank - I think... And that's where you guys come in, I need y'all to tell me what the chances are of this working. I'll attach a terrible drawing below to show what I mean, and I'll try my best to explain it.

If I were to divide the 170ltr into two sections, a "square" with a 'C' around it, would I be able to have Miles in the centre square (red in the drawing) bit and have the 'C' shape running as a sump? Is that possible? I don't expect the 'C' shape to also filter the square center bit, I'll probably just get a few HOBs for the center and call it a day if this works.

This is my terrible drawing, please excuse my horrible handwriting... There is no details like baffle placement or intakes/outtakes etc in the drawing, its just to give an idea of what I'm trying to achieve and find out if its possible. Drawing is "birdseye view" to show what I'm trying to do. The red bit is where Miles will be (if this is possible), the dark blue will be mechanical to trap large particles, the dark green will be to trap medium particles, light green is floss for polishing and purple is for bio and heaters and such, I got bored so I coloured it in lol. View attachment 1213955
Assuming for a minute that this is possible, would I need a small power head in each corner of the 'C' to prevent dead spots in the corners? I think we will, hubby thinks we won't. Also, center bit will hold roughly 90ltrs, the 'C' bit will hold 80ish (when filled up 5cm from the top which as a sump, it won't be) which seems a little small for a sump on a large tank...

Dot pointed questions for easy answering:
• is 80ltrs a enough total sump volume for a 4'x2'x2' tank or am I grabbing at straws here?

• if I'm not grabbing at straws, will I need power heads in the corners of the 'C' shape to prevent dead spots?

• where the hell would the baffles go in a 'C' shaped sump? I get that they should probably be separating the medias or whatever, but I'm worried about reducing flow around the corner bits, this is so confusing.

• can I use irrigation hose for my mini sump (sump will be filtering a 20ltr tank)? Or can someone suggest fish safe piping that comes in 10-12mm and is available in Australia just in case I can't get pex pipe?


I think that's all I wanted to ask for now, no doubt I'll be back in a few days with more questions. Thanks in advance guys, and sorry about the seemingly endless wall of text.

Check this thread out it should help.
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/135-75-gallon-build.561470/page-3

 

[celebrist]

i will try to explain my sump setup i have five sections to my sump
my pump chamber is in the center and my skippy style inlets are in the two chambers next to the central chamber i then have two estuary sections in each end that are fed with a bleeder line off my return pumps. without picture is looks like this

estuary/ inlet/pump chamber/inlet /estuary
i hope that makes some sense. i am able to house plants and smaller fish in the estuaries without dedicating additional filtration to them that way

 

[isde02]

Bottom tank is a sump.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I agree, what I did was tee off my return line and bled off some flow to my "estuary" on the ends of my sump so they would have flow and used poret foam to isolate the section from the main sump. Plants and such for mellow home.
Excellent assistant in the picture by the way

Thank you. He enjoys the fish tanks a lot. Of course, at his age he likes the Glofish the best. Lol. That's what his ten gallon is filled with.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Most of the tanks I have are under 150ltrs, so if the 170ltr won't work I assume a 150ltr wouldn't work? However my hubby can get tubs up to 250ltrs from his work so I guess that could work. Bummer on the 'C' shape though, I was so proud of myself when I thought of it lol


Sorry if I sound stupid, but can you please explain that a little more? It made very little sense to me

Also, I'm glad my drawing helped.. Even if it is horrible hahaha


Awesome on the piping, not awesome on th 'C' sump.

For novelties sake, what if I went with the 'C' sump and a couple of canisters? Mainly using the canisters as filtration and just kinda using the sump as a "for the sake of it" kinda thing?

Ultimately I want to put Miles in a 6'x1.5'x1' tank but my hubby isn't going for it, I'm hoping that if I can find a very complex way to house him, that I'll be allowed to keep him in the 6', by this time the 'C' sump will be almost done and... I can get another betta!

I'm sorry but I'm just trying to wrap my head around this...you want a 6' tank for your betta? Granted, I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me but I think anything a gallon or larger is big enough for a betta. Lol. I think you might just have the luckiest betta in the world! Haha

 

[Kittiee Katt]

My .02. If you really are set on trying your "C" tank within a sump idea, try it. You won't go on continue wondering "what if I tried it".

IMO, if you have that size for a sump, I'd go with Travis' idea. Although not talked about a lot, people put their smaller FW or Marine bully's there all the time like that...LOL. Another benefit with going with that design, is you don't have to add additional HOB as the sump will take care of that for your main tank and sump tenant. Also, one less variable to deal with having a HOB running on top of what your sump is doing.

Either way on what you choose to try, make sure you test for WHEN the sump return pump is off - whether done intentionally or not. You'll want see how the water rises and if where your little guy ends up when that happens.

Also, I'm not understanding the need for smaller pipe/fittings and where that fits in all this, I read it twice and didn't see where that fit in.

If its sealed the way I want it, the water level in the 'C' shouldn't affect the water level in the square, they should be completely separate to the point where the square will need its own water changes

The tiny pipe is for a different sump. I also have a tiny tank that I want to try to turn into a sump for a small tank... I know its somewhat pointless but if you haven't noticed yet, I'm all for silly impractical ideas - if there's a chance they might work

Bottom tank is a sump.
View attachment 1214059

That's pretty much what I'm picturing, I picture the front sections of the 'C' blacked out and just the tank and square visible... If that makes sense at all?

Also, thanks for the thread, I'll check it out.

I'm sorry but I'm just trying to wrap my head around this...you want a 6' tank for your betta? Granted, I'm sure plenty of people will disagree with me but I think anything a gallon or larger is big enough for a betta. Lol. I think you might just have the luckiest betta in the world! Haha

I'm one of those who disagrees hahaha although I'm not going to tell you that your betta needs a 100ltr tank, I believe mine deserves one

And it's only like 260ltrs or so, its not a 6' 800ltr tank! Although I'm sure Miles would have a ball in there, my dollars probably need it more hahaha

Also, please no one start the "betta tank size" debate for crying out loud!

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

I encourage you to do whatever you want to for your betta. He is one lucky little guy.

 

[isde02]

That's pretty much what I'm picturing, I picture the front sections of the 'C' blacked out and just the tank and square visible... If that makes sense at all?

Also, thanks for the thread, I'll check it out.

Yes makes perfect sense, and it could work imo, and I don't think you'll need anything for water movement. With water dumping in on one part of the"C" and being pumped back up on the other.....the water will move on its own.

 

[Kittiee Katt]

Yes makes perfect sense, and it could work imo, and I don't think you'll need anything for water movement. With water dumping in on one part of the"C" and being pumped back up on the other.....the water will move on its own.

I suppose we'll try it without extra power heads first and see how we go, if we need them I guess thay can always be added.


Also, thanks for the help everyone! I really appreciate y'all taking the time out of your days to help me with this.

 

[isde02]

I suppose we'll try it without extra power heads first and see how we go, if we need them I guess thay can always be added.


Also, thanks for the help everyone! I really appreciate y'all taking the time out of your days to help me with this.

Hey that's what it's all about, all of us crazy fish people have to stick together and look out for each other.