How do sumps work???
- Thread starter Thyroyalgeek
- Start date
It really depends on what kind of flow you are looking for and if you have a brand preference.
No specific brand preference, just has to have a real good turnover rate. Preferably able to turn 150 gallons about 6 times a day.
Once every 4 hours?? I'd go 4 times an hour... Minimum twice an hour. It has to be quite strong to lift the water as well!
Yeah if i do get this diy tank to hold water, it will DEFINITELY be a predator tank. Bichirs, hypostomus, knives, spiny eels, the stuff with a big big bioload. So turnover will have to be very very good. So I meant an hour, not a day, don't know what I was thinking when I typed that 
. I was thinking around five to MAYBE, six times an hour. But that would take a pretty good pump. What brand/type would you suggest?
. I was thinking around five to MAYBE, six times an hour. But that would take a pretty good pump. What brand/type would you suggest?
No idea on pump brands.
However turnover isn't the only thing. You need lots of media with good oxygenation to provide adequate filtration to everything in that tank.
However turnover isn't the only thing. You need lots of media with good oxygenation to provide adequate filtration to everything in that tank.
That's what I was going to try to do with the king of diys submerged filter. Different levels of plates with maybe some bio balls for bacteria, Put the media in the right order, (coarse mechanical, fine mechanical, carbon, chemical, biological.) And keep it adequately maintained.
The best advice i can give you young man is to take your time and get it right. Research is everything in this hobby. You need to go on line and look at the masses of info there is on sumps, there's that much info out there it'll make your head spin. I'm staggered that you said you couldn't find anything, what the hell did you type in!!!
It sounds like mum and dad are footing the bill for your hobby, are they aware of the costs involved, ongoing costs that is, not just a one off birthday treat. Are they aware that when you eventually choose a return pump for example (and might i add this is an area where you NEVER scrimp), are they aware that you'll need TWO of them!! The experienced hobbyist always always has spares, and not just spare return pumps, spare everything. Who's going to "build" this 150g tank you mentioned. You? Parents? Have you a clue what building a tank entails?
Just take a step back, think about each stage of your project, do your research, talk to the guys on the forum and keep your parents up to speed with your wish list. These are all things you SHOULD do. One thing you SHOULDN'T do however is come on the forum and post that all canadian guys have squeaky voices!!!!!
Hahaha priceless, i love this kid.
It sounds like mum and dad are footing the bill for your hobby, are they aware of the costs involved, ongoing costs that is, not just a one off birthday treat. Are they aware that when you eventually choose a return pump for example (and might i add this is an area where you NEVER scrimp), are they aware that you'll need TWO of them!! The experienced hobbyist always always has spares, and not just spare return pumps, spare everything. Who's going to "build" this 150g tank you mentioned. You? Parents? Have you a clue what building a tank entails?
Just take a step back, think about each stage of your project, do your research, talk to the guys on the forum and keep your parents up to speed with your wish list. These are all things you SHOULD do. One thing you SHOULDN'T do however is come on the forum and post that all canadian guys have squeaky voices!!!!!
Hahaha priceless, i love this kid.
A sump is a box, no need for a brand.
You can use an old scratched up tank, it can be bigger or smaller than your main tank, it can be a barrel. Anything that holds water, and anything you can fit your pump and other equipment in, can be a sump.I have have used old plastic barrels, old tanks, and I have even used my 1000 + gal pond as a sump for my outdoor 55 gallon tanks.
below you see the tank which flows by gravity into the pond, where the pump is, that sends water back to the tank.
I did this because the tank tended to overheat, but the pond water help maintain cooler temps.
Below a 55 gallon barrel as a sump
and below, an old scratched up 75 gal as a sump, offset from the tanks on its line ,(sumps don't need to be directly below the tank) some people with show tanks put sumps in the basement, a floor below the tank, to maintain cooler temps, and keep it out of sight, and to ease in maintaining out of a fancy room . You just need a stronger pump in that case.
I usually use pond pumps (Laguna) with a flow of at least 3000 GPH, because I run multiple tanks on each sump.
You can use an old scratched up tank, it can be bigger or smaller than your main tank, it can be a barrel. Anything that holds water, and anything you can fit your pump and other equipment in, can be a sump.I have have used old plastic barrels, old tanks, and I have even used my 1000 + gal pond as a sump for my outdoor 55 gallon tanks.
below you see the tank which flows by gravity into the pond, where the pump is, that sends water back to the tank.
I did this because the tank tended to overheat, but the pond water help maintain cooler temps.
Below a 55 gallon barrel as a sump
and below, an old scratched up 75 gal as a sump, offset from the tanks on its line ,(sumps don't need to be directly below the tank) some people with show tanks put sumps in the basement, a floor below the tank, to maintain cooler temps, and keep it out of sight, and to ease in maintaining out of a fancy room . You just need a stronger pump in that case.
I usually use pond pumps (Laguna) with a flow of at least 3000 GPH, because I run multiple tanks on each sump.
