sump system

[kuzco77]

Anyone have any nice plans for doing a sump system on a tank? Ive been thinking about doing one if i get a larger tank. Or if someone has a setup they are not using anymore that they would sell that would be even better!

[Ron]

The beauty of a sump is that it can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. In it's most basic form, it's a box that water drains into, after which it is pumped back to the tank.

What are you hoping to achieve? What size tank is it for?

[kuzco77]

Looking at about a 150 +/- 30 gallons.  Looking at doing aTropheus tank so the idea of a sumps added GPH and filtering abilities are what interests me mostly.

[Malawifish]

O have a sump for my 125 I am using a 20 long with 3 sections first section is for intake, plexy siliconed goes 2in from top second section houses my heater and media with 2 pieces of plexy first one same height as the first second goes all thway to the top with a 2in gap at the bottom that feeds my return pump, old refugium tank.

[Malawifish]

My pump dose 1250/hr , fine mat material one top , active charcoal bag (reusable), then 2 corse sponges befor return

[Mastiffman]

Anyone have any nice plans for doing a sump system on a tank? Ive been thinking about doing one if i get a larger tank. Or if someone has a setup they are not using anymore that they would sell that would be even better!

 If you are going to do a tropheus tank on a 6ft tank like that there are two easy and very efficient ways to filter it. I use both and yes they are Tropheus tanks.

 1. Use and FX5/6 which can also be easily plumbed right into overflows using 1" Barbs.
 2. Use either an Inland Seas "Nu-Clear" Canister or Red Sea "Ocean Clear" Canister with a 30sf-40sf Filter cartridge with an Aqueon/Aquaclear Bio-Bag and  a Bag of SeaChem Purigen in the middle and a Pondmaster/ Danner 7-12 Mag-Drive pulling water through it.

 Both work great but I'd almost say that the Nu-Clear/ Ocean Clear canister with Mag-Drive on it is easier to Maintain. Reasoning being is that you don't have to pull the whole canister out to replace the cartridge. You will need another cartridge though so you can replace the old one while you clean it. The Bio-Bags (or any media bag with bio-rings or mini bio-balls will do) and the Purigen will keep the BB Colony in tact and no Ammonia Spikes will arrise.

 I have 5x 6ft and 2x 4ft by 2ft tanks, all with Tropheus and/or Petrochromis in them, with one of those combinations on them. They stay sparkling clear!
2x 180g
1x 135g
2x 120g
2x 110g (4ft x 2ft)

[mightieskeeper]

I use a 40 gallon sump with a square kity litter box as my media holder. It works great on my 120 gallon.