Back to discus!!

[zchauvin]

Now I talked myself back to being able to get another 75 instead of the 60. It will be reef ready so Ill just hook up the sump and be good. Also will have a 29 and 20 for breeding and qt. Can anyone point me in the right direction for DIY sump design? Also what size pump should I use? The lfs suggested a 950 gph, sound about right? It seems high at over 10x per hour turnover.

[Second Hand Pat]

Zach, the mag 7 should be about right.

[zchauvin]

Zach, the mag 7 should be about right.

Thanks Pat, a 29g sump should be plenty for the 75 hu?

[Second Hand Pat]

Should be fine. I have a 15/20 on my 75.

[zchauvin]

good deal. Anything else I should know? I never set up a sump before...

[Second Hand Pat]

You need the overflow box (unless you are predrilled with an overflow), the sump, pump and hoses from the pump to tank (1/2 inch inside with a u joint thingy to return the water. Important that the u joint thingy needs a small hole to break the siphon if the pump stops. Hose from the overflow box is larger, like an inch inside. Bio-media of some form.

[zchauvin]

Well, I will be plumbing it myself so i may have to consult you with that lol but it is a pre drilled tank with overflow box. I will use my 29 or buy another for the sump. Just need some pics i guess to see how to set up. I have 3 canister filters worth of media from all my old filters. Will throw some 100 micron filter floss inside a filter sock and will use that mag 7 pump you suggested. I will look at how some of the lfs sumps are setup also to give myself a general idea, Im not spending 300 on a pre made sump haha.

[Second Hand Pat]

Zach, research this. There is a ton of info and different ways to do a sump. The reef forums have all kinds of DIY sumps. You might even find a deal on craigslist.

[strawberryblonde]

Just a suggestion, but I found the cheapest and easiest way to setup my sump was to purchase Poret foam to use as dividers. If you already have media, divide the sump tank into three sections using two sheets of the foam, then stuff your media into the middle section. Add the micron sock to the inlet hose/tubing on one end of the sump, and place the pump and heater at the other end.

It's a quick and dirty way to run a sump and I gotta tell ya, mine kicked some serious bio-filtering butt for the entire year that I ran it!! Not running it now because my tank sprung a massive leak and one side of it failed on me last month (blasted tail wagging plott hound in my house...lol)

[zchauvin]

Thanks toni, may do that. Going to check on price of acrylic today for dividers in the 29 I'm using and if its a pretty penny I may go the foam route.

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[zchauvin]

Ok, I got the 75 reef ready and will be building stand tonight/tomorrow. At the lfs, they tried selling me a kit with bulkhead and all this different stuff. Do you think I should get that or do you guys diy that also? I mean I know I need the bulkheads and stuff so just wondering if its worth the money, they wanted 70$. Is that about right or does the internet have better prices?

[zchauvin]

Scratch that, just talked to a guy who had a saltwater and he's giving me the pump, sump, and all connections for free. Can someone fill me in on what the proper proceeders should be to clean this thing.