[dinor2]

I have a little predicament! I can only fit something that is 10"wide into the stand and no more than 24" long. I am considering building my own sump that will give me about 10-12 gallons worth of water in the tank, but, I am wondering if it would be so bad to just throw a 10 gallon in instead and if so, use it just to get my huge skimmer off my tank!

I'd love to have a refugium in there but, with a 10gal tank, that just won't be possible, I do however have some cheato and lr rubble in part of my overflow that the pods like, because of this, could I 'get away' with using a smaller sump just to hide my skimmer? I could fit 2 or 3 corals in the spot where the skimmer pump sits in my tank!

Any ideas, suggestions?...

[WILLIAM1]

This is were you really need to be creative maybe with a 10 gallon and a 5 gallon. 5 gallon for the sump seen this done... People should post some pics of the sumps...

[dinor2]

Well, I'm really starting to wonder if I have the right pumps in mind for this. I was planning on using my mj900 powerhead to bring water to the sump, then a mag 7 for the return pump. My skimmer is rated up to 250gal but the pump on it is adjustable so I'm sure that won't be an issue. I'm mainly concerned if the mj900 would do a good job for bringing the water to the sump and if the mag7 is strong enough to return the water back fast enough thru about 3-4 feet of pipes. Or should I use tubing, have plenty of that?.....

I promised, I did research this, just not sure which is the better way to go with a 10gallon... is this a trial and error project, try till you get it just right?

[dinor2]

Ok, here are my two ideas so far... please let me know which one you all think will work best!
Idea 1


Idea 2




I'm thinking of going with idea 1... either way I'll have to cross the paths of my out and in flow tubes from my skimmer since it'll have to go behind the stand (too tall to be in the stand) and that puts the outflow on the left and the inflow on the right for that. So, I'll just criss cross them. Will the mag 7 be enough for the return?

[palmbeach2210]

Here is a design for a 20g sump. Maybe it will help

DIY 20g Glass Sump

[dinor2]

Thanks for the idea! I'm going to use the baffles but go down to the one baffle with the egg crate in between the refugium and the outflow like the one pictured.

As far as a return pump, would a mag 7 work well?...

[Marine1]

Have you thought of using a non-conventional sump? Maybe using rubbermaid or some odd shaped container to maximize the size of the sump in your cabinet. Just a thought.

[dinor2]

Yep, couldn't believe that there wasn't one container I could get under my tank! I know for sure I'll have to figure out how to cross the skimmer outflow and inflow tubes because my skimmer will be hanging on the back of the sump outside the back of the stand. Now I'm just trying to be sure that a mj900 will be sufficient to get water into the sump and a mag 7 will work as a return.... any thoughts on the pumps guys?

I'm thinking if the mj900 isn't fast enough, I can add a syphon tube from another area of the tank, I'll just have to put some netting over the opening so none of my fish get sucked in... hoping the mj900 will be enough though. I'm expecting to do a lot of tweaking, that normal when you make your first sump? I'm a little nervous, never made a sump before and my tank is going so well without one, I don't want to mess anything up!

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by dinor2

Yep, couldn't believe that there wasn't one container I could get under my tank! I know for sure I'll have to figure out how to cross the skimmer outflow and inflow tubes because my skimmer will be hanging on the back of the sump outside the back of the stand. Now I'm just trying to be sure that a mj900 will be sufficient to get water into the sump and a mag 7 will work as a return.... any thoughts on the pumps guys?

I'm thinking if the mj900 isn't fast enough, I can add a syphon tube from another area of the tank, I'll just have to put some netting over the opening so none of my fish get sucked in... hoping the mj900 will be enough though. I'm expecting to do a lot of tweaking, that normal when you make your first sump? I'm a little nervous, never made a sump before and my tank is going so well without one, I don't want to mess anything up!

I think what you are proposing is going to cause you some problems. Why not a HOB fuge? They work great and for a smaller tank like yours so much the better.


Think outside the box a little with the sump thing. Lowes, Home depot, office max, Walmart carry all sorts of stuff like file boxes and garbage cans. Im sure there is something that will fit under your stand that can be used for a sump.


A pump needs to take out a certain amount of water and return the same amount of water to your tank. ( there are variations to this) Using different size power heads for this isnt the best way IMO. A mag 5 set up with a Wier box would work fine. Pumping water down to the sump and pumping water back to the tank is practically impossible with 2 pumps.

The main purpose for the sump right now is a place for the skimmer and a place for carbon,phosphate removal, additives and so on. If you want your fuge down there too you just have to scale everything smaller.

[dinor2]

Ok, so, just ot be sure I'm understanding correctly, a mag 5 for the return would be better than the mag 7?

I don't necessarily have to have the fuge in my sump, I do have a place in my overflow that the pods are enjoying and multiplying. I just thought if it was doable it would be worth it. But more than anything I do want the huge skimmer off my tank! (and out). Maybe using just the 10 gallon for that purpose alone and then using a hang on fuge in the future if I feel I need one would be best then... so instead of having the refugium down there, put my skimmer in that same spot... so inflow on left side, baffles, skimmer, baffles then baffles to return... would I even need baffles to separate the skimmer and return pump? Sorry for so many questions, I just want to make sure I get it right the first time.

[jimw369]

Originally Posted by dinor2

Ok, so, just ot be sure I'm understanding correctly, a mag 5 for the return would be better than the mag 7?

I don't necessarily have to have the fuge in my sump, I do have a place in my overflow that the pods are enjoying and multiplying. I just thought if it was doable it would be worth it. But more than anything I do want the huge skimmer off my tank! (and out). Maybe using just the 10 gallon for that purpose alone and then using a hang on fuge in the future if I feel I need one would be best then... so instead of having the refugium down there, put my skimmer in that same spot... so inflow on left side, baffles, skimmer, baffles then baffles to return... would I even need baffles to separate the skimmer and return pump? Sorry for so many questions, I just want to make sure I get it right the first time.

There are many ways to do what you want.

If you want to keep it simplejust divide your sump into 2 sections with a set of baffles. Put your water coming from the tank and the skimmer on one side and your return pump on the other. Dont know what you have or are going to use for an overflow so mag5-7 depends. Check the flow rates on what you are using for an overflow and keep your pump gph just under that. You will lose a little gph because you are pumping water back "up" to the tank. Some one here Im sure knows the exact amount of loss you will have. Thats just the easiest getting started out.

HOB fuge with a very low flow pump. Might even be able to Tee off of your return line back to the tank for this. Anything is possible.

[dinor2]

Ok, about ready to put this together! Just a couple last ?'s, when I set up the sump, I fill with fresh saltwater, then start the pumps for the sump? Or is there a certain order you typically turn them on or is it dependent on how/what you have in your sump and how it's divided up? I feel like these might be dumb questions but, never done this before and since I'm a perfectionist, I really want to do it right.

Ordering a mag7 for the return since I can add an adjustable flow part on the piping on the way up to slow it down if I need to. But the return pipes will be right at 4 feet.

As for the refugium, I'm going to really get creative but should work, I think! I'll post more pics as it comes together to document my success or possible failure as this will be a very different looking sump.

[dinor2]

Well, I'm totally scratching the sump and going with this skimmer here, can not wait to get it! My first and last skimmer upgrade, I know it'll be worth it! Unlike how much $ it was going to take doing only a 10gallon sump!

Deltec - Aquarium Equipment - protein skimmers, turbo skimmers, calicum reactors, fluidized reactors, kalkwasser stirrers

Sorry it didn't work out, you guys tried helping me with the sump, I just think for this particular tank, this skimmer will be the better way to go, at least for now. I can always hang it or place it in a sump later if I find a larger size container that fits in there.