Do you like your DIY sump

[redfishbluefish]

Super clean setup! Do you run any mechanical filtration? And did you use glass baffles or acrylic?

When originally built, it has three chambers, with 1 1/2 return lines in the back two opposing corners:

Left: filter sock, one heater and skimmer
Center: second heater, return pump (and originally biopellet reactor, now removed)
Right: refugium/Coral storage.

It was built with acrylic baffles, and don't believe that nonsense that acrylic doesn't stick to glass tanks....you just need to use the right silicone.

HD sells this silicone, but you won't find it in the paint department with the rest of the silicones. You need to go where they sell acrylic sheet goods and you'll find it there. I've been using it for years and have never had a failure.


And yes, acrylic does swell so you simply undercut the size of the baffles by a 1/16 or so to compensate for the swell.

One more note, originally built sump with bubble traps on both sides of the center return section and found that they were not necessary, and were removed.

 

[willy00]

When originally built, it has three chambers, with 1 1/2 return lines in the back two opposing corners:

Left: filter sock, one heater and skimmer
Center: second heater, return pump (and originally biopellet reactor, now removed)
Right: refugium/Coral storage.

It was built with acrylic baffles, and don't believe that nonsense that acrylic doesn't stick to glass tanks....you just need to use the right silicone.

HD sells this silicone, but you won't find it in the paint department with the rest of the silicones. You need to go where they sell acrylic sheet goods and you'll find it there. I've been using it for years and have never had a failure.


And yes, acrylic does swell so you simply undercut the size of the baffles by a 1/16 or so to compensate for the swell.

One more note, originally built sump with bubble traps on both sides of the center return section and found that they were not necessary, and were removed.

Great info! This is my first sump setup and trying to decide if I needed bubble trap. So with your sump there’s a return directly to the refugium and another to the sock and skimmer chamber?

 

[willy00]

love my diy sump. also for a 75, but mine is a 40B.
also +1 to @UncommonSense s baffle advice. all of it.
only 1 bubble trap before the return pump section. i do advise a return chamber at least to give you a good place for an ato sensor.

I don’t think I’ll have room for anything else under the tank if I did a 40B, as nice as at it sounds…

 

[Staghorn]

I have done it myself allot more than I like to admit and I honestly think the fact that you can design your sump exactly the way you want it is worth allot.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Great info! This is my first sump setup and trying to decide if I needed bubble trap. So with your sump there’s a return directly to the refugium and another to the sock and skimmer chamber?

Yes, a 1500 GlassHoles overflow (now out of business) with two, 1 1/2 inch drain lines with one going to the sock and the other in the opposite corner of the refugium. If you look in that far right corner of the picture above, that monstrosity of a pipe is the bubble trap at the end of the drain line. It eliminates the bubbles that were popping in the refugium section and causing wetness on the light and around the sump.

 

[ShakeyGizzard]

love my DIY 20 long, I would do a 40 Breeder for your tank if you have the room.

 

[willy00]

love my DIY 20 long, I would do a 40 Breeder for your tank if you have the room.

Looks like you’ve made the most of your space!

 

[n2585722]

I have sump I made so it would fit in the area of the stand for a hex tank. Here is a photo of the sump. It would be hard to get a photo of it in the stand. I had it out in this photo before setting up the tank for some changes on the stand.

 

[UncommonSense]

I have sump I made so it would fit in the area of the stand for a hex tank. Here is a photo of the sump. It would be hard to get a photo of it in the stand. I had it out in this photo before setting up the tank for some changes on the stand.

Awesome! I didn’t realize any other users were running reefs in hexagons around here!

 

[sfin52]

Very unorthodox.

 

[n2585722]

Awesome! I didn’t realize any other users were running reefs in hexagons around here!

I also built the stand and canopy. It is a 42 gallon tank. Below is a photo of the tank and stand.

 

[UncommonSense]

I also built the stand and canopy. It is a 42 gallon tank. Below is a photo of the tank and stand.

Beautiful!! You are quite the craftsman, sir!

Mine’s a 35g acrylic, I built a coffe table stand to center it on, center overflow/return, 20g long sump with just a return chamber baffle/bubble trap!

— I’m considering making a hood out of acrylic or polycarbonate, just because I have it on-hand and would love to keep getting better at working with it, but I’m undecided on the ideal lighting for this oddball tank…

 

[n2585722]

Beautiful!! You are quite the craftsman, sir!

Mine’s a 35g acrylic, I built a coffe table stand to center it on, center overflow/return, 20g long sump with just a return chamber baffle/bubble trap!

— I’m considering making a hood out of acrylic or polycarbonate, just because I have it on-hand and would love to keep getting better at working with it, but I’m undecided on the ideal lighting for this oddball tank…

Nice, I actually setup the tank to test LED lighting. At the time I started the build there were not that many LED fixtures so I did my own. By the time I had it setup and running there were quite a few LED light fixtures.

 

[toothybugs]

If you have any interest in doing things yourself, there's no reason to not do a DIY sump. You get everything in it you need, if you build the frame and walls as well you get the perfect fit for your space, and it's hard to not save a ton of money in the process. I've had a couple manufactured sumps and wet/dry filters. Then I DIY'd my first sump and haven't looked back.

The only way to get close to the utility of a DIY is if you get a full system like a Waterbox with the tank, stand, sump, etc all integrated to work together. WIth a little care, like tape to mask off where the silicone will go and keeping the bead small and uniform, a DIY sump can look pretty close to professionally done.

 

[allof fish]

I don’t think I’ll have room for anything else under the tank if I did a 40B, as nice as at it sounds…

I did mine with the intention of saving a lot of money and making it how I wanted. Not very difficult cut glass to size and silicone let it dry and done. I got 3 baffles first section filter socks, skimmer, heaters and some media. Baffle then second section which will be a Refugium but also has my uv pump. Then a down up baffle to return chamber. Might cost you 75-100$ take a few hours save lots of money

 

[Bruttall]

6ft All-Glass brand aquarium converted to a custom DIY sump, DIY Venturi skimmer, I built my entire system pretty much DIY.

 

[allof fish]

Don’t think I’ve seen a diy skimmer before looks like it all works well

 

[spockagain34]

Absolutely love my DIY sump and fuge. Had them running for a while now without any issues and I don’t see any reason I’d not like these over some manufactured thing I had to spend 5 times as much on. Just got the tanks on sale from the local pet store and had a local glass cutter make me some panels for baffles.

Good luck!

 

[willy00]

If you have any interest in doing things yourself, there's no reason to not do a DIY sump. You get everything in it you need, if you build the frame and walls as well you get the perfect fit for your space, and it's hard to not save a ton of money in the process. I've had a couple manufactured sumps and wet/dry filters. Then I DIY'd my first sump and haven't looked back.

The only way to get close to the utility of a DIY is if you get a full system like a Waterbox with the tank, stand, sump, etc all integrated to work together. WIth a little care, like tape to mask off where the silicone will go and keeping the bead small and uniform, a DIY sump can look pretty close to professionally done.

Yep, I do like doing things myself! And don't have 5k to drop on a complete system

 

[willy00]

Absolutely love my DIY sump and fuge. Had them running for a while now without any issues and I don’t see any reason I’d not like these over some manufactured thing I had to spend 5 times as much on. Just got the tanks on sale from the local pet store and had a local glass cutter make me some panels for baffles.

Good luck!

Thanks! I've been curious about the reef mats, but my main hesitation is how much space it takes up, looks like you found a good solution with extrnal fuge