rubbermaid sumps? Any pictures?

[riche]

I have a 100 gallon and want to use it as a sump and have a remote fuge.

Just trying to picture how it would be if there is only a skimmer and return pump in there with some live rock.

I plan on a filter sock to control bubbles and adding a ato to keep the water level

 

[ksfulk]

My sump is a 150, but same premise. I have the bottom of mine filled with liverock (about 200lbs), then I built a stand out of pvc and eggcrate (about $20 in parts from Lowes) and place more rock and my skimmer on top of that. That way there is areas of flow in between the rock and I can keep my skimmer off the bottom of the tank. As for the drains and socks, I just zip tie a filer sock around the main drain and let it go for a few days - then it can be cut and a new sock put on without much fuss.

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Here is mine

 

[pirate2876]

Here is mine

How do you like that skimmer? Is the tank plumbed through the floor?

 

[hawkinsrgk]

I love the skimmer. It's an SRO 6000 external. I had a drain put in that goes to the backyard. Then I drilled that side and put a gate valve in that goes to the drain. Makes water changes a piece of cake

 

[riche]

I have a floor drain with in a few feet of where my tub will be, I think I will do something like that:)

Thanks for the post

 

[hawkinsrgk]

Your welcome. One thing to mention. Ditch the bulkhead that comes in it and put a regular bulkhead in. The stock bulkhead is known to fail

 

[ksfulk]

^^^ Another "pro-active" thing to do is before its all in place, I dry fit all of my floor drain plumbing with the tank propped up (I used some cinder blocks I had lying around) and with some water in it (outside might be a good idea too - you can use a hose!) see how fast it fills up a 5 gallon or 1 gallon bucket. Once you have that number (ie: it takes 68 seconds to drain 5 gallons) you can easily flip on your drain, run a timer on your phone and then flip it off so you know exactly how much water you are changing. I marked mine with a silver Sharpie on the inside of the tank for a "full" level and then a "water change level" so I can drain water and eyeball when Ive drained 40 gallons of water out of the tank. Both give you a nice steady level to work towards.

And if you run bulkheads into the tank, I suggest using some fine grit sandpaper on any of the bulkhead holes to take down the edges, otherwise you'll end up with leaking bulkheads.