Sump Layout Suggestions on a 43 x 12.5 (approximately 33 Gallon Sump)

[Faccia di Pesce]

Any time, you are correct, you can put whatever you would like in the smaller chamber, you "Might" need to raise the height on the return pump chamber but I doubt it. Thay really depends on what pump you have

i plan on using this one

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

I will probably use this design. Seems to be a workable one from Marine Depot

What Is A Sump? - Filtration and Refugiums For Your Aquarium

What is a filter sump and why do I need one? Marine Depot explains it all in this easy guide. We cover it all from reef tank filtration to refugiums.

blog.marinedepot.com

 

[JoshH]

I will probably use this design. Seems to be a workable one from Marine Depot

What Is A Sump? - Filtration and Refugiums For Your Aquarium

What is a filter sump and why do I need one? Marine Depot explains it all in this easy guide. We cover it all from reef tank filtration to refugiums.

blog.marinedepot.com

You will need a second valve circled in red, this will let you balance the flow between both the skimmer section and the fuge

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

You will need a second valve circled in red, this will let you balance the flow between both the skimmer section and the fuge

Thanks!!!

 

[JoshH]

Thanks!!!

Any time, that grey valve on there diagram is a check valve if you are wondering, and they generally aren't needed, you shouldn't need one for your setup either

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

I love how the videos make it look so easy. I broke all the glass and was able to make one baffle that was shy of touching both ends but used silicone so I hope it will hold. Now I have to go out and buy more glass. Also putting the silicone on, as they say in brooklyn, Fuhgedaboudit! A hack job. lol

I had some thick glass in my basement but only got one piece out of it. The only thing I saw in Home Depot was 3/32 which I assume is to thin?

I think I am going to go with acrylic. I have been reading and it can be done. It is only two of the baffles I need and if I get them in snug and silicone the heck out of them I think it should work.

Never easy LOL.

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

Forget Acrylic. I read that it does not stick well. The baffle that I made with glass seems to be working although it was a bit short, but the silicone is sticking and it is not budging. Since its only a baffle and not an outer wall it will work. I am also not spending another dime on this sump and don't care how pretty it looks LOL! My silicone job is a hack job . So i am going to use the broken piece for the other baffle and just siliconed a piece of glass to fix the broken corner and then will silicone that into the sump. As long as it works I am fine. If I want a pretty sump I will spend 500 and get the Trigger with pretty colors LOL!!! The sump will be behind the all in the unfinished basement so its not a display piece. I figure this will last me for about a year when I upgrade to a larger and better tank.

Corner piece hack job fix

Baffle I installed was a bit short but now its not budging and solid as a rock. at this point i am looking for functionality not beauty

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

I am not a plumber or a son of a plumber. Never really worked with PVC before so this is a hack job. But I think it is going to work. Did not really lay out the lines before had so ran into some issues and had to improvise. This is a Hack Job Special! LOL! But its all behind the wall so no one is going to see it. Still a few touch ups and securing some of the pipe left but I will soon fill the sump and see how it goes.


I could not figure out how to make the pvc pipes look halfway decent going through the wall but electrical plate covers worked great

the other side of the wall in the unfinished basement.

Going to remove the white rock in front of tank into the sump. It's left over from previous rock I had before going with Caribsea Life Rock.