Upgraded my Sump!

EllisJuan · Mar 15, 2014

I was using a 15g standard tank with acrylic baffles siliconed in. The issues were that I did not have room in the overflow section for a proper filter sock holder and my skimmer and I was also getting microbubbles making their way past my two baffle trap. So, I had a local plastics guy make me a sump to my specifications. It is 24x14.5x12. I had him fab and build in a filter sock holder and also went with 4 baffles for a bubble trap...I hate microbubbles! I am real happy with how it turned out. Definitely not microbubbles in the DT now. He was the only plastic/acrylic fabricator I could find in town. I paid $160 for it, do you think that was a fair price?

wrasseluver · Mar 15, 2014

Nice upgrade and it looks very clean.

EllisJuan · Mar 17, 2014

Thanks. I am real happy with it so far.

djurynk · Mar 17, 2014

Large sump for all of the hardware we need. Thanks sharing..

Daddio · Mar 17, 2014

Absolutely a good deal. Have you looked at the price of acrylic? I think you got a fantastic deal an the quality looks great.

EllisJuan · Mar 18, 2014

Daddio said:
Absolutely a good deal. Have you looked at the price of acrylic? I think you got a fantastic deal an the quality looks great.

That is what I was thinking. I thought about building one myself, but by the time I paid for the acrylic, Weld-on, and applicator the cost was getting too close to what I paid.

Daddio · Mar 18, 2014

I made my first sump and while it is strong, functional and looks okay, my build quality is nothing compared to a craftsman that works with the materials every day.

The design looks great! What type of skimmer is that? It kind of looks like a CAD Lights but it is not conical. And is that a wavefront return pump? If so, how do you like the DC pump?

watdachuck · Mar 18, 2014

Good deal! That looks great!

IotaElwyn · Mar 18, 2014

Yeah, that's great price for a clean setup like that. I paid more and doesn't look that nice. Can you share who you got it from?

EllisJuan · Mar 18, 2014

Daddio said:
I made my first sump and while it is strong, functional and looks okay, my build quality is nothing compared to a craftsman that works with the materials every day.

Yeah, I was confident that I was capable of building one, but I am sure it would not have turned out nearly as clean. I also really like how he ran a very thin (~1/16") piece of acrylic along the length of the vertical seams to add strength. You can see it in the picture below. I never would have thought to do that.

Daddio said:
The design looks great! What type of skimmer is that? It kind of looks like a CAD Lights but it is not conical. And is that a wavefront return pump? If so, how do you like the DC pump?

The skimmer is a SWC 150BMK. It is a silent beast. It has been running strong for almost 4 years now. The return pump I just got a few weeks ago. It is a Jebao DC3000. I replaced my Mag 7 with it. I can't believe how much more quiet it is and I love that I can control the speed/power of it. If it proves reliable it may be the beast deal in the hobby.

EllisJuan · Mar 18, 2014

IotaElwyn said:
Yeah, that's great price for a clean setup like that. I paid more and doesn't look that nice. Can you share who you got it from?

It was a local guy here in Tallahassee. His name is Doug and his company is called Custom Plastics. Incase you are thinking about having him build and ship something for you, in full disclosure it did take him two days longer than promised to build it. Another person I talked to said that it is pretty normal for him to get behind.

Daddio · Mar 18, 2014

The skimmer is a SWC 150BMK. It is a silent beast. It has been running strong for almost 4 years now. The return pump I just got a few weeks ago. It is a Jebao DC3000. I replaced my Mag 7 with it. I can't believe how much more quiet it is and I love that I can control the speed/power of it. If it proves reliable it may be the beast deal in the hobby.

Duh.. If I would have just looked at your signature I would have seen that. Im really happy to hear that. I just ordered the DC9000 and was kind of worried about these chinese pumps... but them again a lot of the high end stuff is built there anyway.

EllisJuan · Mar 21, 2014

Daddio said:
Duh.. If I would have just looked at your signature I would have seen that. Im really happy to hear that. I just ordered the DC9000 and was kind of worried about these chinese pumps... but them again a lot of the high end stuff is built there anyway.

I think you are going to love it. For me, going DC with my return pump and powerheads was a real game changer. Smooth, efficient, powerful, and silent water movement. I think it is only a mater of time until the market is taken over by DC.