Its sump its sump~

[orandablue]

Hi. We are trying to build a sump for a 65 gallon tank. Thought it was 75 but turns out it is 65ish. Tank is predrilled from pet store close out. Holes are 3 1/2 wide. three of them. This is my first sump (making from scratch) project. Basically I am wondering if goldfish 'sump-age' is different than other sump construct. I read they need to be much Bigger(hold more aqua)50%??Corrie?? Do i need a lot more media in them? And what is the best, and cheap, medium to use??? I dont want to waste $$
Does anyone grow live plants in sump system??
Any "Hot tips" welcome!:-*
So far we have a 20 long with one wall!?
So this proj. is moving slowly~~ (as my big babies hide out in the basement in tubs~)

[judge]

I have never built sump before but I use sump on my 55 G goldfish tank. They are great and I couldn't be happier. But do not use any plastic bio balls.

The best I have used so far is Lava rock. Buy them from ebay. They work great. Extremely cheap. Sumps are low maintenance and very easy to maintain. With heavy feeding they will keep ammonia down to zero all the time. All you need to do is replace the filter pad when it clogged up on your routine water changes.

For mine I use small lava rocks 3/8 inch sizes. I put them in laundry bag that you can buy from Walmart.

The bacterial establishment was within a week with the help of bio medium that already have bacteria that I put on top of the lava rocks.

To my understanding. It is the flow rate that matters. Not the size of the sump. I think high flow pump with matching big drain pipe.

If I were to build this sump I would make bigger and taller area for bio media and smaller area where you would put return water pump.

But then I have never built a sump before... :)

[orandablue]

Sounds great! i actually just got black smaller lava rock. I thought bio balls would be better but so expensive. I am building the sump walls and a bubble catcher w wall configurations so will let you know how it goes and get pics. ~High flow rate on a 65!???~ How high should I attempt to go? (I have some MASSIVE water return holes drilled! I am always trying to blast my big goldfish!
They think they are salmon! Not sure how this will work. I know I gotta fit a sponge work somewhere....

[Corrie]

You rang oh mighty one? LOL

Why wouldn't you use "plastic bio-balls"?

You can use anything that bacteria will grow on. Shredded milk jugs, hair spoolies from the dollar store, scrubby pads from the dollar store, etc

Whatever you do, make it easy to get to and easy to clean.

AC filters and poly quilting batting make good fines filters too. Just rinse them off real good first. The plastisizers they use so it won't stick to the machine is a phosphate.

People make them bigger because it's easier to do a water change. Drain the sump and fill it back up.
Most of the time people build them way too big for what actual filtration they need.

Say you have 100gals tank and sump. A pump that 100gph will turn 50% over every hour.

If you're going to do compartments (up and over flow), draw it out and think about it before you glue.

Where's the pictures? LOL

edit: before you run off and leave that thing, the most important thing is to let it run, then turn the power off. Make sure the sump will hold all the water if the power goes off. If not, you're going to come home to a flood one day.

[orandablue]

Can i use old tires? Just throw a bunch of garbage in there like they are going to fix the oil leak in the gulf!?:confuse:
yeah this wall 'arranging' is new to me....silicone once..measure twice..remeasure!?
At the same time I am designing a 20 long fry/divided tank with multi condo fry baskets! Will get o pic of that maddness when it is done!

[Corrie]

LOL throw anything in there that's inert.

Actually I like open cell foam sheets. Almost indestructable and easy to clean. Don't buy any with fire retardants in it.

[orandablue]

where do you get? Got my walls up moving slowly~~~~~~next plumming and pump hook up.
Got my FRY CONDO up!!! So i can be flippin fry in baskets and whatnot like a ....fry flipper! Organization is key here!

[Corrie]

fry flipper!:))2

Upholstery shop that does outdoor furniture. Water runs right through it.
Boat upholstery shop.
They will probably give you more scraps than you need

Online
Ebay

and as a last resort - AquaticEco