Hi Guys,
I am going to be setting up a 60 gallon cube tank in the next few days and wanted to try a DIY sump. I looked at prices, and they were very high for what I wanted. This is basically a knockoff of my 36" MRC sump in a 30" length. The acrylic to acrylic bonds are glued with Weld-On 16. The sump itself is an All-Glass 29 gallon tank, 30" x 12" x 18". I used 1/4" thick acrylic for the inner parts, and actually built the acrylic structure inside the sump to avoid having to dremel the top trim. The acrylic is siliconed wherever it meets the aquarium glass.
The tool that was the most helpful here, besides a Dremel, was my Delta Table saw, which was a cheapo Lowes purchase, less than $100 a few years ago. This allowed for small shaving off of the acrylic to size it well for the front/back pieces.
This sump was made to keep as many components in-sump as possible to save space under the tank for a calcium reactor, etc. I water tested the thre areas, and they are sealed with no leaks.
I'm particularly proud of the bulkhead/micron bag assembly I came up with. Weld-On 16 bonds great with the black plastic trim of the 29 gallon tank.
Water enters thru the micron filter bag and bulkhead in the back left. The skimmer sits in sump in the left hand compartment, which has a constant water level (about 9 inches). Water travels thru the back center compartment and into the right return pump compartment. I anticipate having a heater in the back center/back right section. The return pump compartment will house a Mag 12 no problem, which is bigger than what I will use it for. The water level in the pump compartment will be about 6 inches or so, and will be maintained by a Tunze Osmolator. I have a three probe rack installed in the return compartment for pH/temp probes.
The center front section is an in-sump slow flow refugium, which will house either a rolling cheato or macro algae type setup. Water enters from the bulkhead area and leaves thru the slotted teeth.
I wanted to avoid baffles in the sump if possible because they eat up space, but if microbubbles are an issue I can add some baffles to the back center area if needed.
Total material cost for the sump was:
29 gallon tank: $55
Plastic cutting saw blade for table saw: $15
1/4" acrylic scrap $11
Aquarium silicone $5
total: $86
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I am going to be setting up a 60 gallon cube tank in the next few days and wanted to try a DIY sump. I looked at prices, and they were very high for what I wanted. This is basically a knockoff of my 36" MRC sump in a 30" length. The acrylic to acrylic bonds are glued with Weld-On 16. The sump itself is an All-Glass 29 gallon tank, 30" x 12" x 18". I used 1/4" thick acrylic for the inner parts, and actually built the acrylic structure inside the sump to avoid having to dremel the top trim. The acrylic is siliconed wherever it meets the aquarium glass.
The tool that was the most helpful here, besides a Dremel, was my Delta Table saw, which was a cheapo Lowes purchase, less than $100 a few years ago. This allowed for small shaving off of the acrylic to size it well for the front/back pieces.
This sump was made to keep as many components in-sump as possible to save space under the tank for a calcium reactor, etc. I water tested the thre areas, and they are sealed with no leaks.
I'm particularly proud of the bulkhead/micron bag assembly I came up with. Weld-On 16 bonds great with the black plastic trim of the 29 gallon tank.
Water enters thru the micron filter bag and bulkhead in the back left. The skimmer sits in sump in the left hand compartment, which has a constant water level (about 9 inches). Water travels thru the back center compartment and into the right return pump compartment. I anticipate having a heater in the back center/back right section. The return pump compartment will house a Mag 12 no problem, which is bigger than what I will use it for. The water level in the pump compartment will be about 6 inches or so, and will be maintained by a Tunze Osmolator. I have a three probe rack installed in the return compartment for pH/temp probes.
The center front section is an in-sump slow flow refugium, which will house either a rolling cheato or macro algae type setup. Water enters from the bulkhead area and leaves thru the slotted teeth.
I wanted to avoid baffles in the sump if possible because they eat up space, but if microbubbles are an issue I can add some baffles to the back center area if needed.
Total material cost for the sump was:
29 gallon tank: $55
Plastic cutting saw blade for table saw: $15
1/4" acrylic scrap $11
Aquarium silicone $5
total: $86
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<legend> Attached files </legend>
