Total newbie question but I would like to build a sump for my 46 gallon tank. I just don’t know what I need to do. I have a canister filter currently and a spare 10 gallon tank, the tank will fit in my stand. I would like to have a protein skimmer and start doing some corals. Just lost as to how to set it up. Do I still use my canister filter? How does the flow of water go? Meaning tank to sump to pump to tank? I’ve looked at a lot of videos and I can’t find anything that shows in detail how to build and what items to purchase to start and finish this project. Any help would sure be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
How to build a 10 gallon sump help please
- Thread starter Doop
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EthanDouglas
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Hey welcome to the community. To start with, you’ll need some way to get the water out of the tank and then back in. I’m guessing your tank is not drilled, so your other option is a HOB overflow. This lets the water overflow and fall down into the sump. Now that the water is in the bottom, you need a way to get it back up. This is your return pump.
With those 2 things, you have the most basic sump. You can plop the protein skimmer in your 10 gal and it should do fine. However, some skimmers are very picky when it comes to water level. This is where “baffles” come in.
Baffles are like walls that separate different sections in the sump. The baffles can be glass or acrylic and are usually siliconed into the tank. In my sump, for example, I have the first section set up with a filter sock and my skimmer, the second section as a refugium and my heater, and the last section as the return. With such a small tank, it will be hard to incorporate lots of baffles while still leaving enough room for the equipment.
Personally, I would go with 2 sections. 1 for the overflow to go into and the skimmer and the second with the return pump. This way, the skimmer has a constant water level.
I believe you can use the canister filter with your sump. I don’t see why you can’t. It would be good mechanical filtration to have some filter floss or sponges in there. Just make sure you clean it regularly.
I think I hit on everything. Hopefully this answered your questions. If you have any more, I’ll do my best to answer. Best of luck!
With those 2 things, you have the most basic sump. You can plop the protein skimmer in your 10 gal and it should do fine. However, some skimmers are very picky when it comes to water level. This is where “baffles” come in.
Baffles are like walls that separate different sections in the sump. The baffles can be glass or acrylic and are usually siliconed into the tank. In my sump, for example, I have the first section set up with a filter sock and my skimmer, the second section as a refugium and my heater, and the last section as the return. With such a small tank, it will be hard to incorporate lots of baffles while still leaving enough room for the equipment.
Personally, I would go with 2 sections. 1 for the overflow to go into and the skimmer and the second with the return pump. This way, the skimmer has a constant water level.
I believe you can use the canister filter with your sump. I don’t see why you can’t. It would be good mechanical filtration to have some filter floss or sponges in there. Just make sure you clean it regularly.
I think I hit on everything. Hopefully this answered your questions. If you have any more, I’ll do my best to answer. Best of luck!
Jack22
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I made my own sump from a 20 gallon for my second tank. Search eBay for “aquarium sump kit” and you will find some kits that have precut baffles and filter sock holders for standard size tanks. Comes with instructions too. All you’ll need is some aquarium silicone to put them in. Just make sure you know the footprint of you skimmer and return pump so you can size the compartments accordingly.
I would just add some live rock rubble to the sump and get rid of the canister filter. You’ll get way more surface area for beneficial bacteria without the maintenance. Just my opinion.
I would just add some live rock rubble to the sump and get rid of the canister filter. You’ll get way more surface area for beneficial bacteria without the maintenance. Just my opinion.
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After you hook up the sump, you kick that canister filter to the curb, trust me you won't miss it as the sump is far more effective and a lot less maintenance in the long run. The basic sump system consists of an overflow that drains from your display tank down to the sump, possibly a filter sock (you can decide whether or not you want to use one), a protein skimmer in the sump and a return pump to send the water back up into the display tank. I would personally recommend that if you do a sump to go with more than 10 gallons as that will be incredibly cramped quarters for the equipment and it would increase the benefits of the sump with more additional water flow/larger sized tank.
