Judge my sump!

[paxton.rock]

I have been running a canister filter for the first 6 months of my tank (awful I know)

I decided to leap out and switch to a sump. (Will never regret this choice)

I didn’t have the money to buy a sump so I decided to fully build one myself. This is my first sump build I have ever done.

My nitrates and phosphates were steadily staying at 60 and 2.0 which is the
NUMBER ONE reason I wanted a sump. I despise of HOB refugiums and I had plenty of junk already hanging.

After the fist 48 hours of running a refugium with only a BASEBALL size clump of Chaeto, my nitrates were already at 0 and phosphates at 0.75

I’m still planning on adding the small BRS GFO Reactor.

Be BRUTALLY HONEST, Let me know what you guys think! I am SUPER pleased with it!!

Picture Below:

 

[Gtinnel]

My only question/critique is that it looks like your water level in the sump is pretty high. Did you make sure it can hold all of the water that drains from your tank if the return pump is off.
I am also not a fan of relying solely on a check valve to prevent a siphon from your return line.

Other than that for a diy sump it looks pretty good.

 

[paxton.rock]

My only question/critique is that it looks like your water level in the sump is pretty high. Did you make sure it can hold all of the water that drains from your tank if the return pump is off.
I am also not a fan of relying solely on a check valve to prevent a siphon from your return line.

Other than that for a diy sump it looks pretty good.

Thanks for your concerns. Yes, it has been flood checked both ways (overflow blockage and power outage)

What other ways can I prevent a back siphon?

 

[FrugalReefer]

If your sump works for you then that’s what matters. I’m more interested in what people’s displays look like.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Excellent use of a 20g?? Chambers look well thought out, I had the same concern as @Gtinnel about overflowing, but seems like you got that covered.

Seems like it works so well that now you have to start dosing nitrates. Haha

 

[Gtinnel]

Thanks for your concerns. Yes, it has been flood checked both ways (overflow blockage and power outage)

What other ways can I prevent a back siphon?

I’ve always drilled a small anti siphon hole in the return line just above the water level.

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

As I look closer, I see a backflow valve on the return line. When you tested the power outage did you account for when that gets stuck open?

 

[paxton.rock]

Excellent use of a 20g?? Chambers look well thought out, I had the same concern as @Gtinnel about overflowing, but seems like you got that covered.

Seems like it works so well that now you have to start dosing nitrates. Haha

Thank you!! And yes, 20 Gallon Long

 

[paxton.rock]

I’ve always drilled a small anti siphon hole in the return line just above the water level.

I totally forgot. I read up on that a while back. Thanks for the reminder!

 

[paxton.rock]

As I look closer, I see a backflow valve on the return line. When you tested the power outage did you account for when that gets stuck open?

Yes I did! Could you tell my pipes were painted and not factory? LOL!

 

[jphilip813]

I have been running a canister filter for the first 6 months of my tank (awful I know)

I decided to leap out and switch to a sump. (Will never regret this choice)

I didn’t have the money to buy a sump so I decided to fully build one myself. This is my first sump build I have ever done.

My nitrates and phosphates were steadily staying at 60 and 2.0 which is the
NUMBER ONE reason I wanted a sump. I despise of HOB refugiums and I had plenty of junk already hanging.

After the fist 48 hours of running a refugium with only a BASEBALL size clump of Chaeto, my nitrates were already at 0 and phosphates at 0.75

I’m still planning on adding the small BRS GFO Reactor.

Be BRUTALLY HONEST, Let me know what you guys think! I am SUPER pleased with it!!

Picture Below:

Sump looks really good...I would agree, water level is high (Not unless at the taking of this photo, the return pump was off)...What type of return pump is that, a Jebo?

 

[paxton.rock]

Sump looks really good...I would agree, water level is high (Not unless at the taking of this photo, the return pump was off)...What type of return pump is that, a Jebo?

The pump is actually running in this picture and shockingly, yes it passes the flood test and yes that is the pump I am running.

 

[hexcolor reef]

That red light is leaking into the skimmer area, you’ll have two refugiums soon

Sump looks good.

 

[paxton.rock]

That red light is leaking into the skimmer area, you’ll have two refugiums soon

Sump looks good.

How can I block it and still look clean?

 

[DirectCherry]

How can I block it and still look clean?

I haven't tried it before but maybe something like this would work for you. Could use a round or square bucket of sufficient size. Black is best.

 

[hexcolor reef]

How can I block it and still look clean?

A rectangle black piece of plastic would do to block the light from leaking over ….. Or create a Velcro hood /softbox for the lamp. Quick easy dollar tree fixes.

 

[k2-]

Bro if your skimmer is working and water is not overflowing and pipes not leaking - well you have done your job - sometimes we over complicate the matter - it looks beautiful