Makeshift Sumps

Slayvoff · Aug 20, 2017

Let me preface this by saying I am a blank slate when it comes to saltwater.

So, I see plenty of sumps for sale on Amazon, RFS, Marine Depot, etc. which have the various compartments and all cost $200-300+. Very convenient but I feel like this is one place to save some money.

Would it be just as effective to get a cheap tank from like petco as the sump, no compartments or anything. Then have the drainage tube from the overflow run right into a sock filter in the sump, clamped onto the rim of the sump tank. In the sump just have biological media balls, maybe some activated carbon in a bag, hanging out and a protein skimmer and heater sitting in there, and then at the other end of the sump place the return pump and have the water run back up out of there.

In sum, can a sump just be a regular old tank without segregated compartment that water must pass through before reaching the return pump?

Edit: Also I plan my tank to be 40-50 gallons. How large of a sump would I want? And can somone name a great skimmer for this size? I was looking at the Magus Curve 5 or a Reef Octopus

moseley75 · Aug 20, 2017

Many successful reefers use home made sumps. Home made sumps give you the freedom to have what ever you want in a sump. Even if that is a bare tank with just a filter sock, heater, skimmer, some live Rock and a return pump. Sumps increase the water and filter capacity. They also allow you to hide all that equipment in the stand or elsewhere. The recommendation for choosing a size is, get as much as you can afford and will fit in the space allowed.

Slayvoff · Aug 20, 2017

moseley75 said:
Many successful reefers use home made sumps. Home made sumps give you the freedom to have what ever you want in a sump. Even if that is a bare tank with just a filter sock, heater, skimmer, some live Rock and a return pump. Sumps increase the water and filter capacity. They also allow you to hide all that equipment in the stand or elsewhere. The recommendation for choosing a size is, get as much as you can afford and will fit in the space allowed.

So you don't really need the baffles to specifically guide the water where to go? It can just be an open tank?

CNDReef · Aug 20, 2017

The baffles will hold the water level for different compartments , like the return and skimmer. The skimmer water level shouldn't change since it'll throw off the settings you had. The return compartment should be only the volume that your display can handle before it overflows. You can make more compartments but not a necessity, like a fuge and even media compartments. If you do a search you'll find a lot of different designs of sumps. Pick one that you think will suit your tank needs but always research it for pros and cons. ;Stig

Ryan115 · Aug 21, 2017

I agree with you completely about this being a place to save $$$. I have always set up sumps from regular tanks, and would much rather spend the extra $ on something else for the tank.
I have made them with multiple input flows and multiple converging chambers, and I have also made them with just one divider to separate the return section.
Each design has it's own pros and cons, you just have to decide what options you want.
There are several threads about making sump baffles. To sum up...

Get it cut and seamed (take the sharp edge off) at a local glass shop, 1/4" thick is a good size
Have them cut 1/8" -1/4" less than the inside of the sump
Secure in place using GE I (not II), Momentive RTV 103 / 108, SCS1201 / 1203 or any of the "aquarium" silicones.
Let cure for 1 week +