skyline99nissan
New Member
Just finished, trouble shot, and made sure it wouldn't flood if the pump failed off. Was fun to see it all come together. Ever since I started saltwater I wanted a sump without even understanding their benefits nearly a 10th of what I know now.
Started with a standard 10g tank. Using 1/4 polycarbonate made the baffles and bubble traps. Used a mini 3 drawer thing from walmart drilled a bunch of holes in it mine were a 1/4" for my desires. Filter pad in top that has the overflow feed (DIY also 1" from "The King Of DIY's" video of the improved version. Elevated the drawer thing to be just below the rim of the tank for flood resistance. Next draw is seachem matrix about 1 liter worth. Bottom drawer has a couple dozen bio balls I had left over. Used cycled lava rock from Lowe's in the main chamber. Above that I have sanded and scraped knitting mesh pressure fit above that with a LED plant grow light in a 6" semi shiny aluminum clip on light. Return is a Rio 900gph with a ball valve I have partially closed. Have a small heater also; main heater does not fit with the space I have but I never intended to put it there was an after thought. So far it visibly looks like it will work good. Time will tell with the display how well it really does.
Open to suggestions on improvements besides a new return pump or a higher par grow light. Pump I'm looking into in the near future just for my peace of mind.
Started with a standard 10g tank. Using 1/4 polycarbonate made the baffles and bubble traps. Used a mini 3 drawer thing from walmart drilled a bunch of holes in it mine were a 1/4" for my desires. Filter pad in top that has the overflow feed (DIY also 1" from "The King Of DIY's" video of the improved version. Elevated the drawer thing to be just below the rim of the tank for flood resistance. Next draw is seachem matrix about 1 liter worth. Bottom drawer has a couple dozen bio balls I had left over. Used cycled lava rock from Lowe's in the main chamber. Above that I have sanded and scraped knitting mesh pressure fit above that with a LED plant grow light in a 6" semi shiny aluminum clip on light. Return is a Rio 900gph with a ball valve I have partially closed. Have a small heater also; main heater does not fit with the space I have but I never intended to put it there was an after thought. So far it visibly looks like it will work good. Time will tell with the display how well it really does.
Open to suggestions on improvements besides a new return pump or a higher par grow light. Pump I'm looking into in the near future just for my peace of mind.
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