DIY Sump Questions

[coraline79]

As most of you know, I am pretty new to the salt, and I am also pretty short on cash most of the time due to a certain little baby girl named Ella.

That being said, I was wondering if there is a cheap way to make a sump w/ a 10 gallon tank for my 30 long tank. Correct me if I am wrong, but I can get rid of my emperor 280 hob filter(eyesore), if I set one of these up. I am not absolutely clear on the Mechanics of the sump, but from what I understand, I can put my heater/skimmer in one side, and some small pieces of LR and cloete(probably spelled that wrong) in the other, along with a return chamber, and this will work as a natural filter?

If I am on the right track, since I have an HOB skimmer, could I pull water from its return, and just have the refugium/ return chambers for the sump? If not, is there a way to keep the hob skimmer and use it either in the sump or on the tank?

Thanks for all the help in advance..and sorry if i sound like I am walking around in the dark.

30 long tank
28lbs fiji lr
2 inches live sand
rio nano skimmer
emperor 280
2 rio powerheads-one on each side of tank
192watt pc lighting

[erikharrison]

Pressure Locking Baffles (http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/volume_3/cav3i1/Baffles/baffles.htm)

If you're going to build one, those seem like a great idea!

[villjr]

I have a ten gallon tank that is baffled with sump/refugium/return you can have. Only thing is you will need a return pump and h.o.b. overflow if your tank is not drilled.

[coraline79]

I have a ten gallon tank that is baffled with sump/refugium/return you can have. Only thing is you will need a return pump and h.o.b. overflow if your tank is not drilled.

Awesome!! Let me know when and where to pick it up, and I will be by at your convenience.

Thanks!

[villjr]

pm sent

[coraline79]

Villjr was so kind as to give me a sump and I have cleaned it up, and am in the process of plumbing. I have been reading many article on sumps, and I have read that it is a good idea to tee off the drain and run pre-skimmed water into the fuge and into the skimmer chamber. Is this a good Idea? I was thinking of running the baffled chamber(right) with the skimmer, the left chamber as the fuge, and the center as the return w the submersible pump. Does this make sense?

http://i236.photobucket.com/albums/ff255/joegen4e/untitled.jpg

[erikharrison]

yes. sounds good to me!

[txstateunivreefer]

take a look at some of the designs at melv's reef just google it and it should come up he has a diverse selection of diffrent set up designs.

sometimes you dont always need to run pre skimmed water into the fuge. reason being that it the fuge will assist in cleaning out the water as well

[coraline79]

cool, Thanks!!!