Greetings, all! I have wanted to install a sump for my biocube since shortly after I got it 4 years ago. Well, I now have some proof that it is possible from various places on the web.

Take a look at this video. This is almost exactly what I was thinking. I wanted it to fit underneath the cube in the stock stand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfQ3-...eature=related

I wanted to put either Garf Grunge (http://www.garf.org/index.shtml) in the sump, and/or as a substrate for the tank itself, or to use Ecosystem Miracle mud (http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/pro...racle-mud.html) into the sump.

I would think that combining EcoSystems Deluxe model sump with the sump construction seen in the YouTube video above would give an excellent quality of water, and help to overcome the tendency I have of overloading a tank, as EcoSystems pretty much seems to guarantee.

Now. First question. In the YouTube video, the guy has his line to the sump drilled nearly at the bottom of the back of the tank. Is that where it should be? How do you prevent the tank from completely draining in the event of a power failure?

Second, shouldn't you put like a ton of liverock in the first chamber where the filter sock is? Would that be preferable to running a skimmer in the space, or would it be best to try to run both?

Lastly, for now at least, if we all can finalize a basic design, would any of you be able to help me engineer such a sump, as well as getting the tank drilled, and the like? I would like to do the majority of the work ( I ain't skeered! ),
but I feel that a project manager would be advisable.