Issue with sump for 55 gallon tank

[Sakura]

After building a sump system for my 75 gallon tank, I loved it so much that I decided to build one for my 55 gallon tank as well. But the stand for the 55g is so narrow. The tank can only be 10 inches deep/wide to fit under the stand, and the only tank I know of that's that narrow is a 10 gallon tank. (I tried a 15 and and 20 long, but those are both too deep/wide.) I think 10 gallons is a bit small for the sump though, so I was thinking about maybe connecting two ten gallon tanks side-by-side for the sump. Would that work? Would I just need to drill a hole in the side of each tank, fit bulkheads, and then connect them with a little piece of pvc? Or would it be more complicated than that? Would water flow properly between them, or would it tend to stagnate too much?

Conversely, maybe just one 10 gallon tank would actually be sufficient for the sump, and I don't need to bother with connecting two together?

[ryuken168]

You can stack them together with a offset like stairs. The top tank can be the prefilter and the bottom is the bio and return pump. But you will need to drill a drain hole on the width side for the top tank and control the water level with a pvc pipe.

Or

Just get a 20gal. Tall the measures 20" long x 10" wide x 24" tall.
I think Perfecto or Aqueon both makes that tank.

[Sakura]

Well a regular 20g tank wouldn't work because it's too tall.

The stacking idea is really interesting, but that would also be too tall. I was thinking I would just connect them side-by-side. Somewhat like this:
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu305/miss_cherry_blossom/Untitled-1.png
The more I think about it, the more I think it wouldn't work though. I think water would build up in the first chamber and not flow into the second chamber properly unless I had a water pump moving it into there. And I don't really want to do that. So maybe I'll just have to go with one 10 gallon tank for the sump...

[Sakura]

I just thought of something else. What if I set it up like in my diagram, but just raised the first chamber up a little bit (kind of like the stairs thing you were talking about). They wouldn't be stacked on top of each other, but one would be slightly higher than the other. So maybe water would flow better into the second chamber that way.

[Ichthius]

A 10 gallon will work but it's cutting it close. I've ran a 55 one one you just have a limited capacity for evaporation.

Any mfg of 20 gallon tank makes them 12 inches wide so they won't fit.

Connecting two 10 gallo s would work if the pipe was large enough to handle the flow. I would go with 1.5 inch just to be sure but the glass is so thin on a 10 you'll like break the glass sooner or later.

What about finding an acrylic wet dry on Craigslist? They are intentionally skinny to fit inside stands.

[Sakura]

A 10 gallon will work but it's cutting it close. I've ran a 55 one one you just have a limited capacity for evaporation.

Any mfg of 20 gallon tank makes them 12 inches wide so they won't fit.

Connecting two 10 gallo s would work if the pipe was large enough to handle the flow. I would go with 1.5 inch just to be sure but the glass is so thin on a 10 you'll like break the glass sooner or later.

What about finding an acrylic wet dry on Craigslist? They are intentionally skinny to fit inside stands.

I'll look around and see if I can find an acrylic one. Thanks David. Since I'm trying to keep costs low on this setup, I might just have to go with a single 10 gallon tank for the sump, but maybe I'll make a full cover for it to try and cut down on evaporation.

[Ichthius]

How will you be getting the water to the sump?

Overflow box? Get the biggest one you can as there will less water backed up in the tank above the static water level. A smaller box will back the water up more and this takes away from you maximum water level in the sump. The sump has to catch all this volume when the system shuts down.

Have fun!

[ryuken168]

Any mfg of 20 gallon tank makes them 12 inches wide so they won't fit.

20 gallons come in 3 sizes.

20 Gallon High Black 24x12x16
20 Gallon Long Black 30x12x12
20 Gallon X-High Black 20x10x24

The pine cabinet that comes with the tank is very low. The view point is great if your on your knee or sitting on the floor at 24"
All the tanks that I set up for customers are raised to fit the filters.

The cheaps way is 4x4 treated lumber to frame the bottom to raise the tank and and some trim to cover it.
Than a 20 gallon x-tall will fit. A tall sump is better for air mixture for the bio to work 100%.

This is a saltwater sump I builded last year.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v156/aquatic_bliss/Aquatic_bliss/P1000973.jpg

[runningwater]

Put a plastic storage box or tote, or even a heavy duty tupperware on top of the 10 gallon.Use it as Your pre filter or first stage, and let it flow by gravity into the 10 gallon.

[Ichthius]

If there's room a 4 gallon square bucket is a perfect fit in a 10 gallon and plenty of bio balls for a 55 gallon.

[Sakura]

Interesting... I like the storage box or bucket idea. I would have never thought of that! So how does that work then, do I just drill a bunch of holes in the bottom of the bucket for water to flow through? And maybe put it on little pvc risers so the water can flow out... And then just install the bulkhead onto the lid of the bucket for water coming from the tank? How could I build a drip tray for that though? Just build one to fit inside the bucket and make little "shelves" for it to sit on I guess? Hmm, this could work!

Yes, I have an overflow already on the tank David. Here's a pic.
http://i658.photobucket.com/albums/uu305/miss_cherry_blossom/g058.jpg

[Ichthius]

Exactly. :exact:

[Sakura]

Awesome. I'm really liking this bucket idea, thanks guys! :yess:

[runningwater]

That bucket that fits inside the 10 gallon tank sounds like a great idea.
If You use the bucket idea,and fit it inside the sump, just drill a bunch of small holes in the bottom,and You wont need a drip tray.I like Your idea of PVC risers too.Make the riser a small framework with PVC fittings so it will support itself.
If Your bucket or other container sits above the 10 gallon tank, I would use a bulkhead in the bottom so that You can direct the water into the sump better , and less chance of leaks.
A great cheap grating to use is plastic eggcrate light diffuser panels made for overhead flourescent lights.They can be found at H depot and Lowes.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202025149/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

[fantail1]

Jennie

I have a sort of sump system working on my tanks. It is a sequence of 5 10gallon tubs. Providing the opening from one tub to the next is large enough then the water will flow through. If you are using two tanks, I recommend you have the first one to catch solids, ie a settlement chamber, with brushes or similar and the bio media in the second one. Then, providing you keep the brushes clean it is easily managed and the bio media works better. The aperture for the connection needs to be near the surface of the first tank to stop the solids flowing through.

David

[Ichthius]

PVC elbows are perfect to set the bucket on. 3 or 4 of them will support the bucket and there less are for mulm to collect and they are always on their side. A couple pieces of pipe will work too but they move around.

A trickle plate one the bio balls definitely helps with distribution of water over te media.