DIY Sump and fuge New Year project

[Dave & Monica]

Over the New Years weekend, we did this project. We have a finite amount of space as you can see here:



Most stuff is hidden and that's a challenge to keep it that way. I pulled out the original wet dry and decided to use a $12 10gal tank from PetCo. We wanted to add a Refugium and also to eliminate the noise, mainly from vibration. I did a lot of research on Sumps with Refugiums and ended with this setup


(thanks to http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html)

The sump and pumps are on a board that pulls out for easy access to the pump and skimmer when needed. (I just unhook the zip ties)


I ended up doing a temp solution that I like so much that I'm sticking with it. Actually my wife’s idea - a u tube for the return, no drilling for the sump. Used a power head to push water from the main tank down through the tube. Now there’s always water to start the pump – I don’t have technical data but I know it pumps more water and its 100x quieter. There is so little vibration noise now.

These are a week old so I have rock, lights and a cover for the fuge with some Cheto (which provided our tank with lovely flatworms), and lastly the heater is also moved. As for the stickers... they're for water level reminders. So far everything worked out fine but ohhh the challenges on this DIY– This took us 4 days, working all day - We first replaced the flex ¾ tubing for the return and had 5 leaks – one at a time so I ended up replacing everything again at the 5th. That solved all the leaks. Cutting and routing Acrylic took some getting use to. I also bought the thin stuff at first and had to redo a the return section and the covers with the thicker (1/8 I think) as water just bent the thin stuff like putty. We'll eventually build another one to include the skimmer and return pump inside the sump.... some other month.. or year.