(fun music)
- Hello folks, Robert from Marine Depot here.
Thanks for watching.
In this video, we're going to build a sump.
We're going to show you guys how to build a sump filter
for your aquarium that's not only effective,
but also easy on your wallet.
(fun music)
When building an aquarium, proper planning
really goes a long way
especially when it comes to building your sump.
So the first step in building a sump at home
is proper planning.
When sizing your sump, you pretty much want
the largest tank possible.
So measure the space you have for your sump
and choose the largest tank that will fit in that space.
10% of your tank's total volume is considered
the minimum sump size for any aquarium.
So we have a 50 gallon display tank
and we're going to use this 30 gallon rimless aquarium
to build our sump.
But the nice thing is any kind of aquarium will work
to build a sump.
You can even use regular old framed aquariums
that are really easy to find and fairly inexpensive.
So now we need to think about the baffles.
Be mindful of the different chamber sizes
and water level when planning your baffles.
I like to take a ruler and a Sharpie
to draw on the side of the tank.
This helps me visualize the baffle location
and the water level.
You can even test fit your skimmer
and other equipment to ensure the baffles
are placed appropriately.
When it comes to water level in your sump,
you really want it to be 4 to 6 inches or more
below the top to ensure the sump can hold
a little extra water.
Using our handy aquarium calculator, you can easily
calculate the amount of water that will drain
from your tank in the event of a power outage.
Just calculate the amount of water
in the area inside your tank that will drain into the sump.
Basically the area between your return pipes
and the maximum water level in your display tank.
This way you will know for certain
that your sump is large enough to hold the water
and allows you to adjust the baffle height
before it's too late.
In this sump, we want a skimmer chamber,
a return pump chamber and an isolated ATO reservoir
to hold top off water.
Many premanufactured sumps include a refugium chamber
but we decided to use this space
for the ATO chamber instead.
You want to take careful note that these two baffles
here are positioned close together in such a way
that they will trap bubbles and reduce any debris
from entering the pump chamber
which is a pretty common practice
and generally referred to as a bubble trap.
Now this should always be placed
right before the pump chamber.
I found it best to have your baffles cut
with polished edges at a local glass shop
instead of trying to cut them yourself.
Freshly cut glass can be really sharp and dangerous.
By getting it professionally cut, you can avoid this hazard
and ensure the baffles are cut perfectly to size
with straight edges.
When sizing the baffles, you want to have them cut
to be about a quarter inch short on both sides.
This makes them easy to place in the tank
and gives plenty of room for the silicone
to adhere to both the tank wall and the baffle.
Using thick glass for the baffles,
one quarter inch or more is best.
This helps when gluing the baffles in place
because the thicker edges give you more surface area
for the silicone to bond.
So now the hard part which is working with the silicone
and securing your baffles in place.
Now be sure that you get 100% silicone
that is safe for aquarium use which is generally available
at your local home improvement store.
Start with the first baffle and hold it in place
using a few pieces of tape.
If you need a gap on the bottom, you can use some
dvd or cd cases, even a 2 x 4 will work
in most situations but the cd cases are nice
because they are easy to remove from tight spaces
and give you a little flexibility in terms
of getting the exact gap size you want on the bottom.
After setting the baffle with tape,
run a generous bead of silicone up each of the corners
and pass over with your finger one time.
Do not press too hard with your finger
as this can move the baffle around.
Using more silicone is much easier that trying
to spread a minimal amount.
By only passing once over with your finger,
it will keep it clean and reduce the chances
of your baffle moving around.
Once set into place, you'll need to let the silicone cure
for a minimum of 24 hours.
Don't be upset if your silicone job is not perfect.
It simply needs to hold the baffles in place
and probably will not be all that pretty
especially your first time.
After the silicone cures, you can always cut straight edge
or clean it up using a razor blade
if you're one for details.
Now you will want to dry fit all of your equipment
to ensure that it fits before using your sump.
We're using the AquaMaxx ConeS Protein Skimmer
along with a couple of AquaMaxx media reactors.
We chose to use the Waveline DC water pump
which is new here at Marine Depot and they're really cool
because they're apex ready right out of the box.
We also added the CPR Sock-it Filter Sock Holder
which easily attaches to the edge
of any rimmed, rimless or eurobraced aquarium.
(fun music)
After test fitting your equipment,
you want to do a water test to check for leaks
and ensure the water flows through your baffles as expected.
I usually just run my garden hose into the first chamber
and watch the water flow through the baffles as it fills up.
Let the entire sump rest full of water for 24 to 48 hours
then come back and check it for leaks.
Now for those of you who might be reserved
about building your own sump at home,
Marine Depot also carries the very popular
Trigger Systems sumps.
These sumps are premanufactured and come
in a variety of sizes that are ready to go
right out of the box with all the bells and whistles
including adjustable baffles, media trays, socks
and probe holders and much more.
So be sure to check these out on our website.
If you're thinking about installing a sump
in your tank, our trained team of aquarium experts
are here to help you out.
Please like, share and subscribe in order to help us
to continue to bring you guys more instructional videos
just like this and until next time,
take care and happy reef keeping.
(water gurgles)