Sump Help.

[@ombomb]

with regular maintenance and the right contents, i can't there's no reason a canister filter will lead to algae...

saying that, if your tank is drilled, you can set up a sump for less than the cost of a canister filter anyway

in what say is the sump you have "shoddy"?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

dividers are flimsy and it just isn't how i would have designed it if i were to make one.

 

[BigC]

dividers are flimsy and it just isn't how i would have designed it if i were to make one.

Are they acrylic, if so get some glass ones made, I siliconed a piece of "U" channel to the front and back panes of the sump. then siliconed the sheets of glass to the channel to make the weir, I use an external Eheim Universal pump for the return. Which gives me more space in the sump/fuge. Things are tight in mine but it works. Before I was using the cannister filter with nothing in it but bags of rowaphos (lots of rowaphos) the closed system with no air circulation in the filter, probably caused a neutrient or phosphate factory ain the socks containing the FE and this is why (I think) I was getting a lot of algae. Now the system is open, lots of air circulation, Cheato is lit 27/7 and things are a whole 100% better, I also skim now which helps tremendously as the aquarium is now fully stocked.
Regards
BigC

 

[SkiFletch]

Remember, the inside barriers of the tank support no weight so they can be flimsy. Heck, I have 1/8" thick glass walls in my sump that I'm sure if I pressed on hard enough I could break with my pinky finger.

Got pics of this sump?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

I have had a major rejig of the whole situation.

My partner was unhappy with the size of the tank in our bedroom.

I have taken the tank off its tall pedestal and now have it on a sturdy bedside table.

She still isn't overly happy about it but it does look far less imposing than it did.

So now the idea of a hidden sump is out of the question.

I will still use the red sea prizm deluxe for starters and i'm waiting to receive a hydor koralia nano and fluval 305 external filter.

Just by not having all the sump piping hanging around the back i can get the tank further into the corner and also will eliminate the noise of the sump.

What is the best way to blank off the 2 drilled sections of the bulkhead in the tank? I don't really want to silicon across the back of the tank. Would making a cap out of milliput to put in/over the existing inlet outlet fixing do the job? alternatively i wouldn't mind an end cap. tried thje plumbing store near me and no joy.

 

[SkiFletch]

Are the bulkheads slip fit or threaded?

 

[mutantbigman2000]

threaded

 

[SkiFletch]

Well then the best way to do it would be to get a threaded fitting in there and then plug it with a rubber stopper