Makeshift sump for my 26-gallon reef?

[Anonymous]

Basically, what I want to do is get a small garbage can next to my 26-gallon reef tank for more water volume/rock. Can I do this with just some tubing & a couple powerheads, or do I *have* to have an overflow box attached?

Another reason for this is to slowly add a new piece of dry or live rock each week until the rock in the can is cycled (with the help of the established reef) and then it'll be ready for my 150-gallon once I can set that up.

Any thoughts?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

I did something like that decades ago, hell if I can remember HOW I did it. It was my ghetto seahorse tank sump. The overflow box is nice because it does such a good job getting the crap that tends to accumulate on the surface of the tank, but it's not an absolute necessity in my opinion.

 

[Ben1]

My only concern would be if the power went out and the tube going in the tank lost its syphon, then power resumed and the main tank overflows.

 

[Anonymous]

Good point. Check valve, please!

 

[Anonymous]

...or make a hole in the tubing a few inches below the water surface line, right?

Peace,

Chip

 

[liquid]

Never been crazy about check valves in reef tanks. Over time cryptic life grows on the check valves and renders them inoperable. I knew a guy w/ a 240 that had his power go out and he had check valves on his piping and the tank drained while he was away because crytic critters grew on the valve innards. It wasn't pretty.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I got the impression that this was rather temporary.

 

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I got the impression that this was rather temporary.

Yes, it is. 4 months, tops.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

I still wouldn't do it.

Why don't you just cure the rock in the tub separate from the tank? I don't like the idea of curing rock in an established tank to begin with.

 

[Anonymous]

I still wouldn't do it.

Why don't you just cure the rock in the tub separate from the tank? I don't like the idea of curing rock in an established tank to begin with.

Well, it's only like a 4 to 6-lb piece at a time...nothing huge. I'd like to do it to triple the volume of water in the system so the reef does better...that's actually my main focus.

The rock I'm purchasing should be nearly cured by the time I get it, anyway, but still...I want to have it here and ready to go.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Okay, here's what I'm thinking :

Rubbermaid Brute 44-gallon trash can
Mag 3 pump
300gph overflow box

That should be good for what I want to do, right?

Thanks peeps.

Peace,

Chip

 

[liquid]

I'd say for what you want to do on a temporary basis it would be OK. Just watch that siphon on the overflow box and keep it clean.

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

Just a question...why wouldn't this be good for a long-term sump? Say I put cured rock in the garbage can and left it? I understand not curing rock in an established-reef system, but why not having this kind of sump long-term?

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

Certain types of plastics will leech stuff into the water over time. - I forget which ones, but I read up on it just a couple weeks ago (since I use an older squeezable water bottle @ work every day) and a plastics industry site I found did mention that certain kinds will.. :?

I'd find out for sure what type of plastic is in the container you're planning to use and do my homework to make sure it isn't going to poison the tank in the long run.