help designing sump for nano

brettb2020

brettb2020

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im planning on adding a sump to my tank. i want to build so it can fit perfectly on the top shelf of my cabinet. as seen in the pic below:


160949945e964fa3c.jpg


i want to add skimmer and put my ats in the sump and maybe a dsb. iv been reading the forums on dsb's and looking at the minimum sizes for dsb's, my sump would be to small. should i rather skip the dsb? the sump would be 580 x 270mm.

some questions about the sump itself:

how thick should the glass be?
how high should i make it?
how many sections should i add and what would the section be for?

and on more question :) what skimmer is recommended for my tank? its 120l plus the sump.
 
brettb2020 said:
i want to add skimmer and put my ats in the sump and maybe a dsb. iv been reading the forums on dsb's and looking at the minimum sizes for dsb's, my sump would be to small. should i rather skip the dsb? the sump would be 580 x 270mm.

some questions about the sump itself:

how thick should the glass be?I would go with 6mm base and 4mm sides?
how high should i make it? As high as possible, but remembering you still need to be able to get inside and remove pumps, skimmer cup etc
how many sections should i add and what would the section be for? I would go for 3, 1st - inlet from tank & skimmer, 2nd - ATS (but you could have a hight problem) or DSB, 3rd - return pump, could always hang carbon in bag here too..

and on more question :) what skimmer is recommended for my tank? its 120l plus the sump.
Click to expand...

TS1 or similar

Keep us posted!
 
brettb2020 said:
ok great. So you either use an ats or a dsb? Do they do they same thing? Thanks for the info lighty!
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Click to expand...

The DSB would remove nitrates, where the ATS will also help with Phosphates ( and Nitrite and Ammonia - From what I've read)

You can run both, but could cause some space issues, eg, if your DSB is 12cm deep with say 8cm of water above it, that means the DSB "system" occupies 20cm of hight, now you still need a ATS to be above that - As it is out of the water - say 30cm in hight, now you going to need at least 60cm of hight once you have the plumbing in.....If space is not a problem, I would go with both......:whistling:
 
o ok. I think an ats is just much higher maintenance! Think il just go for ats since mine is doing good at the moment. And reading the dsb forums it seams the space is my sump is to little for the minimum size of a dsb. Am i right?
Posted via Mobile Device
 
Why not have a dsb in your display tank?
 
Brett, what are the dimensions of the area you have available for this sump?
 
I think if you plan carefully you can get a DSB, ATS and a Skimmer in there.... i have a TS1 on my frag tank, it will be very tight but you should get it in that space .......
the ATS could sit on top of the tank so to speak.... something like what i have on the 1.2m tank

It will be tricky getting the tank into that small space though.... have you thought about putting in a remote sump..... i.e. not in the cabinet at all.... it may be the best option .... and will give you a much more stable system as you could make it larger.....

You can easily put a DSB in yout DT, but many people think it is unsightly, rem it must be at least 15cm deep to work
 
Can be done if you remove the canister filter. But you must use it while DSB is maturing, so the canister must be outside the cabinet for 2 or more months.

Another problem will be your center brace? how will you get around that? Also will the cabinet take the extra weight? Wet sand is heavy...

Possible solution,
Or you have to use 2 smaller tanks, next to each other. DSB + scrubber (horizontal) on one side, and Skimmer plus return pump on the other. with overflow in between. I'm doing it, look at post 40 on
PlayStation - Page 2 - Members Systems and Setups
 
Neil H said:
I think if you plan carefully you can get a DSB, ATS and a Skimmer in there.... i have a TS1 on my frag tank, it will be very tight but you should get it in that space .......
the ATS could sit on top of the tank so to speak.... something like what i have on the 1.2m tank

It will be tricky getting the tank into that small space though.... have you thought about putting in a remote sump..... i.e. not in the cabinet at all.... it may be the best option .... and will give you a much more stable system as you could make it larger.....

You can easily put a DSB in yout DT, but many people think it is unsightly, rem it must be at least 15cm deep to work
Click to expand...

i was a bit concerned about the hight of the ts1. if you dont mind neil, could you measure how high it is so i can see if it actually will fit.

thing is, the tank is in my lounge and i dont have any space around my tank for a remote sump etc. has to be under my tank.

dont like the idea of the DT dsb. :)

RiaanP said:
Can be done if you remove the canister filter. But you must use it while DSB is maturing, so the canister must be outside the cabinet for 2 or more months.

Another problem will be your center brace? how will you get around that? Also will the cabinet take the extra weight? Wet sand is heavy...

Possible solution,
Or you have to use 2 smaller tanks, next to each other. DSB + scrubber (horizontal) on one side, and Skimmer plus return pump on the other. with overflow in between. I'm doing it, look at post 40 on
PlayStation - Page 2 - Members Systems and Setups
Click to expand...

if i had the space i could do that. but it needs to be in my cabinet. think im gonna skip the dsb. the center brace pulls out, doesnt really need to be there. just put it there in case but no weight seems to be pushing on it. my tank is braced at the bottom anyway:)


think im gonna go with 3 sections. skimmer, ats and return.

how exactly does the water flow into the different sections?
 
OK, if brace can come out,, then just slide sump tank into there. replace brace when done.

Can have ATS on almost horizontal plane above DSB. OK DSB will not get light , but should not be a problem. Let the scrubber lie in something like a painters tray above the DSB. I reckon that will work quite nicely. With shadenet cloth as the grow on medium. That will take less that 100mm above the DSB. 150 for sand. 100 water above sand, leaving another 110 for the lights. should work.

Being so small space, you can then have only 2 chambers, DSB and scrubber one side, and skimmer and return together on the other side. Heater can be in any chamber. I had that in one 60L tank, only difference the scrubber was vertical. DSB was on one side and skimmer plus return pump in a really small tank that was inside the 60L tank. Just check back on that same thread.

Remember the DSB must have the biggest surface that you can have.
 
that sounds like a plan riaan. my ats is so amall i might just be able to make it stand vertical. if i cant then il go to your plan :) if it can stand vertical, can i just put it above the dsb?

how high should the water be above the dsb?
 
Mine is 120mm, anywhere between 100 and 150 is OK. As long as the flow do not generate sand storms.
 
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