Cheap sump ideas?

[MandarinFish]

I need a clear sump, so mangraves and macroalgae can absorb natural sunlight.
Tanks I've looked at are rather expensive, since I need a very tall tank.

The Sterlite and Rubbermaid plastic bins I've seen also are't very tall.

Any suggestions?

 

[afss]

why do you need a tall tank?
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[MandarinFish]

Good question and thanks for the response.

I want to maximize the live sand / rock / macroalgae / mangrove in my sump for filtration. The space I have in the stand is not deep, but it is tall.

Thus, I want something tall, clear, and watertight. And as cheap as possible.

Any suggestions?

 

[afss]

what volume are you thinking of? also how deep are you thinking?
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[MandarinFish]

Let's see - my limit is mostly space. I want to get a chamber 28" tall X 15" X 36" perhaps. I haven't figured out the gallons on that.

The more, the merrier, of course.

I'm trying to figure out a cost effective way that doesn't involve a gratuitous amount of time if possible. Those may be mutually exclusive concepts though.

 

[pm_devin]

Aprox. 65gals?

 

[afss]

you are saying 28 tall.. how deep of a sand bed do you plan on using?

I'm not sure if there is a benifit to going much deeper than 6-8 inches. If you are using it as a sump and not a refugium then you should have ample room in the sump for back flow from the main tank in event of pump faliure. In this case I can see you needing the depth. If not then you should be OK with 18 inches. I am only guessing though as I am not sure how your tank is curently set up and what you are planning on changing etc.
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[davelin315]

Try a Bed Bath and Beyond or something similar. Look at the acrylic garbage cans they make for bathrooms. Maybe you can find one that matches your needs, and I'm pretty sure a garbage can would be cheaper than a tank.

 

[afss]

If your a DIY type you could check the local glass shop for glass "seconds". I have a 75 gallon fresh water that I have had for as long as I can remember. It is Angle iron welded to a tank shape, and glass set into it. Any way My point is I had this tank for awhile outside for snakes and stuff that I caught around the neighboorhood when i was young. At this time the tank leaked. When i decided to (and my parents decided to let me as I was only 12) fix it I went to the glass shop. They had recenlty replaced some store windows with new glass. they had kept the old windows and gave them to me for the cost of cutting. In all I got 3 pieces about 36*24 and 2 pieces 24*24 all for like 15-20 dollars. I bought the silicone at walmart and the tank has held water eversince. That was 16 years ago, so reliability of second glass shouldn't be a concern. You just need to figure out how to make a frame for one.
Probably not THE cheapest, but you could custom size it.. And you could use angle iron, just dont put a top brace on it.. just a bottom and sides.
Scott
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[MandarinFish]

I want to use as much water, live sand and rock to help filter as possible... thus I want a big sump.

It's proving to be costly no matter what route I look at, although DIY may be my best cheap route. I'm not really handy, though, but I can do basic stuff. Looks like I'll have to.

Why couldn't I pick a cheap hobby like kite flying?

Too bad the clear Sterlite/Rubbermaid containers aren't all that big.

 

[davelin315]

Kite flying is not a cheap hobby. I fly kites, and they run anywhere from $100 for a really cheap one to $500 or more for a good one. Kites today are not the 2 sticks with paper over them. They are mylar and high impact plastic and are capable of incredible tricks and stunts. The line alone usually costs $50 or so for good line. There are no cheap hobbies anymore, only expensive ones.

 

[MandarinFish]

Well, I tried BB and B and they didn't have tall, clear acrylic cans unfortunately. At least on their website.

 

[bensenvill]

I agree that you can build it yourself with glass for cheap. I have a 110g in the basement that way homebuilt over 20 years ago. If you alot of its structual sucess has been smaller sheets of glass that are siliconed on the top corners (It'll be just as effective as a centerbrace and much less obtrusive for your mangrove trees).

~Terrence

 

[Rich-n-poor]

a 37 gallon is 24 tall 12 deep and 30 long but there are other tall tanks usually a tank size ending in t (for tall) or s (for show) is at least 24 inches deep
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