DIY: Sump for Marine Tanks

An aquarium sump essentially is a secondary tank, used for filtration and to house heaters and other accessories to keep the display tank looking less cluttered. They also add water volume, which improves the overall quality of the tank and the health of the display.

Things You'll Need

  • Large Rubbermaid container or aquarium
  • Measuring tape
  • Aquarium overflow
  • Aquarium pump
  • Aquarium tubing
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the area that will be used to house the sump to determine the footprint of the sump itself.

    • 2

      Select a sump large enough to hold the overflow of your tank. A large Rubbermaid container is a cheap option that can be easily modified to accommodate most accessories. Glass aquariums also can be used though they are more expensive.

    • 3

      Install the overflow on the tank.

    • 4

      Plumb the overflow to drain into the sump with plastic tubing, making sure the tube is long enough to reach into the water of the sump. This will reduce the occurrence of micro bubbles.

    • 5

      Install the pump in the sump and plumb to the display of the aquarium using plastic tubing.