Things You'll Need
- Overflow box
- 1- and 2-inch tubing
- 5- to 10-gallon aquarium
- Protein skimmer
- Carbon filter bag
- Thermometer
- Aquarium heater
- Return pump
- Check valve
Instructions
Set up the small aquarium below the saltwater tank.
Insert your heater, thermometer, protein skimmer and charcoal bag into the small aquarium. Position the charcoal bag under the inflow to filter large particles and reduce the incoming water's splash.
Install the pump. The pump will won't reach its overall rating because of the distance it must push the water vertically--you'll have about a 500-gallon-per-hour pump on most setups. Add an adjustable cutoff valve to the outflow tubing to ensure you don't pump too much water into the main tank and overflow it.
Add a check valve above the pump to prevent the return tube from draining water from the saltwater tank, in case of a power failure.
Fill the sump half full with saltwater and let it stabilize overnight.
Attach tubing to the overflow box, leading down to the sump. Put the pre-filter on the connector in the overflow box.
Prime the overflow box so water flows from the aquarium to the sump.