How to Plumb a 125-Gallon Tank

Aquariums are plumbed to supply water to a remote reservoir or sump. Sumps are normally situated under or behind an aquarium and offer the hobbyist an out of sight area in which to hide numerous pieces of filter equipment and heaters. Sumps also afford the aquarist an opportunity to include more water than what the aquarium alone can hold. Sumps are connected to the main aquarium, via the pipes or tubing that drain water from the main system and those that return water from the reservoir to the aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium, 72-by-18-by-22 inches (125 gallons), with base pane predrilled with one 0.72-inch diameter hole in the back right hand corner
  • Plastic sump, 25 gallons
  • 16-inch PVC pipe (0.72 inch diameter), male thread
  • 12-inch PVC pipe (0.72 inch diameter), female thread
  • Washer (0.72-inch diameter)
  • Small tube of nontoxic, 100 percent silicone
  • 180-gallon-per-hour submersible pump
  • 5-feet (flexible) plastic tubing (0.2-inch diameter)
  • Kettle
  • Small bowl
  • Plastic clamp
  • Heaters, 2
  • Nylon bags of phosphate remover, 2
  • Nylon bags of activated carbon, 2
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Instructions

    • 1

      Position the sump directly under the predrilled hole in the back right hand corner of the aquarium.

    • 2

      Squeeze a pea-sized amount of 100 percent silicone sealer around the predrilled hole in the aquarium. Do not place silicone around the hole, underneath the aquarium.

    • 3

      Place the washer over the threaded, male end of the 16-inch PVC pipe.

    • 4

      Place the washer end of the threaded 16-inch PVC pipe into the predrilled hole in the base pane of the aquarium. Push down to force the washer tightly against the aquarium bottom. This piece of pipe will stand vertically in the aquarium. Use your finger to spread the silicone so as to create a watertight seal. Leave to cure for 24 hours.

    • 5

      Kneel next to the aquarium and screw the 12-inch long PVC pipe into the 16-inch PVC pipe, from underneath the aquarium. Tighten well. This piece of pipe will now be suspended vertically above the sump.

    • 6

      Pour a little boiling water into the bowl and place one end of the 5-foot flexible plastic tubing into the water for 30 seconds.

    • 7

      Remove the end of the 5-foot plastic tube and push it over the exhaust nozzle of the submersible pump. Place the pump into the sump and hang the free end of the tube over the aquarium rim at the opposite end from the predrilled hole. Secure the tube in place with the plastic clamp.

    • 8

      Add water to the aquarium until the level reaches and begins to flow over and into the vertical, 16-inch PVC pipe and down through it, into the sump. Allow the sump to fill to the halfway mark with water.

    • 9

      Connect the submersible pump into a power source and turn it on. Sump water will now be pumped back to the aquarium, from where it will continually return to the sump via the vertical PVC pipe.