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Home build sump or use glass tank? (1 Viewer)

mrbill

mrbill

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I need a remote sump for my 215. I have stock tanks but I do not want to use one as they take up so much room. Been thinking I would like to use something about 48" X 24" X18". I have looked at acrylic sumps, nice but the best price I have found is around $400. I have thought about using a std 75G and drilling the end for the return pump. A new 75G tank would be about $135and then I risk breaking it due to the drilling. I could try to find a used tank but I would probably spend so much on gas (my truck gets about 14 MPG) it would cost almost the same as a new one. For a little less than the price of a 75G I figure I can build a MDO plywood sump and fiberglass the inside and install any partitions needed.

Am I being paranoid about drilling a tank? It would be easier and quicker to use the 75G but the homemade sump would be sturdy and unbreakable. What do you think?
 
Do you need to drill it? can you use a submersible pump that would do the GPH you would need??
 
What's your time worth? You pointed out the price of gas which is valid but what about the price of your time if you build the mdf/fiberglass sump?

I'd go with the 75g and drill it myself but then again I'm always looking for an excuse to buy a new tool... :)
 
I'd buy a used 75 or 120 from someone on the board and drill it.
Drilling the thicker glass is much easier/less risky than thinner glass.
Just make sure you don't buy a 75E tank which uses all tempered glass.

I drilled my 120 for a 15" external overflow and it took about 30 minutes. Took longer to clean up the mess than drilling.;)
 
Drilling a 75g is pretty easy and glass hole saws can be bought on ebay for less than $20 shipped. It's very helpful to also use a drill guide, Menards has them for around $35 IIRC. Superman's demo at this link shows the procedure:

http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=135

Using a glass tank or plastic tub for a sump would be much less work than a plywood tank IMO. If you do go the plywood route, I don't think fiberglas is necessary for sealing the inside, I have heard of people using epoxy resin instead.

As far as using a submersible pump large enough to be the return for a 210g tank, I think something like that would add a LOT of heat to the water...
 
A 75g is the best option. Drilling shouldn't be an issue. Thickness of a 75g should be pretty forgiving unlike trying to drill a smaller tank.

For a 210g, I'd lean towards an external pump.

I once built from plywood with epoxy resin etc. Really nice to be able to see from sides using a 75g, by the time you spend money on the supplies you really don't save much and takes more of your time. Plus the thickness etc. makes it less inside space when done. I know I won't ever do it again......
 
I have a larger external pump because it is going to be located in the basement "fish" room and will have some head pressure. My time is cheap so thats not a problem. I have a full shop and enjoy building things. Two part epoxy or fiberglass (polyester) resin are sim in use. Epoxy typ. doesnt have the strong smell that the polyester has but either would work. Drop a piece of LR in the home made sump and nothing probably happens. Same thing in a glass tank with a tempered bottom and ??? Each has its own advantage.
 
I know the expoxy I used was $55 a gallon and that was back in 2002. Before you account for any other supplies your 1/3 of the way to a 75g and be done. I really don't see any advantage of building. Now when I built my 320g costs were about $600 for supplies, having similiar built acrcylic tank was quoted around $3600 it was certainly more justifiable but it took 5 weeks too.
 
I think if you line the bottom of a glass sump with eggcrate it can help protect it from breaking (but of course it turns into a bunch of little detritus traps that would have to be blown out from time to time).

But given that the bottoms of most glass tanks are tempered, they can take a lot more accidental abuse than the sides of a tank.
 
I was told by AGA about 2 years ago that they made two 75 gallon tanks.
One was labeled as a 75 had a tempered bottom and the other 75E and was all tempered.
 
OK, so I may go the 75G route. I looked at the drill jig and glass hole saws at Bulk Reef Supplies. The price looks good, especially with the insider pricing. Has anybody used the BRS tools for drilling glass?
 
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