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I want to build a 1/2 gallon sump for my acrylic 2g nano hex. The 1/2g tank I've got is a little double betta strech hex (one of these, but 2 of them together with a removable divider...I can't find the exact thing I have) ...so it's got a divider set up in it that I can take out if I need to, but I think I'll use it

Current stock -
2 shrimp
1 Turbo snail
3 or more nerite snails (hitchhikers)
1 chunk of some sort of sw plant that attaches itself to LR, just like java moss does to driftwood in fw

I'm thinking of putting 2 bulkheads in the back side of the tank at the surface about 3" apart (remember, it's a little tank, and it's a hex). I'd run tubing from the intake down to one end of the sump, thru a mass of filter floss, thru holes in the divider, into the other side (where my heater and pump are), up the pump, and back into the tank via the other bulkhead.

I'm thinking of using a 75gph powerhead...maybe a rio 180... any suggestions?

Where in the divider should I drill the holes? top? bottom? middle? all over? I was thinking the bottom so it'd force all of the water to go thru the floss?

Where can I get bulkheads?

I've got a sheet of plastic that is exactly the size of the tank... I can stick it in there to catch falling stuff for when I drill the tank. I'm thinking I'll drain half of the water (to the top of my LR), sit the sheet of plastic in there so it's sitting on the LR, take the HOB, heater, and light off of the tank, drill the 2 holes in the back of the tank, put the bulkheads in, take out the plastic, refill the tank, and then hook it up to the sump (which I'd build before hand). Does that sound okay?

Will this plan work? Am I missing anything?

Will post up pics of the tank tonight... maybe some diagrams of what I plan to do...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Last edited by PoisonWaffle at 18-Sep-2005 15:42

its late and Im having a hard time picturing it....diagrams?

Ditto to what Nate said...

I think you really have to take into consideration, whether or not a whole .5 gallons is really going to help you out to the point where it's worth this effort...

Cant you figure out a creative way to plumb in a spare 5.5 or 10 gallon tank? 10 gallons are dirt cheap...even if you dont have one, I cant imagine it'd be that hard to pick up at a garage sale or something. It'd help you out so much more IMO.

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Sorry I haven't replied...been grounded from my compy

I'll get diagrams up sometime...prolly in a few days

The whole point of the sump is to get some extra movement, to hide my heater, and to give me a bit more tank space

I don't really see any point in putting a 10 gallon sump on a 2 gallon tank... it may as well be the other way 'round A while back I was joking around about the ludicris thought of putting a 55 gallon sump on the tank

I'll have diagrams up soon (hopefully )...thanks

Aiite, I got some diagrams up... quick 5 min mspaint job, but it gets the point across

The water will leave the main tank thru a little bulkhead/strainer deal...basically the same thing that a lot of LFS's have on their multi-tank setups. It will drain down to the sump, go thru the filter floss, divider, and back up into the tank (out a nozzle thing on a bulkhead), around in the tank, and back out.

I do have a litte HOB in there now...I plan to leave it in (have the water go around in the same way it does now)... I've also got the light clipped to the side

Any help would be greatly appreciated

PoisonWaffle attached this image: