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What makes a $300 sump better than a $30 diy?

BryanDuggan

BryanDuggan

Curious why people spend 10x as much $$$for a premade sump, instead of making their own? One benefit seems to be they are quieter, but I feel like I was able to make mine (acceptably) quiet. Are there other reasons I'm missing?

Basically I'm in the frenzied phase of starting a new tank excitement, and wanting to buy things, but I can't seem to justify spending it on a pricey sump.

What are your thoughts?

PS - after returning to this hobby, and being currently involved in many other hobbies, reef tank people are by far the nicest and most helpful :)
 
DangerDave

DangerDave

NJRC Member
I bought one this time around. I had so much work with this build, I decided I would buy my sump this time. As for functionality, DIY really as good as you make it. If you put the time and effort into it, you can make them just as good or better then commercial ones.

Not to mention, my DIYs never looked this good.

Dave
 
erics210

erics210

NJRC Member
You would be surprised how many people just cannot do it. Plain and simple.
Others may have trepidation about doing something incorrectly and flooding the room.

I did mine initially and gained alot of satisfaction at how it came out and changed as time went on.

IF I had extra money laying around, sure why, not- look good, but if money is a concern, DIY is awesome for me.
 
BryanDuggan

BryanDuggan

Interesting. Why do you want to adjust the water level? I'm still learning. My last "sump" was literally Tupperware because that's all I could fit in my nano stand.

I have a 20L, and I have some plexiglass, so I may just take a crack at it. How would I determine the right baffle height to match my skimmer?(unknown make and model, it was free)

My LFS shop has an E-shoppe R-100 that does look cool, I guess, but again, that's $250 worth of livestock I could buy when the tank is cycled.
 
falconut

falconut

NJRC Member
I always have just made them from old tanks & glass cut at local glass shop. I just couldn't justify they large cost of the premade sumps. The biggest issue I had was the height of the tank. Custom would give you the option to make it whatever height fits best.

As far as skimmer water level, you could run the skimmer at different levels & see which works best. Probably somewhere between 7 - 9".
 
OiA

OiA

DIY sumps all day lol much cheaper and u get to customize it the way u want. But keep it simple is probably better, a standard 3 chamber set up is more then sufficient. Most of the skimmers require 6"-8" of water but i find it ezier to go 10" of water in the skimmer/sock chamber and build a stand with egg crate to prop up the skimmer to proper height and no need to mess around with adjustable baffles and such. And make sure u use aquarium safe silicone u can get them from home depot.
 

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MadReefer

MadReefer

Staff member
NJRC Member
Moderator
I attempted 2x to build a sump and both times the tank cracked afterward. Not sure why it cracked the 1st times as not even setup. Second time it was in the stand water pumping thru and 3 days later cracked and leaked. Said screw it and bought a used acrylic Eshopps sump and skimmer. had to drain tank and take stand apart to replace the sump.
 
OiA

OiA

mnat said:
You are making the assumption that the person has the tools and materials to make the 30$ sump.
Click to expand...
He did say he has a 20gal long and acrylic laying around.... all he really need is silicone and a scoring knife. The only exception is if the acrylic/plexi he has are thin then ya he need to buy 1/4 inch acrylic but still they are not that $$$.
 
lefkonj

lefkonj

For a take larger than the 20gallon there are lots of things to consider. Flow rate, sections for refugium, skimmer, probes, etc etc. Could I of made my own sump, maybe. Was I already spending a ton on my 180 gallon setup, yes. So why skimp, just buy a proven product from someone else.
 
Mark_C

Mark_C

Staff member
Officer Emeritus
NJRC Member
Moderator
Think of specific needs, design, design again, redesign, then get some acrylic, a scoring knife, and a tube of silicone.

You get a superior personalized sump for a fraction of the cost of a generic manufactured (let alone something with such a specific build).

Here's the plans for one I built for my 90g, cost about $60 in material (plus tank).

Fugecuts.jpg
Overview.jpg
 
DangerDave

DangerDave

NJRC Member
Mark_C said:
Think of specific needs, design, design again, redesign, then get some acrylic, a scoring knife, and a tube of silicone.

You get a superior personalized sump for a fraction of the cost of a generic manufactured (let alone something with such a specific build).

Here's the plans for one I built for my 90g, cost about $60 in material (plus tank).

View attachment 18236
View attachment 18237
Click to expand...

Great plan. Would you post a pic of the sump?

Dave
 
BryanDuggan

BryanDuggan

I may actually go the premade route now; but only because my LFS needs a bunch of leopard geckos (and I have a surplus), so my out of pocket will be ~$75 for the E-shoppes R-100.

If not for that, I'd be making a DIY for sure, it actually looks like a fun project.
 
Oberst Oswald

Oberst Oswald

I have the R-200 for my 65 gallon tank and works very good using the Triton Method. Only issue is the rear return area which is hard to get to, small and limits the size of the return pump.
 
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