150g Rubbermaid Stock Tank as Sump

[bengeeee]

Anyone here use one?  As I prepare to start my tank build which will incorporate about 5 - 600 gallons I've been doing a lot of thinking about using the stock tank as a sump.  I started thinking about using a stock tank for a sump because of the durability, footprint, and cost as compared to something custom made.

 

There are challenges however which is why I was wondering if anyone here uses one that they wouldn't mind posting pictures of.  

 

Things I need to figure out...

 

1).  Do I want to run internal pumps or external pump(s) with manifolds?  Should I drill a new bulkhead or use the stock bulkhead?  I've read a few people saying the stockers leak, and others saying they have no problems.

 

2).  How do i install baffles or should I at all?  I've seen people use smaller rubbermaids sitting inside the stock tank as dividers for the drains.  Also, should i use bulkheads for the drains or just plum directly into the smaller rubbermaid inside the stock tank.

 

3).  Do I need to insulate and if so should I insulate just the top or the entire thing?

 

4).  I need to run ozone, carbon, and gfo reactors.  How should I place / plum them?

 

5).  I want to run a large refugium area.  Again how do I divide everything?  

 

  For the dividers I was thinking of maybe using a combination of egg crate and acrylic (painstakingly cut to fit all the nooks and bends of the stock tank and then siliconed into place).  Any advice on all this?

 

Any pics of existing setups would be great.  I've seen tons on the other boards but there is nothing like local expertise and most of those pics are confusing without explanations.

 

Ben

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

I don't think putting baffles in a stock tank will work well or be any fun attempting. I use a 100 and have an internal pump, I use the 1 1/4" stock bulkhead for quick removal of water for waterchanges. Although I don't really do many yet. I want to use the external pump but just haven't had time to mess with it yet.

The whole sump is my refugium, powerheads to keep deitrus off the bottom and cheato floats up top and breaks up the bubbles coming from the drain. Almost all my rock is on eggcrate in the sump. Then returns to the top tank with my skimmer.

I think micro bubbles will be your worst problem (I don't care about them since I view my top Rubbermaid from the top. But I know a few people here use rubbermaids with display tanks maybe they can chime in on how to effectively kill microbubbles. A full syphon drain would be best from what I can think of.

[davelin315]

For a rather long look at stock tanks, take a look at my build thread.  I utilize 4 of them in my system, two 150s and 2 50s.

[ToddR]

Iuse a 100 with internal pumps. Works great.

Edited October 25, 2013 by ToddR

[Coral Hind]

I have a 150g rubbermaid with a Dart return. Because of the material they are made of they seem to insulate themselves nicely. Depending on top penetrations a lid can help some with temp and evaporation stability.

[bengeeee]

I don't think putting baffles in a stock tank will work well or be any fun attempting. I use a 100 and have an internal pump, I use the 1 1/4" stock bulkhead for quick removal of water for waterchanges. Although I don't really do many yet. I want to use the external pump but just haven't had time to mess with it yet.

The whole sump is my refugium, powerheads to keep deitrus off the bottom and cheato floats up top and breaks up the bubbles coming from the drain. Almost all my rock is on eggcrate in the sump. Then returns to the top tank with my skimmer.

I think micro bubbles will be your worst problem (I don't care about them since I view my top Rubbermaid from the top. But I know a few people here use rubbermaids with display tanks maybe they can chime in on how to effectively kill microbubbles. A full syphon drain would be best from what I can think of.

 

How do you elevate the egg crate or do you just let it sit on the bottom and then the rock on top of that?  I was thinking of doing something similar, but maybe with some PVC zip tied to the bottom to keep it slightly elevated and supported for flow.  I'll research full siphon drains I don't know anything about them.  I assume it involves carefully sized pluming and somehow avoiding too much air intake?

 

For a rather long look at stock tanks, take a look at my build thread.  I utilize 4 of them in my system, two 150s and 2 50s.

 

Awesome...  very well done indeed.  An update on your build is in order I think!

 

Iuse a 100 with internal pumps. Works great.

 

Cool thanks.

 

I have a 150g rubbermaid with a Dart return. Because of the material they are made of they seem to insulate themselves nicely. Depending on top penetrations a lid can help some with temp and evaporation stability.

 

I was thinking that as well, but wanted to avoid a lid if possible because I plan to use a large portion of it as a fuge.  I'll consider using the stock bulkhead for water changes good idea.  I do think I'll probably drill more holes though because I have so much plumbing to worry about.  

 

Anybody elevate their sump on cinder blocks / any other method?  I'd like to be able to easily siphon out if it ever comes to that.

 

Ben

Edited October 25, 2013 by bengeeee

[GraffitiSpotCorals]

I used the zip ties and PVC, the full syphon drains do not have any air to into them. They stay under the water level and you use a gate valve to adjust the exact amount of water running through them to match your return. They work best running straight down with no elbows or anything of the sort.

[Coral Hind]

I like using uniseals instead of bulkheads on the tubs. They seal much better since the surface of the tubs is not perfectly smooth. I have used buckets and trash cans set down inside the sump to make compartments because baffles are not easy to install.

[monkiboy]

i'm going to steal a few photos from a reefing buddy of mine, dennis' thread. his screenname is d2mini on several forums if you want to check out the rest of his setup which has been running really well for about a year now with the rubbermaids. he used a tiered set up kind of what you describe instead of baffles that overflow from one to the other with two rubbermaids initially. then he changed it up in the photos towards the bottom with a setup refugium tank overflowing into a frag tank into his sump. he also used cinder blocks like you mentioned to make maintenance and working on his tank easier. photos typically help a lot more than words so i'll let them do the talking. good luck with your build and hopefully this spurs some ideas, bud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Origami]

^^Nice and clean design!

[howaboutme]

i'm going to steal a few photos from a reefing buddy of mine, dennis' thread. his screenname is d2mini on several forums if you want to check out the rest of his setup which has been running really well for about a year now with the rubbermaids. he used a tiered set up kind of what you describe instead of baffles that overflow from one to the other with two rubbermaids initially. then he changed it up in the photos towards the bottom with a setup refugium tank overflowing into a frag tank into his sump. he also used cinder blocks like you mentioned to make maintenance and working on his tank easier. photos typically help a lot more than words so i'll let them do the talking. good luck with your build and hopefully this spurs some ideas, bud!

 

Didn't realize those pictures you posted earlier this year in my other thread were d2mini's. I do enjoy seeing his setup. Isn't the one that ecotech chose to use in their radion print ads his cube? How did you meet him? Isn't he in Texas or something?

[Neto]

what a mess!!!! 

[YHSublime]

Like a boss.

[monkiboy]

Didn't realize those pictures you posted earlier this year in my other thread were d2mini's. I do enjoy seeing his setup. Isn't the one that ecotech chose to use in their radion print ads his cube? How did you meet him? Isn't he in Texas or something?

he is a pro photographer indeed. he has an awesome and furtitous relationship with ecotech for sure. they did basically a whole campaign and commercial at his old place with his cube. We both got our initial builds going around the same time on a smaller reefing site and have similar design ideas and have made a sale or two with each other so in sharing ideas and build details got to know each other. ive never been to houston to visit but certainly seems like a fun trip given his level of comittment to his build. Edited October 25, 2013 by monkiboy

[howaboutme]

he is a pro photographer indeed. he has an awesome and furtitous relationship with ecotech for sure. they did basically a whole campaign and commercial at his old place with his cube. We both got our initial builds going around the same time on a smaller reefing site and have similar design ideas and have made a sale or two with each other so in sharing ideas and build details got to know each other. ive never been to houston to visit but certainly seems like a fun trip given his level of comittment to his build.

 

Very cool! Seems to be a nice guy. They do like them BIG in texas!

[s2nhle]

i'm going to steal a few photos from a reefing buddy of mine, dennis' thread. his screenname is d2mini on several forums if you want to check out the rest of his setup which has been running really well for about a year now with the rubbermaids. he used a tiered set up kind of what you describe instead of baffles that overflow from one to the other with two rubbermaids initially. then he changed it up in the photos towards the bottom with a setup refugium tank overflowing into a frag tank into his sump. he also used cinder blocks like you mentioned to make maintenance and working on his tank easier. photos typically help a lot more than words so i'll let them do the talking. good luck with your build and hopefully this spurs some ideas, bud!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

very professional. thank you for sharing these pics.

[bengeeee]

Agreed. I've seen a few of those pics before around the net but somehow missed the one with the labels. That's a huge help thanks.

[davelin315]

Not to be a downer, but I see split seams in his future with the support for the mangrove and frag tank. He might want to replace the support with materials that don't warp or flex.