Making a sump

[Fred]

Hello all, I am about to attempt making a sump for one of my tanks. The tank specs are

120cm 45cm 45cm so about 240L dry

Questions that i have are:

1) what volume should the sump have is there a ratio ie 1 third the volume of the display tank?

2) what media do people use? and where does it get placed? within the refugim thingie? or within the baffles?

3) also the sump is for a cichlid tank where will be keeping bubbas before they move into the 7 1/2 footer. Is a canister filter a better option? just have all the bits i would need (acrylic, glues, pump etc) to do it for virtually nothing compared to buying a $300 filter

I am sure i will think of more questions as i get under way making it

[Fred]

got another question

4) the pumps will heat the water, how does one ensure that it would not overheat? i once used a pump and a DIY coke bottle filter as a temp thing and it heated the water way over 30, needless to say the few (2-3) baby fish died but fortunately the apple snails survived.

it could be that the pump i used was not efficient as it is rather an old one

[evilknieval69]

The pumps shouldnt be the main heat source, Yes, they will heat the water a little bit, but they shouldnt heat it enough, or accurately enough to heat a 200L+ tank... a 300W heater in the sump somewhere will heat the tank well.

[Fred]

Thanks

I just posted the same question in the saltwater section seconds before you answered