Amanda

...from the guy who's "supposed" to be helping me set up the 150.
I simply e-mailed him & asked if there was a cheaper alternative to the Mag 18, I'm sure there are other pumps that pump 1200-1500 GPH.
He got SUPER nasty with me, saying that if I ask him for help I can never second guess him or he won't help me anymore.
I was just asking if there was a cheaper pump...as a college student, I'm feeling the pinch.
And he was supposed to teach me how to turn my 29 gal. into a sump, but now he won't even answer my messages.

Nick Goody

I'm going to be building a sump for my 90gal from scratch over the next couple of weeks Amanda, it's pretty simple. I could talk you through it if you want? Although I'm not familiar with the different brands you have in the U.S. Whats a Mag 18? A filter?

Amanda

The Mag 18 is the pump I'd need so that I can pump the water back up into the tank.
If you could walk me through it too, I'd be grateful!

Nick Goody

Is the Mag 18 a pump designed for aquariums? Because if it is then it probably costs a bomb. The cheapest, (and usually best) pumps available are ones that are used by plumbers for different things. I just picked up a second hand pump from a spa bath, that has a 13,000 LPH capacity, but can be set anywhere from 5000lph +. It cost me $80.

Amanda

Yeah, it's a pond pump...
I never thought about a pump that a plumber would use...does it work just as well?

gremlin

All the time growing up, the pump we had on our pond out front was an old swamp cooler pump. It was a pretty sky blue color. It lasted for quite a while. No clue how much it cost or anything. The only problem was that when it fiinally died, the casing cracked and it leaked oil into the pond. We caught it right away and were able to flood the pond and wash out all the oil before we lost any fish. They probably have cooler pumps (or swimming pool pumps or spa pumps) that would work that are sealed well enough to not leak into the tank. They are usually cheaper than the ones designed specifically for aquariums. Especially if you have a friend who is a plumber who can get you one wholesale...

Nick Goody

Yeah, any good submersible pump will do the job great. A pump is just a pump at the end of the day! I'd try looking online for any secondhand pumps, or maybe trying a local building supplies store?

jgon_

Personally, I'd save your 29 for more fish, you can just use something like this for a sump. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...ct_id=10401053

iloveengl

Yeesh! This guy sounds like he has a serious attitude problem! I'm glad you seem to be finding some good advice here. Good luck with the set up.

Annadvn

I would personally ring the people at www.glass-holes.com

We used them when buying a pump for the return from the sump to the 200g, they are super helpful, experience hobbyists and really know their stuff.

They also have really good prices if you buy through them. (The pump we bought saved us lots of as they get the manafactures to ship the pump straight to you rather than going through a middle man - cuts costs)

Anna

nemo addict

just a point from a plumber if using 2nd hand plumbing pumps then be very careful not to use heating pumps as most systems have a inhibitors in the systems this contains acids and other products you really dont want in your tank also is this sump for FW also some pumps dont have the head to pump back to the tank they may pump 1800 gph but may not be strong enough to pump back up to the tank (head) so pump selection should be made carefully or you can just waste your money

Amanda

Thanks...I'm def. going to check it out!

That's good to know! Aquarium pumps are so expensive!

The guy said that those bows...

He definently does.

I'll check it out

I'll keep that in mind! Any particular ones to stay away from??

Amanda

I just got 150 lbs of pea gravel for $12.
And I checked on the water pumps while I was out...the one I needed was about $90. A LOT better than $200.

Tony G.

Good to hear! I wonder what the guy will do when he finds out you arent gonna take his advice good luck with him LOL

your gravel is cheap! My gravel was about 90 pesos and its not even 20 pounds
LOL mine is pea gravel also... where did you find yours?

Amanda

I went to Lowes & they just have 50 lb. bags in the garden dept.

Red1313

On the comment of using a rubber maid tub or whatever in stead of the 29gal as a sump. If you don't want it to bow you can build a 2x4 frame around it while it's empty, once it fills the frame should keep bowing to a minimum. I don't remember where I was but I've see pictures of a guys fish room and for his breeding tanks that all he has are rows of framed rubber-maid tubs.
Best of luck with you're set up

Tavel

that's EXACTLY what's in my 75g, 20lbs for $12!

My barbs like to pick the stones up in their mouths and suck all the goodies off...then they spit them at the glass. We hear random "clinks" all night long, hahaha.

Red1313: Yup, I used one of those for my hydroponic reservoir. The lid actually does a pretty good job of keeping it in shape. That will buy Amanda some time so she doesn't have to worry about a containment frame right away.

Amanda (again): That guy...wow. "help" means assistance, not dictation. He should get himself a dictionary and big 'ol chill pill.

He seems like one of those old crows that is stuck in "advice mode," as I call it. You can't say anything without them vividly recounting (for the 4th time) some sordid affair from their past.

I have one in my Calc 3 class...If i say ANYTHING about turtles, toads, or fish, he automatically starts telling the story of his room-mate who once brought home penguins because they worked at the zoo...I've heard it 3 times myself, and overheard him tell it to someone else once too!

Amanda

I'm thinking about just using a rubbermaid...I just know that this guy is going to go ballistic when he finds out I'm doing everything he said not to. And this is the guy who's supposed to be giving me then 90 gal.