10 gal with 5 gal sump

[lou48314]

Hey lou did you build the skimmer box or buy one? they are pretty expensive for what they are.

I built one when I did a nano back about ten years ago. Back when we did not even know them as "nanos".
I think I had maybe ten bucks and a couple hours into it. Nowadays it would probably be 15 bucks for all the stuff.
You can use plain old vinyl tubing for the intake and return lines but you will have to replace it after about a year or a year and a half.
Some people prefer the plastic tubing with ridges for the intake. It lasts longer and it makes the intake water choppy so it is exposed to more air. I am no expert but if it makes ya feel better, I say do it.
I just looked at the price of new skimmer/overflow boxes and they must be smoking something to get that kind of money for those. Sure, they look nicer than my old one but I can do a lot more IN the tank with the money that I saved.

 

[YahooFishKeeper]

is it mandatory that i have the outside box?

 

[lou48314]

is it mandatory that i have the outside box?

IMO, yes.
I have never tried to design one without it. I am not sure what the flow rate would be into the sump.
Take a look at this Marineland skimmer/overflow.

 

[fish outa wata]

thanks lou, I am going to try and make one. I have read some people using fish breaders for the inside of the tank. I was thinking an old hob filter for the outside, with a u-tube connecting the two. Thats if I can't build one completely from scratch.

 

[lou48314]

Not a problem...
Let all of us know how your engineering goes. I am sure that there are a ton of people on here that do not know how to make some of this stuff.
Like I said, it used to be the only way to have some of this stuff.
Just remember us old farts when you make something from scratch!