How to Make a wet dry sump

Making a wet dry sump is very simple. If your low on cash or just want to save some money you can easily build a wet dry sump for your aquarium without breaking the bank.

1. first let's see what all you need:
2. small fish tank: if your aquarium is under 100 gallons then a 10 gallon tank will do. If your aquarium is more than 100 gallons then you will need a 20-30 gallon tank for your sump.
3. silicone: this is usually available at aquarium stores but will be cheaper at wal-mart or home depot. Just be sure it is non-toxic and water proof.
4. dense aquarium foam: this is sold at aquarium stores and is used to collect the large waste in your aquariums' water.
5. live rock (salt water): this is available at most pet stores. It is a natural filter that balances out the salt waters' trace elements. If your making you wet dry sump for a fresh water tank you can simply use a piece or two of base rock.
6. Sea weed or lake weeds: The weeds that grow naturally in the water are not there by mistake. They need food to grow and thrive and what better thing to eat than the waste thats in your aquarium.
7. Water pump: a submersible pump to return the water back to the aquarium after the filtration.
8. plexi glass: This is what will make the different sections of your sump.
9. filter media(optional): filter media such as carbon will aid in removing waste in your aquariums' water.
10. bio balls: bio balls will remove large pieces of waste
11. 
    
    Preparation:
12. Be sure that the small tank your using to build your wet dry sump is clean.
13. Cut the plexi glass: Be sure to cut all the pieces so that they fit snug between the walls of the fish tank. All pieces will be cut to the width of the tank. An electric saw or dremel will work the best for cutting the plexi glass.
14. Cutting and gluing the plexi glass
15. when using silicone to attach the plexi glass be sure to make each seal water tight
16. the first piece will be use to hold the hose that brings in water in place. This piece will be flat across the top of the tank. Cut it about 4 inches long and to fit across the width of the tank. Using the silicone, attach the plexi glass about 2 inches from the top, all the way to one end of the fish tank.
17. This will be the largest piece of plaxi glass and it will make the first of 5 sections. Cut it so that the top is 1.5 inches from the first piece of glass. Use the silicone to glue the glass across the width of the tank. Glue each of the 3 sides that touch the glass. You want this section to take up about a quarter of the fish tank so attach the peice accordingly. 
18. The third piece of glass will make the 2nd section. This section will direct the water flow to the bottom of the tank. this piece will start at the top of the tank and end about 2 inches from the bottom. leave 2 inches between this piece and piece 2.
19. You want water to flow over the top of this piece so attach it from the bottom. It needs to be 0.5 inches shorter than piece 2. This is the biggest section. Attach this piece of plexi glass so that this section takes up about a third of your tank
20. The last piece of glass will be attached from the top of the tank leaving a 2.5 inch gap from the bottom. Before you attach this piece you will need to use your piece of foam to see where to glue it. place the foam against piece 4 of plexi glass. place piece 5 flush against the other side of the faom the attach the plexi glass.

The Sections 

• bio balls in section 1
• rock and sea weed in section 3
• foam and filter media in section 4
• pump in section 5

Your Done!!..Water flows through your hose into the first section, through the sump, and out the pump back into the tank.