sump/refugium size question.

SaltyGQ

SaltyGQ

New member
Hello all,

I have a 65g reef tank and will be adding in a sump/refugium in the next couple weeks. I have a 20g now 30x12x12 and wanted to know if it makes a huge difference to buy a 29g 30x12x18. Thanks in advance for your help.

-G
 
The more water the better for a reef tank. Is 10 gallons going to make or break the tank, probably not, but with more water comes more stability. Also have you tried placing all the equipment you plan on having in the sump that might be a deciding factor for you (skimmer, ato, gfo or carbon, return pumps, temp probe, pH probe, filter socks, drain pipes, heaters, grounding probe). Make sure you plan it out first to save some headaches later.
 
Hello,

Thanks for the replies.

I would like to start buying what i need to setup my sump next week and I have a couple more questions.

I have a 65g now and I will be upgrading to a 90g cube 36x24x24 sometime before the end of the year. My tank right now is not drilled so I will have to use an overflow box. In the tank I would like to have a mixed reef but from the start I would have some softies and maybe some frogspawn.

The max that I could fit under the tank would be a 29g tank. Unless I put the sump I'm my basement. If I put it in the basement it would have to go up the normal height for a basement and over about 10-15 feet. If I go that route I would wait until I find the 90g cube first.

How complicated would it be to have a sump that far away? Is it just a matter or having a better pump?

Right now all I have is an eBay hob skimmer. So if its better to wait till I have the new tank I can.

Thanks in advance for the help.

-Greg
 
Pufferpunk said:
Rule of thumb is no smaller than 1/3 of your display tank.
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Thanks,

I will stick with the 29 if I go right under the tank in the stand. It will be a refugium, not sure if that makes a difference.

What do you think about having the sump in the basement? I've heard of people doing it when it's right below the tank. My idea for the setup would be about 10-15 feet to the left then up.
 
I am having mine made from mr. lutman here on the forums. You might want to check him out before you go get one commercially!
 
I would not upgrade to a 29g, if its going to go inside the stand. If you have the clearance for it go for it, but most stands are only 30 inches tall, but depending on the design. You might not have enough clearance you need to work on the sump when doing maintenance. When I had my 75g, I used a 29g inside the stand as a sump. Worse decision I made, it did fit under the stand, but it was a pain doing maintenance on the skimmer. I had very little clearance to work with, but managed for a while, until I got rid of it.

If you are going with the sump in the basement route. You can have a good size refugium and you won't need a skimmer. If you are looking for 29g tank?? I have one laying around pm, if interested.

I my opinion, if you are upgrading I would wait.
 
Thanks Juan,

My first post is a little misleading. I don't have a sump now but I do have a 20g tank that I was going to make into a sump. I was then asking about going to a 29g and if its worth it.

I think you're talking about the space under the tank if the sump was 18 inches tall correct?

Ill have to measure my skimmer to see if that one would even work.

Thanks for the reply.

Does anyone have any experience with having the sump in the basement? Ty
 
SaltyGQ said:
Does anyone have any experience with having the sump in the basement? Ty
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Yep, I have and if I could I would have done it again with my new build. I loved it. It made maintenance a breeze. There were no restrictions on size of the sump, or height of the skimmer. It can be any shape, and all your equipment, for the most part would be down there as well. Another benefit was the tank stayed cooler in summer because the sump stayed at 78 degrees even though it was hotter upstairs. I had absolutely no negatives in regards to my tank. The only reason I couldn't do it this time is that my husbands hobby... a model train layout...has metal tracks and runs throughout the basement, so no sumps down there. They rusted out his tracks. I do still have my top off container, saltwater container and dosing pumps all down there, though. But the sump had to stay under the tank. :sad:

I think the only thing that was different is the return pump needs to be stronger to compensate for the head loss. I used an external pump when I did it.

If you do have a choice, though, IMO, really consider it.
 
edsbeaker said:
I think the only thing that was different is the return pump needs to be stronger to compensate for the head loss. I used an external pump when I did it.

If you do have a choice, though, IMO, really consider it.
Click to expand...

Nice,

Was your setup a closed loop system? And was it directly below your tank
 
SaltyGQ said:
Nice,

Was your setup a closed loop system? And was it directly below your tank
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It was not a closed loop, and not right under the tank, either. I'd say it was about 10 feet away from being directly under the tank upstairs. I think that is one of the reasons why I went with the external pump. Also Pufferpink and gomery12 have very good points in having a custom sump made. It is cheaper then commercial and if you do put it in the basement, you won't be restricted to only 12(front to back) inches like a 29 or 20G. 12" really restricts you with equipment size.
 
SaltyGQ said:
Thanks Juan,

My first post is a little misleading. I don't have a sump now but I do have a 20g tank that I was going to make into a sump. I was then asking about going to a 29g and if its worth it.

I think you're talking about the space under the tank if the sump was 18 inches tall correct?
Click to expand...

To answer your question, Yes.

Here is my explanation should clear things up.
I made my stand out of 2 x 4. It was 30 inches tall. Inside the stand max height I had was 24 inches to play with. An 18 inch tall tank that left me with 6 inches of clearance. My skimmer was 22 inches tall with the cup and 4.5 inches round. So I had very little wiggle room when I had to pull the skimmer for cleaning. Most of the time I had to take out the sump from a side door I made. Biggest pain. Yeah don't do it if its the same case scenario I had.

Now I just have a 34g nano cube couldn't be happier when it comes to maintenance simplicity at its finest.

I have no experience with a sump in the basement, but the main problem is finding a pump can with a good head:feet ratio.

What I have seen some people do is make a stand for the sump and pump to shorten the length from the basement to the tank.
 
gomery12 said:
The sump. I also have the avast ATO and it works like a charm, I have it hooked into my RKE and then have the float back up if the RKE fails, but I haven't had any problems with it so far!
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Nice,

Well it looks like I will wait until I find a 90g with those dimensions - 36x24x24. I could use my 65 as the sump but I think I can get my hands on a 55 for free so that might be the route I go. I will need to start saving for everything I need so I can do it all in one shot. I don't want to wait to add things later.
 
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