125g Sump/Fuge

[bsagecko]

Ok i started putting my sump together today cuz i got my mag-18 last night. Whoot! And i only payed $120 brand-new.

Anyways i think my sump maybe to small for my FOWLR
The sump measures 24" Long 12"depth 16" High
I have 10" of the sump already used holding bioballs
So that only leaves 14" for the pump and active carbon.
Also i have a small chamber box that holds like another 30-50 bioballs sitting on top with mechinal filteration inside of it as well.
So my true question is whether this is big enough to support a med-heavy bio-load in a 125g

I wil also have like 30lbs of live rock in the tank with live sand in like 3 days.

And i wont being adding any fish until like 3rd week of january.

So should i ahead and put in a different sump now or keep this one and hope for the best.

Note if i did upgrade the sump i would go to a 29g or 55g tank

 

[thor32766]

i would do it right the first time and the bigger the better. If you can do a 55 gallon go for that. I know i see them cheap on craigslist all the time.

 

[bsagecko]

I already have 2 55's sitting on my porch that i bought for $40 for both in cluding lights and a stand. So it woouldn't cost me any more than the supplies to bulid it internally.

The tank is actually 150g i think sorry about the miss print and my pump is a mag-18 and it is enormous

I just now that once i get the rock and water in the tank. I will never be able to change the sump without dismantling the tank,
Anyother opinions would be great.

 

[AquaKnight]

The only thing with a 55gal as a 125 sump, is it's almost too big, you'll only have 2ft left on one side and unless you have doors that go all the way to the end, will be hard to reach, and putting anything in/out of the 55gal may be difficult has the 55 is pretty tall, and most 125 stands seem to be shorter then most for some reason. Especially if you're considering an in-sump skimmer, it may be impossible to remove once under the stand.

I've had to basically 'expand' my 125 setup. I have a ~20gal rubbermaid on the left that acts as a sump, has all the pumps, and a 29gal refugium on the right (still adding). I've had to move my skimmer, an EV240, to the left rear side of the tank, exposed, and had to relocate my ballasts and switch board/timers to outside on the right. I will be building wooden boxes to cover them up though. Stain the same color as the stand, add the same trim, etc...

 

[bsagecko]

I have a 29 gallon aquarium that i am not using and my mom would be alot happier with it.
So you think i should just go with the 29 gallon sump.

I dont have a protein skimmer and i probly wont get one for this setup for at least 2-3 months.

I dont really think it is neccessary to have a skimmer on this setup.

So i think i go with the 29g sump

Maybe a 10-20g fuge add-on in like 4 months

And the tank stnad measures 6ft long 30" high and 16" depth

I think that could handle a 55 with plenty of work room?
What you guys think?

I would rather use the 29g if it will do a good job
But i dont want to have to upgrade later if the 55g would be better and be able to do it all

 

[AquaKnight]

I would go with the 55 if you feel it 'fits' in the stand and are comfortable working with it in that space and there's still room to expand with a skimmer. (in-sump or external).

Is that 30" high on the stand the outside height, or the height inside the stand? It may be a lot less then you think... I only have 23" inside height, so I had to search for unconventional sump ideas (the rubbermaid)...

 

[bsagecko]

30" high is inside the stand
I think i am going to go with the 29g
Which meaures 30" long 12" depth and 20" high
That way i can mod the stand a lil and be able to totally remove the sump whenever i feel like it.
It will also leave room for an external skimmer
And i could easily add use the sump that is to small as a fuge later on down the road or something

What do you think?

 

[jmjohnson]

With the smaller tank 20/29, a mag 18 will push a lot of water through such a small sump volume may equal disaster. Go with the 55 and make an area for a skimmer even though it may not be an addition for a long time.

 

[bsagecko]

if i go with the 55gal how do i convince my "boss" (Mom) that the 29g is not good enough?
And wont it be harder to service the 55gal?
What could happen with the mag-18 in such a small sump?
(disaster?)