CrayolaViolence
New member
I plan on a refugium, to de-nitrate rock filter, to skimmer, then back to the return pump. I am wondering how big of a sump should I go with. I prefer to run a line from my skimmer to a bucket so that it auto empties and I don't have to worry about it if it goes over and chance flooding the bioload back into the system, so if I get something too deep, then I will have to build a platform to hold up the skimmer. I have a small platform now in my current sump and it tends to shift. I have a plan to prevent this in the future, however, I was wondering what size would be doable. I have a 29 gallon long (48 inches) that would give me the right height so no plat form would be needed, and enough room for stuff to flow through, but it's only 29 gallons. I also have a 40 gallon acrylic narrow, that will have to have a platform for the skimmer. The issue here is the Euro-brace is going to cause some crowding I can already tell. I know people say "bigger is better" but is it really? I mean if you have stuff set up efficiently enough to run through multiple layers of de-nitrate rock, a physical filter, your refugium, skimmer, to return pump. I can see the advantage of the 29 long over the larger (volume) acrylic as it will give me more room for plant life and will allow for the water to cross a greater length of space and therefore have more time to be filter by both the de-nitrate rock. I'd like to not have to buy a new tank and use one or the other, but a 180 is a pretty big tank and I wasn't sure either tank I have would be large enough.
If I go bigger, I can't go over 5.5 feet and I'd prefer a wider shallower tank. I'd have to re-buy some dividers but that can be dealt with (My current dividers are for 19 inch max width).
Now I do have one other tank. A 55 gallon, standard. IMHO a horrible tank as it's too tall and too narrow and I really hate it and use it only to cure rock in and toss old corals or odds and end rock that I grow coralline algae on. It's currently home to my two figure 8 puffers but they could always live in the sump with the rest of the critters (crabs, peppermint shrimp, ghost shrimp) etc that I removed from my reef tank due to the loss of some corals to unknown assailants. The fig 8 won't get very big so they wouldn't need much room but the tank is 21+ inches deep so I would definitely need a plat form for the skimmer. Good news it's only 18 wide so I could use my dividers. I'm pretty sure the 55 would fit under the cabinet of the 180 but I am not sure if it will leave me any head room. Would the 55 be large enough (it's either a 55 or 60) I do know it's the same length as the 29 long but I'd say 2.5 times taller and a bit wider.
If I go bigger, I can't go over 5.5 feet and I'd prefer a wider shallower tank. I'd have to re-buy some dividers but that can be dealt with (My current dividers are for 19 inch max width).
Now I do have one other tank. A 55 gallon, standard. IMHO a horrible tank as it's too tall and too narrow and I really hate it and use it only to cure rock in and toss old corals or odds and end rock that I grow coralline algae on. It's currently home to my two figure 8 puffers but they could always live in the sump with the rest of the critters (crabs, peppermint shrimp, ghost shrimp) etc that I removed from my reef tank due to the loss of some corals to unknown assailants. The fig 8 won't get very big so they wouldn't need much room but the tank is 21+ inches deep so I would definitely need a plat form for the skimmer. Good news it's only 18 wide so I could use my dividers. I'm pretty sure the 55 would fit under the cabinet of the 180 but I am not sure if it will leave me any head room. Would the 55 be large enough (it's either a 55 or 60) I do know it's the same length as the 29 long but I'd say 2.5 times taller and a bit wider.
