72 Bow with 150 Sump

[JasonMHorn]

So as the title says I have a 72 Bow as my display tank and I got a 150 today that I'm gonna use for a sump.

I would like some ideas on how to make the sump. I want it to have the following areas; filtration, fuge, return (obviously) and possibly a frag area as well as a breeding area.

The filtration area will consist of a micron filter, protein skimmer and UV.

For the fuge and frag area I plan on buying a Reef Breeders LED fixture. Probably like a Photon 16 or 24.

I see that people put the return before the fuge. I have read that they do that so that the fuge doesn't have high water flow.

So I'm thinking filter area, then frag/breeder area, then return and then fuge at the end. What are your thoughts?

I'm guessing that I'll have about 11' of head. The 72 is on the first floor of my house and the 150 sump will be in my basemen. I know I need to measure the return line but any suggestions on the return pump? I'm currently running a RIO 14HF in my current sump that is in my stand.

This will be my first DIY Sump so any suggestions, thoughts or concerns would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[JasonMHorn]

Nobody can give me any help with this?! Really.....

 

[triggreef]

Do a lot of research on the pump. Thats a lot of head. I actually just posted about this on someone elses thread, but I would suggest a reeflo external pump. Heres what I jsut posted about the pump...

I went with an external reeflo pump and it gets the job done well. It was $180 from drsfostersmith.

I also did quite a bit of researching on:
1. the electrical usage
2. the gph with head loss and
3. the cost of the pump.

I dont remember any of it as it was a year ago, but this was the pump that I picked with those considerations in mind at the time.

Also, you want to keep the return line large as long as you can and only go smaller at the very ends of the returns. I went 1.5" all the way to the top with a 1.5" 3 way. The center continues 1.5" to a 1.5" Y. The 4 lines that created each drops to 3/4" returns, and there is 4 of them.

 

[triggreef]

I'd also suggest using the 150 for your display and the 72 for your sump.

I have a 72 set up as my reef with a 55 sump. I wish I went bigger theres not much space for corals to grow out.

 

[triggreef]

Also the reeflo that I got has 3 different settings for flow which is nice. But I keep mine on high. Its been running non stop for about a year now.

 

[JasonMHorn]

I appreciate the info trig. A fees these in response though. I understand your concern about the 72 but I want to use it as the DT for a number of reasons. One being that my wife likes the way it looks in her dining room. HaHa As far as an external pump, I know that it makes more sense to use one but I don't want to drill into the 150. So I'm hoping that I can use a submersible. If not, I mind put a partition to make a dry area and drill through that. I know that a 150 sump is weird for a 72 DT but as I stated above, I need the room to do a few things in the sump.

Do you have any pics that you can post of your sump?

I was brainstorming last night and I came up with a pretty good idea how I will probably set up the sump.

 

[JasonMHorn]

Hey JasonMHorn,
How was the led fixture from Reef Breeders?i am looking for some leds for my small fish tank

I did a whole thread on it. Check it out.

 

[JasonMHorn]

Also trig, I guess you didn't notice any kind if bottleneck when you went from a large pipe to a smaller one?