Hi, i am wanting to upgrade my current filtration on my 180 gallon reef tank. Does anyone have a simular size tank that has pics of their filtration system that has worked well for them? my 180 has 2 x corner overflows built in. 72''x24x25 . I was thinking of using a 55 gallon aquarium. both returns would go through a filter sock on the left sideof the sump tank which would hold my protein skimmers in the first section.water would then flow through baffles into refugium, containing a DSB and cheato. the water would then flow into the 3rd section which would contain carbon reactors ect. a hole would be drilled and a external pump like a mag 12 or 18 would return the water back up to the tank. What do you think? Any better ideas or suggestions?? thanks in advance for your help.
advice for filtration on my 180
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wpecoul
New member
I don't have a system set-up like the one you are wanting advice on, but I've seen enough and help built enough. If I may offer a few points...
1. I don't know how big your skimmer is, but four compartments on a 4-foot sump is pushing it. I would go with three - skimmer on one side, refugium on the other and return in the middle. Ideally, you don't want to skim water before the refugium section, and you definitely don't want to make your tank-friendly refugium escapees have to go past any sort of mechanical filtration to get to the return pump. Also, I'd reconsider using a 55G tank - one foot depth (front to back) isn't much to work with.
2. Drop one drain straight to the section with the skimmer. Take the other drain down, tee it with one line going to the skimmer section, and the other line(with a valve) down into the the refugium side. That way you can limit the water into the refugium but still give a free outlet to the remaining drain water (over to the skimmer).
3. Feed any carbon or phosphate reactors from the skimmer section with a maxijet or similar. Hang them on the back side of the sump and have the outflow routed into the center (return) section.
4. Put a three-sheet baffle on the skimmer side of the return section, but a single baffle (cut into a weir) on the refugium side.
5. If you know you want an external return, I'd suggest a true external pump. The big Mags run really, really hot when run externally. If you can afford it, I'd suggest two return pumps - if one quits, you are not looking around for a paddle.
6 and last - unless you are going to change the socks every 2-3 days without fail, I wouldn't use them.
Hope this helps,
Will (the Montgomery one)
1. I don't know how big your skimmer is, but four compartments on a 4-foot sump is pushing it. I would go with three - skimmer on one side, refugium on the other and return in the middle. Ideally, you don't want to skim water before the refugium section, and you definitely don't want to make your tank-friendly refugium escapees have to go past any sort of mechanical filtration to get to the return pump. Also, I'd reconsider using a 55G tank - one foot depth (front to back) isn't much to work with.
2. Drop one drain straight to the section with the skimmer. Take the other drain down, tee it with one line going to the skimmer section, and the other line(with a valve) down into the the refugium side. That way you can limit the water into the refugium but still give a free outlet to the remaining drain water (over to the skimmer).
3. Feed any carbon or phosphate reactors from the skimmer section with a maxijet or similar. Hang them on the back side of the sump and have the outflow routed into the center (return) section.
4. Put a three-sheet baffle on the skimmer side of the return section, but a single baffle (cut into a weir) on the refugium side.
5. If you know you want an external return, I'd suggest a true external pump. The big Mags run really, really hot when run externally. If you can afford it, I'd suggest two return pumps - if one quits, you are not looking around for a paddle.
6 and last - unless you are going to change the socks every 2-3 days without fail, I wouldn't use them.
Hope this helps,
Will (the Montgomery one)
Hi Will, thanks for your advice. i may not have described my intensions very well but i was only going to have 3 compartments...skimmer/fuge/spare with external pump. Your idea sounds great. i have drawn out your description and am giving it a lot of thought. what size tank would you recommend? i have a problem with detrius build up in my 58 gallon refugium,probably because of low flow and was wanting to be able to stop that from happening this time around. Is there another way?
wpecoul
New member
Gotcha - I should have probably picked out that you had three compartments in your plan.
I don't know it there is really a set tank size that I'd use - you may want to think about building one out of acrylic or using another type of container or something - nothing says that the sump has to be an aquarium. Maybe think about something that isn't as tall but has a larger footprint - you need some excess sump volume for power outages, etc., but outside of that, 'square footage' is a lot more useful than height. Makes it easier working under the tank, too.
It really isn't too hard to build something out of acrylic - you can get partial sheets (they call them 'drops') much cheaper than full sheets from plastic supply companies, and they can also sell you the Weld-on solvents you'd want to use. I know 55G's can be had pretty cheaply, but if you've got a table saw and the patience, you can probably build a sump for close to the same money as a tank would cost, and you could build it the way you want it.
I don't know it there is really a set tank size that I'd use - you may want to think about building one out of acrylic or using another type of container or something - nothing says that the sump has to be an aquarium. Maybe think about something that isn't as tall but has a larger footprint - you need some excess sump volume for power outages, etc., but outside of that, 'square footage' is a lot more useful than height. Makes it easier working under the tank, too.
It really isn't too hard to build something out of acrylic - you can get partial sheets (they call them 'drops') much cheaper than full sheets from plastic supply companies, and they can also sell you the Weld-on solvents you'd want to use. I know 55G's can be had pretty cheaply, but if you've got a table saw and the patience, you can probably build a sump for close to the same money as a tank would cost, and you could build it the way you want it.
8BALL_99
New member
Great Advice IMO, I'd pretty much say the Exact same thing, I don't really think you need two return pumps though. But it is a good idea to have a spare pump laying around incase you need it.
A 40 breeder makes a pretty good sump for a 180, Better then a 55 Or if you wanted a little extra height a 50 isn't bad either or maybe a 40 long if you really want a 48" long sump.. A 55 is very tall for a sump. Even if you have a tall stand it will make access to the sump harder.. I used a 75 gallon for a while on my 190 and it was just to tall 21" same as a 55. If you can find or make a tank that is say about 48"x20"x16" that would make a GREAT sump for most 180s. Given the stand has room for a 20" wide tank.
Here is an old picture of the a 40Breeder under my 190
Pic of the same sump I still use under my Frag tanks
HTH
Will (The Toney one) :rollface:
thanks guys for the help,i believe you have me convinced. What would you think if i was to use say 2 skimmers on the same sump design? in other words put a skimmer in place of the fuge and have another skimmer on the opposite side. Would double the skimming take place of the fuge. I mainly have soft corals and fish with about 200-250 lbs of LR....??
Bkndsdl
Member
Aquabod, I just finished setting up my 180; here's a link to the build.
Bkndsdl's 180 Build
I am using a MAG 12, although it's really overkill with the two 3/4" tank supply lines and 1" drains. A MAG 9.5 would push it just fine.
As far as the sump goes, it's a 90 gallon that came with the tank; it's 24" tall and 4' long. I can get to everything in the sump. My stand is 38" tall.
Hope this helps!
Bkndsdl's 180 Build
I am using a MAG 12, although it's really overkill with the two 3/4" tank supply lines and 1" drains. A MAG 9.5 would push it just fine.
As far as the sump goes, it's a 90 gallon that came with the tank; it's 24" tall and 4' long. I can get to everything in the sump. My stand is 38" tall.
Hope this helps!
jkburn88
New member
This is the sump I use. It's basically the same as Will's description. It has three sections - a skimmer section on one end, a fuge on the other and a return in the middle. The plan came from melevsreef.com - he's got a lot of nice sump designs as well as good instructions for working with acrylic
I originally built it for a 55 and was very happy with the flow. It's now under an 80 gallon and is too small (can't fit a large skimmer), but I'll be using the same design to build a much larger one in the near future.
Good luck however you decide to go!
