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Ok, so you think making your own would be better than buying one outright?
Completely new........
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Yeah I learned my lesson with freshwater. I'll soak in all the help and info I can get to save me from making mistakes lol
Shawn O
Active member
It would be cheaper. Better? That's up to how you see it. Your sump needs to meet your needs, that's all. The bigger, the better. If you can fit a 40b under your stand and it'll do everything you need it to do then it's perfect for the job. If you need more.....
Regarding fish, add fish from least aggressive to most. If your dream fish is going to be the least aggressive, add it first, if the most aggressive, add last.
Many fish will coexist with their own kind in a large enough tank but will murder each other in a small tank. In a 55 it's better to only house one of these types of fish in such a small space, or you'll end up with one, anyway. Best to research each fish before purchase. Actually, it would be best to research all fish you want, make a fish list then stick to it, but that is not always possible.
Good luck and keep us updated with pics. We love pics.
Regarding fish, add fish from least aggressive to most. If your dream fish is going to be the least aggressive, add it first, if the most aggressive, add last.
Many fish will coexist with their own kind in a large enough tank but will murder each other in a small tank. In a 55 it's better to only house one of these types of fish in such a small space, or you'll end up with one, anyway. Best to research each fish before purchase. Actually, it would be best to research all fish you want, make a fish list then stick to it, but that is not always possible.
Good luck and keep us updated with pics. We love pics.
CStrickland
New member
Check out this site http://www.melevsreef.com/node/710 there's a lot of good info about sumps, how they work and diff designs etc. It's really easy to put your own together.
Match your overflow to your return PLUS head loss.
If you put a 700gph pump on there, by the time it lifts the water your only getting maybe 500gph, give or take, depending on your setup. Hence why I suggested 1000gph with a valve. If it's a bit too much, you can dial it back a bit.
If you put a 700gph pump on there, by the time it lifts the water your only getting maybe 500gph, give or take, depending on your setup. Hence why I suggested 1000gph with a valve. If it's a bit too much, you can dial it back a bit.
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Ahhhhh I see, that makes sense. So just a regular ball valve will do?
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Sweet, I'll probably just build my own then
it looks simple enough.
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I'll most likely build my own sump now that I know it won't be super hard to build lol. And I'm not super familiar with all the saltwater species yet, I need to do alot more research before i commit to anything. There is a question I have though. Do the same stocking rules that apply in freshwater also apply in saltwater? Like fish per gallon and all that.
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Looks like I have alot of research then lol
cheucklate
New member
I'm a newbie as well but if fish quantity is your priority, get a skimmer that is rated 2x your DT for nitrate control. Then check fish compatibility chart. As for the maximum fish amount it really varies, start adding fish slowly as you monitor all levels. If your husbandry is good and nitrate phosphate levels are still low, keep adding fish 
Take my advice with a grain of salt, just my opinion on what I do.
Take my advice with a grain of salt, just my opinion on what I do.
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It's not really a priority I was just getting a feel for the stock limits in saltwater. With my freshwater tanks they were so packed with plants I could stock as heavily as I wanted without any problems because of the little mini ecosystem I had going lol. I never had any ammonia or nitrate problems. I'm perfectly content with a small stock of happy healthy fish if that's what I need. I just haven't done enough research yet on every single fish that I want to know all their needs.I'm a newbie as well but if fish quantity is your priority, get a skimmer that is rated 2x your DT for nitrate control. Then check fish compatibility chart. As for the maximum fish amount it really varies, start adding fish slowly as you monitor all levels. If your husbandry is good and nitrate phosphate levels are still low, keep adding fish
Take my advice with a grain of salt, just my opinion on what I do.
the argument over pumps is not complete. Any pump can be gated back to match any overflow. I was running a reeflo dart pump that is being rebuilt. With my head loss I was flowing 2000gph+. I gated it back before the manifold and again to my returns to the tank. I was running two media reactors, a large chiller and a calcium reactor with plenty more room to grow.
I personally would get something larger than 600gph and use ball valves to control the flow. This would allow you to run a manifold for reactors, etc. I personally do not like running several pumps.
I personally would get something larger than 600gph and use ball valves to control the flow. This would allow you to run a manifold for reactors, etc. I personally do not like running several pumps.
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That is a really good point. I haven't even thought about installing reactors. I'll most likely pick up a bigger pump just to cover my bases.the argument over pumps is not complete. Any pump can be gated back to match any overflow. I was running a reeflo dart pump that is being rebuilt. With my head loss I was flowing 2000gph+. I gated it back before the manifold and again to my returns to the tank. I was running two media reactors, a large chiller and a calcium reactor with plenty more room to grow.
I personally would get something larger than 600gph and use ball valves to control the flow. This would allow you to run a manifold for reactors, etc. I personally do not like running several pumps.
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Are algae problems that bad in saltwater? I know in freshwater if you dial down the lighting and do some water changes, and lighten your feedings, algae rarely stays around.
Example:
Bought 40g breeder on Craigslist for $20. Had some scratches. No big deal. Got 3 panes of 1/4" glass cut for $30. Had some GE1 silicone.
3 chamber sump. Skimmer, a 15 gallon refugium area and a return area...$50.
Now, I wish I had built it differently. Would have put the return in the middle and the fuge on the left, but hindsight is 20/20
Bought 40g breeder on Craigslist for $20. Had some scratches. No big deal. Got 3 panes of 1/4" glass cut for $30. Had some GE1 silicone.
3 chamber sump. Skimmer, a 15 gallon refugium area and a return area...$50.
Now, I wish I had built it differently. Would have put the return in the middle and the fuge on the left, but hindsight is 20/20
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Alright looks like I finally have a parts list, I'm gonna run it by you guys before I buy of course.
A Diy 40b sump.
A Bubble Magus Curve skimmer.
A Sicce 3.0 return pump.
Caribsea Aragonite.
All dry rock.
Bulk reef supply RO system.
Phosphate reactor.
Hydor powerheads.
Various plumbing parts and valves.
Instant Ocean salt mix.
Various accessories like a refractometer and such.
A Diy 40b sump.
A Bubble Magus Curve skimmer.
A Sicce 3.0 return pump.
Caribsea Aragonite.
All dry rock.
Bulk reef supply RO system.
Phosphate reactor.
Hydor powerheads.
Various plumbing parts and valves.
Instant Ocean salt mix.
Various accessories like a refractometer and such.
