Help with sump design

[manilaboy1vic]

Hi - I just setup a 29g SW tank and I want to add a sump underneath it.. I feel like Ive done alot of research and searching for designs but cannot make up my mind on what to do exaclty..


My 29G tank has only been up for about a month.. has a few nano fish and a green star daisy coral..

29lbs of live rock and
20lbs of live sand.
2x AC50s running sponge and carbon
HOB eshopps 75
current orbit marine LED 24"

Okay so my 29g is on stand that has a 29g right below it.. currently is running FW with some tetras..

My plan is to donate the tetras, clean out the tank and run it as a sump..

Will do a DIY PVC Overflow.

I have a 10g tank lying around.. what i want to do is put the 10g tank in the 29g sump for the overflow and skimmer section..

then maybe put up a baffle for the return pump..

the left over section put some macroalgae plus eggcrate to prevent it from getting in the return flow..

Just trying to keep it simple, i dont want to try and put up a bunch of baffles.. one at most for the return pump...

I honestly dont think i can use the HOB skimmer on the bottom tank, theres not enough space below the bottom 29g tank.. it hangs below the tank a bit... might have to upgrade to an in sump skimmer..

the main reason i want to do this is i noticed some oily surface scum and i want a bit more volume and cleaner look in the DT.. plus want to throw some macroalgae in the sump to help with algae growth.

WIll i still need the AC50s? Maybe run those in the sump?

Does this sound like a reasonable setup or does anyone have any suggestions..??

 

[mcgyvr]

Will do a DIY PVC Overflow.

Does this sound like a reasonable setup or does anyone have any suggestions..??

My suggestion.. don't do a pvc overflow.. It is a horrible way to start.
Since you already have the tank up and going I would recommend adding a quality hang on overflow..

 

[manilaboy1vic]

My suggestion.. don't do a pvc overflow.. It is a horrible way to start.
Since you already have the tank up and going I would recommend adding a quality hang on overflow..

Haha, i was looking at the reeflife ones.. those seem kinda pricy.. watched a DIY vid for the PVC overflow.. which he did a pwr outage test on ..

is the PVC overflow that much more inferior?

 

[mcgyvr]

is the PVC overflow that much more inferior?

yes

 

[Legalreefing]

I don't see the logic in placing the 10g inside the 29g. Baffles are a lot easier than you mY think. You can have a glass shop (HD might do it as well) cut the baffles for you. Shop around and you will find someone who will do it fairly inexpensive. You're only talking 3-4 baffles

Keep in mind you really want to make sure when the power cuts off the sump doesn't over flow. Also make a section big enough for a heater. I learned it the hard way. You might want to think of a way to add a filter sock that is easy to remove.

 

[manilaboy1vic]

Let's say I get the the reeflife overflow.

How's the sump idea sound? Thinking of getting their big box
Overflow btw

 

[mcgyvr]

yeah i would slow down and try to do a little learning by reading as much as you can..
most of what you want to do is the typical "newbie way" and tends to just be wrong/bad move in the long run..
I've said this a couple times now today..
reefin' aint cheap..
Pay now or pay more later.

 

[manilaboy1vic]

I have no problem with reeflife overflow box.. isn't that the best one?

 

[Killion]

I will second on not doing the pvc overflow.

I probably watched the same video as you and on my first setup I did the pvc overflow.
Built it about 3 different times maybe spent $50 on all of them. The first one worked good just wasn't turning the water volume like I wanted and you have that loud annoying suction draining sound... then everyone after that, built the same exact way, would work when they wanted to. I was extremely lucky they never crapped out on me while I was away from the house but it got to the point where I didn't trust it enough that I would unplug my sump when I left the house...

Now I bought a nice overflow box that is all encased and a dosing pump to auto prime it and keep it flowing at all times. It is super quiet. Wish I had done that in the first place.

 

[Killion]

http://www.saltwatereddies.com/cont...2270/cpr_cs100_overflow_box.html#.U_koDvmwLYQ

This is like the one I am using now, a little different but same design. Had no problems with it in the past 8 months.

 

[manilaboy1vic]

thinking about this one:


http://www.lifereef.com/siphon.html

 

[manilaboy1vic]

Im changing up my orig. plan and I going to drill a hole in my soon to be spare 29g tank and put a normal overflow box on it then transfer my fish/rock/sand to it..



i dont feel safe w/ a HOB overflow.