Lights or SUMP

[beef3333]

Hey all,

Well i got my 29 gallon back up and running after a few years of having no tank due to moving. I want to add a sump and upgrade my lights but i can't do both right now. Would it be better to get a sump setup and going now and get lights later. I have this right now and it just need one new bulb and a little work:

Current Lights

I am looking at getting these for new lights:

New Lights

If i don't get lights i was thinking about getting all of this to setup a sump under my 29:

Return Pump

Overflow

And either this:

Sump/Fuge

Or get as big of a tank as I can to fit under my stand


Not sure which would be better i just got the tank up yesterday and the rock needs to cure no nothing will be going in for a while.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Beef

 

[schigara]

I think lights are extremely important but first and foremost, is water volume and consistency in water quality, temp, SG, etc. These are much easier with a sump and refugium and also an auto top off is easier with a sump which further helps with water consistency.

 

[beef3333]

Thanks for the reply. I think i am going to go with the sump for now and then get the lights in a few months once the tank is cycled and stable. Then when i start to add things i will get the new lights.

Anyone else have any ideas on if this is a good way to go

 

[demonsp]

A sump is worhtless in a new tank and depending on the stock can wait awile.I would get the best lights possible and wait a few months then a sump or even better a fuge then a sump.

 

[IHOP]

nothing beats a good light.

 

[Porkreefer]

i would go with the sump and fuge before i got the lights

 

[brians4671]

suump/fuge

 

[xpxdx]

it will be easiest to set up the sump with no water in the tank, so i'd do that first. also, skip that cpr overflow and drill the tank!! that's also so much easier when the tanks not up and running. you can make a sump from a 10 or 15 gallon tank and some glass baffles and silicone for way less than that premade sump you linked to... then you'll have cash left over for new lights

good luck!

 

[drparker]

You currently have 192 watts of PC light. and no sump/fuge. Add the fuge then upgrade the lights later. I went the other way on my first tank, every tank since has had the fuge from the start.

I think your tank is already running so you can't drill it right? Then check out the DIY section for overflows and fuge/sump. go with a used tank instead of that sump ,add baffles and a fuge section. If you don't do a DIY overflow then make sure you get an Aqualifter pump with that overflow. I used that overflow for my first tank, now all my tanks are drilled.

 

[beef3333]

Thanks all,

I am going to go with the Sump/Fuge. I am going to use a 20 gallon and make it myself. The tank is up and running now but only for a few days so does anyone know if I drained it, is there any way to drill the tank. If not I will just either take everything down or get a hang on one. I would like to drill it so i might take it down and drill it. I was thinking just a small overflow in the upper right of the tank.

As for the lights i will be getting my tax's back soon so I will get them sooner then I thought. Are the lights i linked good or are there better ones out there. I do like the looks of T5's.

Thanks for all the comments.

Beef

 

[R.W.]

The Logical Way:

Im new to this but in my opinion...

go with the sump and fuge for now, as u will not need lights during your cycle until the end of it. While it cycles you can grow your macro algae in your fuge and have your sump flowing to keep water parameters stable. Once its all stable you can get your lights and get some light requiring corals.

As for making your own sump/fuge.
thats what i did and it can save you lots of money and you custom build it anyway you want.

Lights,
i have a sunlight supply t5 tek fixture and i love it. Runs cool, NO NOISE, and provides great amounts of light.

 

[beef3333]

Thanks all,

I am going to go the way of setting up the sump/fuge and get everything stable and then get the lights in the next few months once everything is up and going. I am going to use a 20 gallon that will sit behind my tank. Once i get everything planed out i will start a build thread on it and see what everyone thinks.

Another Question is would it be worth it to take everything out of my tank, drill it, and then put it all back in as it has only been up for 3 days. Or should i just spend that cash and use a hang on overflow for now.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Beef

 

[R.W.]

the question is:
is your glass tempered???
If not - take it all down and drill it, well worth the hassle later!
If so - Tempered glass cannot be drilled, so there is no point in taking it down.

 

[drparker]

What the make and size of your tank? But in general only the bottom is tempered so you can usually drill the sides. On a lot of the smaller tanks the bottom also is not tempered.

For step by step drilling see this thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=603816

 

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11666314#post11666314 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by IHOP
nothing beats a good light.

without the lights you'll lose alot of possible hitch hikers on the live rock and corraline alage won't be encouraged to grow--but you can bet other forms of algae will :eek2:

 

[beef3333]

Ok, well i have decided to get a bigger tank. I think i am going to go with a 50gallon but not sure yet. I was thinking of using a Mag 9.5 for a return. would a 1 inch bulkhead be enough to handle the volume or would i need 2 or just a bigger return.

Thanks again for all the help and i will get the light by the time everything is ready to go up. Hurray for tax returns.

Beef