OK so starting thinking about the upgrade for the upgrade. HA HA.
Slow your horses though as I am not talking about tank but rather sump. I would like to have a larger sump. As it stands now I am really pushing it when I kill the power. I fill the sump to the top of the rim and have had some water trickle out if I overfilled slightly. So I have pinged a few places for a replacement option. I need to contact a few more.
I have a few demands with the new sump from my current trigger ruby elite. I want the sock area in its own chamber, holes for dosing/ato, prefer holes for reactor plumbing, and a refugium/socks not located in the back as it is currently a PITA to handle either in current sump. Cost is a concern though I do not have a set budget so everything is currently on the table. I do have all the parts save for the tub currently so that saves some coin. I imagine I will need to redo my plumbing so whatever I decide will add roughly $100 or so in new valves and parts. As it stands here are my current options:
Stock Trigger Emerald sump 39. (530 roughly though I can get 15% off bringing that to 450)
Pros:
Ability to use foam instead of socks
chambers laid out as I would want though I would have refugium in larger part
probe holder and dosing lin holes
Cons:
no holes for reactor
sounds stupid but it is green...
Synergy Reef CL-44 (around 950)
Pros:
Has all of my needs in terms of layout and and holes for equipment
Again stupid but it is white so would match other equipment
Holds a ton of water so would fit my needs better when power is killed
Cons:
Cost
Size - My stand is roughly 54 inches of useable space as the bracing and such eats a couple inches for the sump. If I went with this sump I would need to move some equipment outside the stand. The likely result would be that my ATO would need to be moved outside and I would keep the sump, dosing containers, and apex gear in the stand. I could gain a slight bit of space should I mount apex to stand as opposed to my flip out panel.
Building an Obsession custom sump (1100+shipping so I figure 1400)
Pros:
All of my specs met including exactly where I want holes and bulkheads
Would make it roughly 40 inches so I should be able to squeeze ato and dosing containers in stand still though would be extremely tight and still might need to put ato outside stand
Again would match color of current BAO gear
Cons:
Cost
Timing - Since this is custom it would be a month or more post order to recieve. Sure I dont NEED it right now but when you drop over a grand I want it NOW...
Lifereef (cost TBD as I have to ping Jeff)
Pros
His systems are set up to be sockless
Can be made to my needs
He actually does a seperate refugium plumbed in which is cool
Cons:
Cost as I would be looking at roughly 1400 with shipping (though need to see what he takes off since I have pumps and skimmer)
With the refugium seperate it eats into space sump can be which impacts the water I can hold in power outage.
I do NOT want to make my own sump from a stock tank as quite frankly it looks bad. I like my stands to look good as well as the tank. I cant spend the type of money to get into the dream boxes or such so those are ruled out as well. I would say 1400 is probably my ceiling and that is pushing it.
If I had to say right now I am leaning Synergy or Trigger due to everything above. Trigger would get me by and I like the build of my current trigger but the synergy would have everything I need as well as the looks. I am just not sure if that is worth double the price basically. So help me spend my money...
