Sump Choice

[Daimyo68]

Looking for some opinions here.

I have a 70g Oceanic tank (not a Tech, but I did have the tank drilled for BeanAnimal style plumbing) that I'm in the process of getting together, and I'm torn between sumps. I have a 29g aga tank that I had planned on using for a sump.

The issue is it's size. 30 1/8" x 12 1/2" x 18 3/4". My dimensions in the stand are 35 1/2" x 16 3/4", with door height being 26 3/4". This leaves me with about 5" at the inside end of the stand. (not much room for anything else).

There is no other way for me to get this tank into the stand other than to drop it in from the top before putting the 70g onto the stand (believe me I've tried and the 29g is about 1.5" too long). I have no problem dropping it in, but this in turn also means it's only coming out with a hammer and safety glasses.:sad2: once the tank is setup.

So, I'm considering going with a 20g high.

Questions and opinions:

1 - lol, what would you do?
2 - What is the max amount of gph I can put through a 20g? With the sump containing Skimmer-Return-Fuge (I am assuming that GPH shouldn't be a problem and will only be limited to the return pumps output, but thought I would ask anyways).

Be brutally honest here, I don't get offended at any type of criticism.

/D

 

[danrobberg]

i think you would be much happier down the road with a 20h. what if the 29 cracks like my 40 breader did and the only way to get it out is with a hammer. do you have any idea how hard it is to break a tank under your stand with no room to do anything and then have to pick up all the glass pieces and cut yourself. it was awfull but i did what your thinking about and droped the tank in from the top before putting my 120 display on. just make sure your skimmer and return fit but i would def go with the 20h. and youll have more room to work under your stand and put any electrical you need under there. the gph flow will be fine

 

[uncleof6]

Build a stand with room in it.

Jim

 

[hebygb]

In my opinion, a 29 high is a bad sump. They are too tall to work in/do maintenance... It would be a nightmare to remove a reactor, much less a pump or a skimmer. Too small of a footprint to warrant the volume

I would go with a 20 breeder... 24 x 15 x 12h... or a 20 long.

Im not sure what you gain by having room to a side unless you are thinking an external pump... but even then you will not be able to access/service it.

The other option is to build a sump out of acrylic... size it to fill the entire footprint in the stand. breaking wont be an issue, choose your height... customize it for maintenence as well as future... maybe even include a fuge.

 

[Homeytwist]

I have a buddy who is doing a setup with a 58gal Oceanic (same footprint as yours) with a 29gal AGA sump. I think it will make a great sump, I would welcome the extra volume in the taller tank. As for working in it, how often do you really mess around in the sump?

I do agree though, that it's not a good idea to stuff a sump that you can't get out without tearing down the setup again... Can you do some work to the cabinet to make the center brace (I'm assuming there is one) removable? Perhaps you should consider doing a custom acrylic sump (like I plan to do under my 30x24x25 tank).

 

[Daimyo68]

danrobberg - I'm gonna go with the 20 for now. at 24" long it leaves me space for other equipment/storage and so on. I like the idea of the 29, but no sense in wrecking a good tank if I had problems.

uncleof6 - I just finished a stand last month for my 125, but this isn't being set up until I'm my house.

hebygb - That's what I'm gonna do, go with the breeder size tank. I'm going with an internal return pump, and the fuge will have to be smaller than originally planned.

Homettwist - At some point I will probably build an acrylic sump. More room for customization.

I want to thank everyone for replying. I was leaning towards the 20b, but just wanted some opinions.

BTW uncleof6, here's the stand I just finished. With the holidays coming, I just don't have the time to tackle another one yet.

 

[Homeytwist]

Good job on the stand, and nice Kona BTW!

 

[uncleof6]

Hey it was just a thought...... a harsh one as you requested....
Nice stand incidently...

Jim

 

[Daimyo68]

Homeytwist - Thanks. The bike I've had for some time. I love that thing :thumbsup:

uncleof6 - your response was not taken harshly, as a matter of fact i haden't thought about building another stand for it, but now that you mentioned it...
The stock Oceanic stand is nice, but leaves lots to be desired.

I know now at some point I will probably build another stand for this tank, hope it comes out as nice as the 125 stand.

 

[GDAVIDSON7285]

I would build another stand for it so you can use the 29. I had a 70 gal that i drop the sump in from the top like you was thing of doing all was fine for three years then it started to leak one day before i was going out of town .

 

[ebman74]

What about cutting the side of the stand out and re-brace it and install a door? Then you could slide the tank in from the side. This is obviously only good if you have sufficient room on the side!

 

[Daimyo68]

GDAVIDSON7285 - Definitely going with the 20g for now. I hate the thought of going through what you did.

ebman74 - That was one of the first things I thought about, but will have to contact Oceanic I guess, to find out what the stand is made of. If it's particle board (which I believe it is), then I will wait. I was thinking the same thing with the braces, but I will probably wait and build another stand for it, something like my 125 stand, except with molding to cover the color of the tank trim.