sump question

[Doma25]

i am switching over from a biocube to a 75 gallon tank(90 gallon maybe but is the extra height necessary?) and i was wondering what to do for a sump, i was recommended to get the marineland sump the one with the spin wheel filtration , to go with it but how do you put a protein skimmer and possible dosers into that sump. I want a very simple clean system. the marineland sump is also very expensive!

 

[zmckenzie]

You could just do what most of us do and buy a small tank (20,30 breeder) and add glass baffles. You can make a section for your protein skimmer, fuge and return.

 

[Doma25]

do you make your own to save money, or because custom sumps are more efficient and productive?

 

[sslak]

Yep, you can save a lot of cash by just doing a smaller tank for a sump.

You just need an empty tank with some baffles sectioning it off to put equipment and a refugium in. Here's a shot of mine:

 

[Toddrtrex]

I am using a 30 gallon sump for my 75 -- I made my own for several reasons; cheaper, was able to set up the baffles exactly how I wanted, and just like making stuff.

 

[Doma25]

thanks! great looking sump! So when you do a water change you poor it directly into the sump? and when you take water out directly from sump or tank?
and todd how often you do water changes, i do weekly 5 gallon changes on my biocube.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I do 5 gallons (( weekly )) on all 3 of my tanks (( 75, 58, 33 )) -- I just find it the easiest, since I use my old 5 gallon salt buckets. IMO, it is best to do the amount of water change that is going to be easiest for you, and the amount that you will most likely do consistently. For an example, 20 gallons weekly might be better for my 75, but that a amount would be a PITA for me to do, so the odds are good that I would slack off.

As for where I pull the water from -- I have shallow sandbeds in all of my tanks, and gravel vac with each water change, so I do it from the main tank. And even if I didn't gravel vac, I would still take from the display tank -- because with my bad back, it would be painful to take from the sump.

 

[Doma25]

thanks for the advice! yea 5 gallons a week i think would be a good number for me as well, my dad takes over when i go back to school!