Sump questions

lflint

New member
My wife and I are adding a 90 gallon tank, 15 gallon quarantine tank and 20 gallon refugium to our reefkeeping excitement. I have a sump lying around that I was going to use but it will be too small (about 15 gallons) since the new skimmer I have (enormous capacity) and three tanks will overflow the sump in case of power outage. I want to use a larger sump but don't want to spend too much dough.

At the swap this last weekend someone from Reefnest had a large acrylic sump by the Reefnest table for sale. I wish I had bought it. Does anyone know whose it is? Did it sell? If not - I'll take it.

Otherwise, what is the consensus on using a Rubbermaid type container for a sump? I see many people online who are using them. Has anyone had experience with one cracking/breaking?

I think that I'd like one that's about 40 gallons or so.

Larry and Jen Flint
 
I used to use rubbermaid containers from WalMart. They never leaked on me in over a year, but they really buckled. I had wooden frames around them for support and that seemed to help, but I should have done more. I still have a rubbermaid tub as my fuge...for over 2 years...the lid doesn't fit when it's full..but no blow-out yet. ;)

I finally decided to go bigger on my sumps since they are in my basement. I now use the rubbermaid stock tank; I bought them pretty cheap from "Tractor Supply Co."

http://www.mytscstore.com/detail.asp?pcID=8&paID=1039&sonID=214&page=1&productID=9364

I still use one walmart rubbermaid container as a "last chamber" that I rigged to the stock tank..that only has a few inches of water in it so no buckling.

--Fizz
 
Yes it was BMAC and I think after the meeting his own sump at home started to leak from the bottom so he used that one to replace it. He called me to buy my 30 gallon breeder to make it a sump but then he decided to use the acrylic he brough to the meeting. I do have a sump that is barely used for sale in few days too. I also have 30 breeder for sale. If you want to go with rubbermaid that is fine too but you have to watch not to fill it or you will have to support it so it does not expand from the top like Fizz said he had his with wooden frames. You can find some that are heavier at Lowe's too and if you need any help picking them up please give me a call and I will be more than happy to go with you and show you.
 
Unfortunatly like Zooqi said I had to use the sump. I did have it at the meeting for sale, I am glad it didn't sell though cause it really saved my butt today. My sump sprang a serious leak.
 
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