Sump suggestions.... let's get creative

[xtlosx]

Hey everyone, as some of you may know I'm bringing home my new 150 tonight, and want to start planning a sump so I can start getting water in here soon. So the one thing I was frustrated about with my last tank was not a large enough sump\fuge and this time I am not making that mistake.

The inside dimensions for my stand are such.... 58 x 21 x 30....

The sump design I would like to mimic as much as possible would be melevsreef's Design F.

Some requirements....

- I want some room on the right side, or left side to have reactors, auto top off, etc.. All of the stuff I never had in my old tank which I absolutely will do in this tank.

- As big of a fuge as possible. My current sump has a tiny fuge, and just I am not making that mistake with this tank. I would like to have an area for a DSB with Mangroves, and room for a nice rolling ball of Chaeto. I was never able to have enough room to do Chaeto in my current tank, and with the small size of the intake chamber, changing filter socks was a b****. Heck, if the sump is big enough i would like to avoid filter socks.

- Room for a large skimmer that will be rated to 200g+. I want to make sure I get something nice like a Reef Octopus or SKIMZ SM series skimmer. I'm not going shiesty on this tank.

Possible thoughts in my head.. a 40 breeder, but will there be enough room for a large skimmer, and a good sized fuge??

What do you guys think? I have seen people connect two tanks and have one for a dedicated sump and one for a dedicated fuge overflowing into the other....

Any thoughts are appreciated and welcome.

 

[DopeCantWin]

I'm sorry I haven't answered your PM, I'm leaning toward getting a 210. I've been thinking of doing something interesting for it. Putting a 125 underneath and splitting it up into 3 main sections. One for a sump (which you could do as an F model), and 2 for water changes/quarantine tank. So what will happen during a water change, I will turn off the main pump, turn a valve to fill one of the water change sections with water from the sump. Close that valve and fill the tank from the 3rd section. The sump will be 85 gallons and the water change sections will be 20 each. The one where the dirty water will go from the sump will be used as a quarantine for new animals.

 

[xtlosx]

Looks like I might be working with Anthony @ NanoSeaCreations on this one.. He has some 40B tanks laying around, and will cut the baffles professionally for me, teeth and all to setup the Fuge from the Return area... All for a reasonable price...

Any ideas still welcome, I haven't given the green light yet!

 

[badazztealcobra]

Sounds like you could fit a 75g underneath if those stand dimensions are correct. The more room the better IMO and I thought a 75 was a great fit under my old 180.....

 

[xtlosx]

Sounds like you could fit a 75g underneath if those stand dimensions are correct. The more room the better IMO and I thought a 75 was a great fit under my old 180.....

Well 48 x 18 x 21 standard, it WOULD technically fit, but wouldn't leave me much at all for reactor room, ATO, supplies, etc... Even taking the supplies out, reactors and ATO would be a real tight tight squeeze...

 

[DopeCantWin]

Well 48 x 18 x 21 standard, it WOULD technically fit, but wouldn't leave me much at all for reactor room, ATO, supplies, etc... Even taking the supplies out, reactors and ATO would be a real tight tight squeeze...

I think your biggest problem would actually be the height. With a wall that high, make sure you'd be able to take the Protein Skimmer in and out, you mentioned that your stand is 30".

 

[xtlosx]

I think your biggest problem would actually be the height. With a wall that high, make sure you'd be able to take the Protein Skimmer in and out, you mentioned that your stand is 30".

Yea, well that's why I'm thinking of going the 40B route... I'll have a nice large skimmer rated for like 300gallons or so... should be able to help with bioload, and I think the 40B should be sufficient.