Sump/refugium Questions

[Mr Miagi]

When a sump is involved, does the tank need to be drilled?

Nope, there are overflow boxes which are made for tanks without bulkheads/drilled holes. MANY will tell you though, drill a tank before you start. Overflow boxes have been known to malfunction or be difficult at times.

Also could a tank survive (of 50 US gallons) without a sump or skimmer?

Depends what you want the set-up to contain, but sure. Many can. Both my reefs have no skimmer and no sump/fuge.

 

[SkiFletch]

I light my refugium with one of those twisty compact flourescents designed to replace an incandescent... Hight tech, I know. The chaeto doesnt care though

 

[Nix]

When a sump is involved, does the tank need to be drilled?

Nope, there are overflow boxes which are made for tanks without bulkheads/drilled holes. MANY will tell you though, drill a tank before you start. Overflow boxes have been known to malfunction or be difficult at times.

Also could a tank survive (of 50 US gallons) without a sump or skimmer?

Depends what you want the set-up to contain, but sure. Many can. Both my reefs have no skimmer and no sump/fuge.

Ok thanks, I plan on having a really low bioload on the tank, with lots of LR, and just a small handful of fish. (and inverts)

So do any of you think if I get 40-50 pounds of LR in a 50gallon (US), heater, and powerheads, and maybe a canister filter for extra help would work? (keeping in mind minimal bioload)

 

[n3ont3tra]

I'm not sure, Nix, I'm still a beginner here, and don't even have a tank yet. I'm sure someone will answer you though.

The cryptic sumps sounded really interesting to me,, I'll be researching more, if anybody has any photos or info about THIER OWN cryptic sump, please post it here!

 

[SkiFletch]

Other than what I've seen on reefvideos.com I dont know anything more about cryptic zones. As for the filtration aspect Nix, that sounds fine to me with low bioload

 

[Mr Miagi]

Ok thanks, I plan on having a really low bioload on the tank, with lots of LR, and just a small handful of fish. (and inverts)

So do any of you think if I get 40-50 pounds of LR in a 50gallon (US), heater, and powerheads, and maybe a canister filter for extra help would work? (keeping in mind minimal bioload)

If you plan to have a low bioload, and lots of LR, and can keep up with semi-regular water changes, say once or twice a month, id say you would be ok without a sump/skimmer. Search TFF for cannister filters, its often been brought up. You dont want to leave it containing conventional media for SW aquariums. This creates nitrates etc, so try filling it with carbon, rowaphose, or LR rubble.

 

[leecara]

if i had a 75 gallon tank how big would my sump need to be for my tank?

 

[SkiFletch]

You'd probably be looking at somewhere around 30 gallons, give or take a bit. usually the limiting factor is the space under the stand or wherever the sump will be. The size restrictions on the sumps location govern its ultimate LxWxH and ultimate gallonage

 

[leecara]

im closing downa tropical 22 gallon tank would that do? if so how do i change it into a sump?

 

[SkiFletch]

Probably would do just fine, what are its dimensions?

 

[leecara]

Hi, the dimensions are 12" in depth x 14" height, x 30" length.

If I was to use this as a sump, how would I go about it, as the pictures I have seen have different compartments in the sump and obviously I need to install the tubes etc.

Also I have seen a tank for sale second hand, but the stand underneath would not fit a sump, so where would I put it?

 

[SkiFletch]

Also I have seen a tank for sale second hand, but the stand underneath would not fit a sump, so where would I put it?

Tough question to answer as none of us live with you . Some common places for sumps include: under stand, next to the tank under a table, inside a wall, in a basement, and in a garage. Each placement offers its own plumbing challenge but they can all be done.

As for making the sump tank itself, usually people decide how many compartments they want in the sump, and then purchase plain old thin window glass from someone local willing to cut it, silicone it in place, and you're set.

A more complicated question actually is the overflow. Will you be drilling the bottom and using a durso standpipe? Or will you be drilling the back and using a "calfo" style overflow? Or perhaps drilling isnt your cup of tea and you want to use an overflow box?

 

[leecara]

heres the tank i like http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/4FT-Aquarium-Cabinet...1QQcmdZViewItem and heres my convo http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=176985it shows what i have been talking about plz have a look/help if you could replie on that topic plz becauseits easier lol

 

[SkiFletch]

Ok so you're looking at a standard 75g tank then. Problem being, as you've noticed, that tank's stand is very restrictive for placing a sump inside it. You actually cant knock out those walls in stands like that cause they are typically load-bearing. So that leaves you with where to put the sump. Id suggest two options. One, under a table or peice of furniature next to the tank. Or, buy the tank you linked to and purchase a stand that is hollow in the center to locate the sump there. Anyway you slice it, that is a phenomenal tank deal when all the hardware is included, even without the stand.

 

[leecara]

if you havent noticed the sig my mum wants me 2 tell you that im only 14 i just make it look like my mum is talking lol but this is her sign in for her tropical tank but as its closing down im now using the sign in for a marine tank my mum has nver replied its always me. and as now im getting to the hard part of how to make/were to buy a sump my mum said to tell you that my age because sometimes i have no clue what your on about lol and my mum doesnt have a clue either by the way im lee n 14 yrz of age

i really like that tank but as we cant fit a sump in it and my mum is moaning were to put the sump SHE was wondering can you run it without a sump but from what ive seen thesump is the way to go so i am sticking with a sump but am wondering can i get a sump smaller what would fit in the stand of shall i just get a diffrent stand as i need that sized sump