Sump recommendations

goody · 11-05-2007, 08:17 PM

Everything to do with this hobby is new to me, but I bought a 90gallon with built in overflow tank and it came with a sump. What I've been told is that my sump is too small for this tank; however, it is rated for up to 125gallons. I am using it right now, but with my Coralife Super Skimmer and Rio2500 return pump, there is not a lot of room. I can't even fit my heater in there because of the dimensions and baffles. I also can only put in about 10in. of water to allow room for power outage and water to flow back into tank.

What size sump is recommended for a 90 gallon? There is a 24gallon I'm looking into, but I'm afraid some might say it's too small. I have also checked into buying an old 30gallon tank, but I'm not so sure this is a DIY project I should attempt as baffles and the whole concept is new to me. I have also checked out Melvsreef site.

I've included a picture of my current sump, but I am not using the carbon filter. BTW, any media I should put in this and if so where? The dimensions of the sump are 20"Lx16"Hx10"W.

cioutlaw · 11-05-2007, 08:39 PM

There is no limit. I would go with as big a sump as you can fit in your stand. On the flip side there is not really too small of a sump...any sump is better than no sump at all. Another thing I like is a short sump to make it easily accesible as there is normally not a lot of head room in stands. If it were me I would look at 40 breeder tanks to convert.

JFK_Jr · 11-05-2007, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cioutlaw

I would go with as big a sump as you can fit in your stand.

That's what I say too...

There's lot's of uses for the extra space!

framerguy · 11-05-2007, 09:01 PM

Ditto. Put as big a sump as you can fit in. The extra volume helps to stabalize your system (the more water you have, the more stable and less likely for a small error to crash you tank). Plus the extra room for equipment is nice. I've got a 40g sump with 20g water in it on a 75g MT and I wish it was bigger (both of them LOL).

boozeman · 11-05-2007, 09:02 PM

my sump is 60''x30''x24''

Nervoustime · 11-05-2007, 09:14 PM

I have a 30" sump for my 90 gallon tank, and it works for me. It leaves enough room under the cabinet, so that I can hide all of the wires.

Gina · 11-05-2007, 09:24 PM

We had a 20g under our 75 along with another 5g for the fuge. That's the biggest one we could get to fit comfortably under the tank.
I agree with the others.....get the biggest one you can that will fit under the tank. Any extra volumn of water you can add is a good thing and it's nice to have a place to put some of the extra equiptment like skimmer, heater and such.

goody · 11-05-2007, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nervoustime

I have a 30" sump for my 90 gallon tank.

What are your other dimensions? I am limited to the size due to my DIY stand and having it up against the wall. I think I can get a 30" tank in depending on the width and height. Do you know how many gallons your sump is? Do you have a pic.

JFK_Jr · 11-05-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boozeman

my sump is 60''x30''x24''

Wow... that's a lot of "junk in your trunk" Booze.

The real question is... Is your "pump" as big as your "sump"... if you know what I mean.

Nervoustime · 11-05-2007, 09:35 PM

30" length, 16" height, and 14" width

If you go to the MarineDepot website, you can pull up a 30" Berlin sump. It will give you more information. Based on my cabinet size, this is the best that I could do.

Octoman · 11-05-2007, 09:37 PM

I have a 55g sump on a 55g display, it's enough to keep me happy and it adds that extra water volume to help keep everything stable. Definitely go as large as you can.

DIY sump baffles aren't too bad at all. I got precise measurements and ordered precut pieces for my baffles from a local glass co. A whole bunch of silicone mess and a little lightheadedness later and it worked fine!

Jake · 11-06-2007, 12:02 AM

You could add a sponge on top of the egg crate on the right to cut down micro bubbles and a filter sock in the left chamber as a mechanical filter if you wanted.

corrado007 · 11-06-2007, 12:35 AM

I'm having a 42gallon sump made for my 90gal, it's 36x16x17. It's supposed to be ready this Friday. I chose to have it made shorter than the tank stand (48.5") to allow room for an auto top-off container and a little room to move things around under there.

cioutlaw · 11-06-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by corrado007

I chose to have it made shorter than the tank stand (48.5") to allow room for an auto top-off container and a little room to move things around under there.

Thats a good idea too. I have a 40 Breeder under my 120G(still seems cramped & will have a 75G under my 225G.

lcstorc · 11-06-2007, 06:09 PM

I have 2 29g tanks under my 125. One is the sump and the other is the fuge. Between them both and my external pumps I don't have any extra room in the stand. I like the 29g tanks because they are relatively short so I have some room under the stand to hang a light for the fuge and move things around a bit since my stand is so full.
Don't be afraid of the baffles. It is one of the easiest DIY projects. Now I got nervous when we drilled ours (which you don't have to do) but even that went perfectly. The baffles were very easy. Remember this is the sump that nobody will really see so you can use extra silicone and not worry if it looks a bit messy to get a good seal.

11-05-2007, 08:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
cioutlaw Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Champaign Illinois Posts: 1,176 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations There is no limit. I would go with as big a sump as you can fit in your stand. On the flip side there is not really too small of a sump...any sump is better than no sump at all. Another thing I like is a short sump to make it easily accesible as there is normally not a lot of head room in stands. If it were me I would look at 40 breeder tanks to convert. __________________ My 120gallon chronical My 225 gallon chronical My website

11-05-2007, 09:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
framerguy Tridacna maxima Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Clarkesville, Ga Posts: 4,994 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sump recommendations Ditto. Put as big a sump as you can fit in. The extra volume helps to stabalize your system (the more water you have, the more stable and less likely for a small error to crash you tank). Plus the extra room for equipment is nice. I've got a 40g sump with 20g water in it on a 75g MT and I wish it was bigger (both of them LOL). __________________ ___________________________________ Greg All time fav quote: "Now and then it's good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy."-Guillaume Apollinaire "Being happy can be as easy as deciding to be!"-Greg Kimsey (framerguy) 375gDT built in wall, 100g sump, Sequence Hammerhead closed loop, DIY light system w/4x 250MH & 4x54w T5, Aqua C EV-400 skimmer etc, etc, etc... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...areum-too.html

11-05-2007, 09:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,802 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sump recommendations my sump is 60''x30''x24'' __________________ ...and when I'm old and wise little things mean little to me like autumn winds they'll blow right through me and someday, in the mist of time when they ask you if you knew me remember that you were a friend of mine

11-05-2007, 09:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nervoustime Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 668 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations I have a 30" sump for my 90 gallon tank, and it works for me. It leaves enough room under the cabinet, so that I can hide all of the wires.

11-05-2007, 09:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations We had a 20g under our 75 along with another 5g for the fuge. That's the biggest one we could get to fit comfortably under the tank. I agree with the others.....get the biggest one you can that will fit under the tank. Any extra volumn of water you can add is a good thing and it's nice to have a place to put some of the extra equiptment like skimmer, heater and such. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

11-05-2007, 09:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nervoustime Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 668 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations 30" length, 16" height, and 14" width If you go to the MarineDepot website, you can pull up a 30" Berlin sump. It will give you more information. Based on my cabinet size, this is the best that I could do.

11-05-2007, 09:37 PM	#11 (permalink)
Octoman 8 left feet... Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Haven, CT Posts: 1,960 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations I have a 55g sump on a 55g display, it's enough to keep me happy and it adds that extra water volume to help keep everything stable. Definitely go as large as you can. DIY sump baffles aren't too bad at all. I got precise measurements and ordered precut pieces for my baffles from a local glass co. A whole bunch of silicone mess and a little lightheadedness later and it worked fine! __________________ Mark My tank thread... Octoman's 55 gallons of euphoria Tank build... 55 Construction

11-06-2007, 12:02 AM	#12 (permalink)
Jake Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 267 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sump recommendations You could add a sponge on top of the egg crate on the right to cut down micro bubbles and a filter sock in the left chamber as a mechanical filter if you wanted. __________________ 75 Gal Setup 4/07 Fish: Purple Tang 6", Solarensis Fairy Wrasse, Pajama Cardinal, Two Ocellarous Clowns, Firefish Inverts: Few Red leg hermits, Few Turbo Snails, 3 Nassarius Snails, 3 large Trochus Grazer snails, 3 conch, 1 cleaner shrimp, 2 peppermint shrimp Coral: Frogspawn, Blastos, White Candy Cane, Yellow candycane, Fox Coral, African Blue Xenia, Pom Pom Xenia, Long White Polyp Tip Leather, Pink Pavona, Blue, Green, Orange Recordia, Orange Monti Cap, Kenya Tree, Green Star Polyp, Armour of God Zoa, Cat Eye Zoa, Pink Zoa, Red Zoa.

11-06-2007, 12:35 AM	#13 (permalink)
corrado007 Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sacramento, Ca. Posts: 764 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Sump recommendations I'm having a 42gallon sump made for my 90gal, it's 36x16x17. It's supposed to be ready this Friday. I chose to have it made shorter than the tank stand (48.5") to allow room for an auto top-off container and a little room to move things around under there. __________________ Justin _________________________________ Please watch out for motorcycles (look twice, it could save a life). 90gal mixed reef w/40gal sump/fuge, ATO, Octopus NW-200 Skimmer, 2x 250W 12k Reeflux MH & 220W VHO actinics, Koralia #4 & #3, Mag 9.5 return, Aquacontroller jr., LR & LS, and community fish (Yellow Assessor, Bluespot Jawfish, paired Yellow Watchman Goby & Red Striped Pistol Shrimp, paired O Clowns, 1 Green Chromis, Yellow Clown Goby, Scooter Blenny, and a Red Head Solon Fairy Wrasse). updated 7/11/09 Here's my 90gal Chronicle (Lots of pictures and DIY)

11-06-2007, 06:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,433 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Sump recommendations I have 2 29g tanks under my 125. One is the sump and the other is the fuge. Between them both and my external pumps I don't have any extra room in the stand. I like the 29g tanks because they are relatively short so I have some room under the stand to hang a light for the fuge and move things around a bit since my stand is so full. Don't be afraid of the baffles. It is one of the easiest DIY projects. Now I got nervous when we drilled ours (which you don't have to do) but even that went perfectly. The baffles were very easy. Remember this is the sump that nobody will really see so you can use extra silicone and not worry if it looks a bit messy to get a good seal. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

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