sump or not to sump?

duke1231 · 09-02-2006, 08:20 AM

I was just wondering if I should have a sump with a 30g tank? I am going to have refugium, so should I go ahead and go with the sump?

Gina · 09-02-2006, 08:21 AM

Well I would!
The sump would give you more water volume (which is always good) and a handy place to hide some of your equiptment. You could plumb the sump and refugium together.

duke1231 · 09-02-2006, 08:26 AM

thankyou. How many gal. should my sump be? I am going to build one myself gives me a cool project for the weekends or when I get home from work. It also helps my obsession with this hobby, I think I am going crazy because I am so obessed. lol

Gina · 09-02-2006, 08:33 AM

That all depends on where you plan on putting it.
If your going under the tank, you'll have to take into consideration how much room you have under there for a sump.

If you don't have alot of room, you could always set it up beside the tank kinda like a separate system.

duke1231 · 09-02-2006, 11:18 AM

I don't know. I understand the function of a sump and I went to a persons website and checked thier design...... I may for now just have a canister filter and a seperate refugium.

boozeman · 09-02-2006, 12:21 PM

I recommend going with the sump rather than the canister.

duke1231 · 09-02-2006, 12:28 PM

I dont know if I have the talent for making one and they sound expensive to buy. Dont get me wrong I am all for the fish but my marriage is kinda of important. Sometimes it feels like I have to go before congress and ask for money lol. Is acrylic that expensive?

boozeman · 09-02-2006, 12:43 PM

you can get a small rubbermaid container and some acrylic squares for baffles at home depot..make your own for just a few bucks... DIY!!!

sandman3467 · 09-02-2006, 04:37 PM

Ditto.More water volume means you'll be abe to keep more live stock also.

duke1231 · 09-02-2006, 06:21 PM

Oh you have had a 20gal long how was that? thats what I am thinking of getting.

proud2bcanadian · 09-02-2006, 10:28 PM

Definitely sump!
More water volume = more stable water params.

They're not overly expensive. Get a tank, whether new or used, and get someone to cut you some glass or acrylic to put into that tank to be used as baffles. That's pretty much all that's to it! I would suggest a sump that's at least, no less than half your tank's volume. If it's a 30g tank, I'd go for a 20 or 25 gallon sump.

HTH,

lcstorc · 09-03-2006, 07:00 AM

Go with the sump. Just get a container that holds water and go for it. They are extremely useful particularly with the smaller systems. They also give you a place to hide all the icky type of equipment so use that to convince your wife. She doesn't want to look at a skimmer all the time does she? That would be the angle I would use with my husband anyway.

Plus a sump is cheaper than a canister filter anyway and canisters are notorious for growing bacteria and turning biological which can cause problems down the road.

duke1231 · 09-03-2006, 11:22 AM

Oh I changed my mind with the size tank, as far as the main tank is considered. I am going with the 20gal long, and I am still going to go with the sump like you guys have suggested. As far as my wife goes, lets just say she is in charge of finace, because if I was, I would have a 200 gal tank and be living on the street. So my wife likes fish and pets in general but I have to butter her up for a month or so, so while I do that, I am researching, researching, and researching. I am going to first make the stand, and then put the fish tank on top and so on and so fourth till it's complete. I am sure it is an expensive hobby but it doesnt have to be that bad if you can DIY. So I hope you guys dont think I am a waste of time for advice, I seriously take it to hart and write down the info, I have a good size notebook coming along.

lcstorc · 09-04-2006, 08:44 AM

Your posts clearly show you are serious about this and want to do it right.
Another way to cut down on costs is to find a "frag friend". This is particularly helpful if you find someone close enough to you that you don't need to bother with shipping. Even with shipping it is lots cheaper than paying retail if you are willing to get a small piece of something and then let it grow in your tank. (This is assuming you are going reef instead of fowlr. Sorry but I can't keep track. LOL)

duke1231 · 09-04-2006, 09:20 AM

I am pretty sure I will later on, but for now it is going to be fowlr. I am already starting to check out corral that is good for a begginer.

09-02-2006, 08:20 AM	#1 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	sump or not to sump? I was just wondering if I should have a sump with a 30g tank? I am going to have refugium, so should I go ahead and go with the sump?

09-02-2006, 08:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,832 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? Well I would! The sump would give you more water volume (which is always good) and a handy place to hide some of your equiptment. You could plumb the sump and refugium together. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

09-02-2006, 08:26 AM	#3 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? thankyou. How many gal. should my sump be? I am going to build one myself gives me a cool project for the weekends or when I get home from work. It also helps my obsession with this hobby, I think I am going crazy because I am so obessed. lol

09-02-2006, 08:33 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,832 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? That all depends on where you plan on putting it. If your going under the tank, you'll have to take into consideration how much room you have under there for a sump. If you don't have alot of room, you could always set it up beside the tank kinda like a separate system. __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

09-02-2006, 11:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? I don't know. I understand the function of a sump and I went to a persons website and checked thier design...... I may for now just have a canister filter and a seperate refugium.

09-02-2006, 12:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sump or not to sump? I recommend going with the sump rather than the canister. __________________ ...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

09-02-2006, 12:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? I dont know if I have the talent for making one and they sound expensive to buy. Dont get me wrong I am all for the fish but my marriage is kinda of important. Sometimes it feels like I have to go before congress and ask for money lol. Is acrylic that expensive?

09-02-2006, 12:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
boozeman The CodFather ~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: new york Posts: 8,800 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sump or not to sump? you can get a small rubbermaid container and some acrylic squares for baffles at home depot..make your own for just a few bucks... DIY!!! __________________ ...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

09-02-2006, 04:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
sandman3467 Limpet Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 143 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? Ditto.More water volume means you'll be abe to keep more live stock also. __________________ JBJ Nanocube 24g DX-2006 NVM, Nanocustoms 3.36 + 1.24 for 24g DX (132w) Nanocustoms ICA 2.0 - Nanocube 24, NVM Moonlight Fix Sapphire Nanoskimmer NC24, Rio Hyperflow - 6HF - 350 gph SCWD Wavemaker, Reefkeeper 2.0 Digital Power Center 40lbs LR, 25lbs LS

09-02-2006, 06:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? Oh you have had a 20gal long how was that? thats what I am thinking of getting.

09-02-2006, 10:28 PM	#11 (permalink)
proud2bcanadian Plate Coral Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 708 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? Definitely sump! More water volume = more stable water params. They're not overly expensive. Get a tank, whether new or used, and get someone to cut you some glass or acrylic to put into that tank to be used as baffles. That's pretty much all that's to it! I would suggest a sump that's at least, no less than half your tank's volume. If it's a 30g tank, I'd go for a 20 or 25 gallon sump. HTH, __________________ David Liles

09-03-2006, 07:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,778 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sump or not to sump? Go with the sump. Just get a container that holds water and go for it. They are extremely useful particularly with the smaller systems. They also give you a place to hide all the icky type of equipment so use that to convince your wife. She doesn't want to look at a skimmer all the time does she? That would be the angle I would use with my husband anyway. Plus a sump is cheaper than a canister filter anyway and canisters are notorious for growing bacteria and turning biological which can cause problems down the road. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

09-03-2006, 11:22 AM	#13 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? Oh I changed my mind with the size tank, as far as the main tank is considered. I am going with the 20gal long, and I am still going to go with the sump like you guys have suggested. As far as my wife goes, lets just say she is in charge of finace, because if I was, I would have a 200 gal tank and be living on the street. So my wife likes fish and pets in general but I have to butter her up for a month or so, so while I do that, I am researching, researching, and researching. I am going to first make the stand, and then put the fish tank on top and so on and so fourth till it's complete. I am sure it is an expensive hobby but it doesnt have to be that bad if you can DIY. So I hope you guys dont think I am a waste of time for advice, I seriously take it to hart and write down the info, I have a good size notebook coming along.

09-04-2006, 08:44 AM	#14 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,778 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sump or not to sump? Your posts clearly show you are serious about this and want to do it right. Another way to cut down on costs is to find a "frag friend". This is particularly helpful if you find someone close enough to you that you don't need to bother with shipping. Even with shipping it is lots cheaper than paying retail if you are willing to get a small piece of something and then let it grow in your tank. (This is assuming you are going reef instead of fowlr. Sorry but I can't keep track. LOL) __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

09-04-2006, 09:20 AM	#15 (permalink)
duke1231 Fire Coral Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 78 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sump or not to sump? I am pretty sure I will later on, but for now it is going to be fowlr. I am already starting to check out corral that is good for a begginer.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)