Help with chaeto sump

[Bonessurf]

I'm looking to change my sump to house chaeto. I have a trickle system now with just a protein skimmer and bio balls which I have been slowly removing. They are also almost gone. I want to make a tank from an old fishtank because the sump systems are just out of my price range. Any suggestions? Also, is this a good idea or bad one?

 

[carey]

How big is your tank? A refugium is never a bad idea.

They have hang on back refugiums as well

Reef Aquarium Filtration: AquaFuge External Hang-On Refugium
CPR AquaFuge 2 Hang-on Refugium
Filtration - Reef - Hang On Refugium with Protein Skimmer

 

[Bonessurf]

It's 58 gallons, but the only problem is I'll probable only be able to get like a 20 gallon refugium to fit. Which I was going to section off with plexy glass and glue for aquariums.

 

[carey]

If you can get a 20L tank you can make that your new sump/refugium adn ditch the wet dry. A 20L is 30" in lenght which should give you plenty of room for a filter sock intake section, refugium in the middle and the return pump in the last section. if you plan on doing a diy project you might as well go all the way.

Just a thought. Theres a ton of threads on here where people made their own sumps outta a regular ole tank by siliconing partitions.

 

[Bonessurf]

I am going to figure this one out. I'm a little restricted on size and I probably couldn't get a 30" tank in there. When partitioning out the sections, anything I make sure I leave a section for? Like I know I need most space for the chaeto, and I have a protein skimmer and chemi pure.

 

[carey]

You would need at least 3 sections. In take, refugium and return pump.

 

[Bonessurf]

This is what I've come up with so far. I still have to work on the overflows. I had the overflows too high at first. So I need to re drill them but that makes me only about a 9 inch deep tank, if that.

 

[Bonessurf]

All done. And spent only 50 bucks too.

 

[crister13]

Nice job. Just make sure no debris gets caught in those bioballs!

 

[Bonessurf]

The bio balls I'm actually slowly getting rid of like a dozen at a time. Since I have over 100 lbs of liverock in my 58 gallon tank.

 

[crister13]

Good Idea. Good luck with your tank!