Time to pay the piper - adding a sump

[Maximo]

Well I will be the first one to admit I didn't listen. I should have gone with a sump from the get-go. Almost 1yr after setting up a 65gal marine aquarium I am ready to try again. I don't like the look of all the equipment in the display. Most of all the Mag3 on the Remora Pro is an eye sore. I have been fighting a raging infestation of cyano... need a fuge also.

In an attempt to make things perfect before adding anymore fish I have only added one fish and he jumped out long ago. I added a cleanup crew and I think a mantis took out most of it. I'm thinking the mantis died as I have not seen him in a while. There are 2 urchins that came with the liverock and they seem to be doing ok.

Following is what I have compiled so far as to what to do:

1. Find or build a new stand- The tank is 36" wide and the stand only has one small door on the front in the middle. Obviously I will need good access to the sump and equipment. I will probably be buying one as I don't have the proper equipment to build a nice stand; though I love to build things.

2. Drill tank for overflows/returns- A local glass shop will drill the tank for 10bux a hole. I'm thinking 2 for overflows and 4 for return. I don't necessarily have to use all 4 returns right now... just for future additions like a CL or something.

3. Paint the back black- Should I glue the bulkheads in then paint or vice versa? Can I get black bulkheads? Black silicone? Will I need Durso standpipes for noise reduction?

4. Sump - I am thinking of using a glass fishtank around 30gal as the sump. I would like to divide it up and make part of it a refugium. I'll need a place to put the Remora Pro and return pump as well.

5. Return pump - I'm thinking a Mag12. Head is 4'. The Mag12 is rated 1130gph at 4'. So if I had two returns would that work ok? Will the Mag12 be very loud?

return pump.............. $110
lockline.....................
sump tank.................
glass to divide sump...
stand......................... $200???
drilling tank................ $60
bulkheads..................
overflow box..............
paint.......................... $7

I will be updating this post as I gather more info. Any help or input is very much appreciated!

Thanks,

-Maximo

 

[Maximo]

Am I a lost cause?

 

[palmero]

I cant help ya but can tell ya that i myself had a 55gal in past. Never had a SW tank before so i skipped that and went straight to a reef tank. I would say it was a disaster but i have no clue what a disaster looks like.

Mine is built in a wall that requires me to climb a latter in another room just to access the rear. Once im there i have limited access thru the top (about 8inches instead if the tank width 12inches) i felt i had too much algae growing so gave up.

Well that was 2 years ago and decided to give it another try. this time talking to people like in these forums too see which would be the best routes to take. I may only drop 5lbs of LR in the tank for now let it cycle and see what happens. Last time there was no waiting it was just "build-it then populate". That was dumb.

 

[pearsont74]

ok...
a sump can be a cheap glass tank from wally mart as long as it fits under your tank stand.
no to drilling....I personally dont advice to this...especially for glass and ur size...if u had a bigger tank then maybe...i know overflow/prefilters are pretty but its a hell of alot cheaper then the drilling route and they take less tank space and u dont run the risk of screwing up ur tank with leaks or cracking
I got a maxi reef wetdry and jsut replaced the bioballs with LR rubble and im goin good
not sure why u need a mag 12....thats alot of power for a 65 gal even if u have dual returns....
u do obviously want to get a return pump that is more then your overflow and you can adjust the flow with a ball value to restrick it to match your flow but I dont really see why a mag 12 is needed...there is such thing as overkill
good luck though

go here to read up on sumps
http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

 

[Maximo]

I'm thinking I would rather risk drilling the tank then having a flood on my carpet. It seems to me overflows are a bit safer than a "j" or "u" tube type of setup. I understand that if these are setup properly that they "shouldn't" cause a flood but like I said I'd rather risk the tank before the carpet.

So you think a Mag12 is too much? even if it is split off into 2 return lines?
How about a Mag9.5 it is rated at 800gph at 4'.

Also someone told me that Mag pumps generate a lot of heat and tend to raise tank temps more than some other pumps.. is that true?

Thanks,

-M

 

[DeFeKt]

u do obviously want to get a return pump that is more then your overflow and you can adjust the flow with a ball value to restrick it to match your flow

umm shouldn't ur overflow be able to move more water then ur pump to prevent Main tank overflow?