Making My First Sump

[Nimo]

I have sumps set up on 2 of my tanks so I have used them but have never made one. The first one was store bought. The second is homemade but I didnt make it, it came with my 110 gallon when I bought it.
My question is would it be a good idea to use a 55 gal to make a sump for a 60 gal. The 60 currently has the store bought sump on it but its not big enough to add a refugium or even a decent amount of live rock. It barely holds the protien skimmer and pump. I have a 55 sitting empty that I dont intend to use for fish again so was considering making it a sump tank with lots of extra room for live rock and a refugium.
My 60 currently has live rock and corals along with a few fish in it.

 

[Stlrockguy]

You can make the sump as big as you want. The bigger the better. As long as you have the space for it. I used a 55 for my sump with my 150. You can never have to much water volume

 

[Nimo]

You can make the sump as big as you want. The bigger the better. As long as you have the space for it. I used a 55 for my sump with my 150. You can never have to much water volume

I was thinking along the same lines as far as volume. I want to add a decent size refugium for natural filtration and I cant add anything to the existing sump.

 

[Stlrockguy]

My refugium section is about 2 ft by 1 ft. I have a nice sandbed about 30 pounds of live rock and plenty of cheato in it. My nitrates stay at 0

 

[Nimo]

My refugium section is about 2 ft by 1 ft. I have a nice sandbed about 30 pounds of live rock and plenty of cheato in it. My nitrates stay at 0

Cool! Atleast I dont feel like I am going on over kill for a sump now

 

[Stlrockguy]

Yea you can never have to big of a sump. I know people with 10 gallon tanks running a 10 gallon sump

 

[Gregcoyote]

Yea you can never have to big of a sump. I know people with 10 gallon tanks running a 10 gallon sump

Correct, the more water in the system the stabler it will be. Just remember it increases the cost of water exchanges.

 

[Nimo]

Correct, the more water in the system the stabler it will be. Just remember it increases the cost of water exchanges.

Lol. I already have a pretty costly water change day. My normal weekly water change consists of mixing between 80 and 100 gallons of water. I buy a box of reef crystals that makes 200 gallons about every 2 weeks. Depends on how heavy I feed my tanks as to how big the water change is every week.

 

[huma-huma]

i too converted a 55g into a diy refugium for my 125. prob the smartest thing ive done in terms of filtration

 

[Stlrockguy]

Only reason I even do water changes is to replace trace elements. I never have any nitrates and I use phosegaurd(however its spelled)in my reactor

 

[huma-huma]

phosguard. and i have fought since day 1 to not run reactors but im making the jump to one in january

 

[Stlrockguy]

I bought the duel reactor from bulk reef supply. I'm running carbon in it also. It works great

 

[Nimo]

I bought the duel reactor from bulk reef supply. I'm running carbon in it also. It works great

I am running a reactor on my 110 my 60 as on now does not have one. I am considering a DYI project to make one tho.

 

[Nimo]

For putting the plexiglass pieces in to make different sections in the sump. I just need to make sure I use 100% silicone correct? No fingicides or additives.
I have to go to Lowes and get pipe fittings and caulk I wanna make sure I get the right thing.

 

[Stlrockguy]

That's correct. If it says mildew resistant you don't want it

 

[huma-huma]

GE Silicone 1. its 100% silicone with no additives. although the tube will say "not aquarium safe" or something to that affect, it is widely used in our hobby

 

[Stlrockguy]

That's what I used. Had to get it at wal-mart. Lowes didn't have it where I live

 

[huma-huma]

Ive used it as well. actually in my tank as of right now.

 

[Nimo]

Thanks you guys. Fortunatly gor me if Lowes dont have it Walmart is right next door so I can go to Lowes and get the pipe and fittings I need and if they dont have the silicone I can go to Walmart and look.

 

[Nimo]

I am considering doing a trickle down type of filter going into the sump. I would like to be able to add extra filtration if needed. Design it kinda like a wet/dry filter. I dont like the filter socks so I was thinking of a trickle down system that goes thru several pieces of filter media to take the particulates out before the sump.