sump size

admann · 08/22/2008, 04:29 AM

First let me say hello to all who remember me. 8 month's ago I had started to get a 180 gal started, my mom got very sick and i had to take care of her. to make a long story short my sis moved back here and my mom has moved in with her.

so on to the sump question.... the tank is a 180 gal and the sump is going to go under the tank so space is limited. after looking into what all im going to put in the stand and the sump can be up to 54" long and 18" wide.

so the question is do i make a diy sump and make it as large as i can? or use a store bought tank that is only 48 long?

if i use a store bought it would probably be a 75 ( 48x18x20 )

thanks in advance for all help and opinions.

toolfan · 08/22/2008, 05:16 AM

A 75g would make a fine sump. throw a few baffles in it and your golden

Capt_Cully · 08/22/2008, 05:28 AM

Agree. The only problem I see (having a 180 and 75gal sump myself) is the height of the sump. If your stand is only so high, and the tank underneath is tall, you'll have a difficult time working on and cleaning your skimmer and sump itself.

crvz · 08/22/2008, 09:49 AM

a custom is usually nice because you can design it around your equipment, but a 75 stock tank will work fine too.

admann · 08/23/2008, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Capt_Cully
Agree. The only problem I see (having a 180 and 75gal sump myself) is the height of the sump. If your stand is only so high, and the tank underneath is tall, you'll have a difficult time working on and cleaning your skimmer and sump itself.

i have already built my stand skelaton, just need to add out side shell but made it 34 tall so i would have plenty of room. planning on getting an asm g3 so i should have about 8 inches of clearance.

on a side note anyone have an idea on how i can put the front and side covers on my stand so i can just pull them off for access? just looking for ideas to do this and still keep a nice clean look when they are all on.

danmartis · 08/24/2008, 11:02 AM

make it as large as you can if possible

mfinn · 08/24/2008, 11:18 AM

I agree with everybody on the 75 gallon tank as a sump.
I will say that should should reconsider the use of the asm skimmer.
They really are not very good skimmers.

Checkout the MSX skimmers. One of the best values for the money.
http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...ql7bp26ji84do7

admann · 08/24/2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mfinn
I agree with everybody on the 75 gallon tank as a sump.
I will say that should should reconsider the use of the asm skimmer.
They really are not very good skimmers.

Checkout the MSX skimmers. One of the best values for the money.
http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...ql7bp26ji84do7

thanks for the link, not set on the skimmer yet. I was looking at the aquac 180 also. I will start a new thread about a couple of pieces of equipment and the sump layout, I want to include a fuge in it. Thanks all and any opinions and all help is appreciated, the design stage is going a little slow but want it right the first time.

fender4string · 08/24/2008, 07:32 PM

out of curiosity, what's the minimum and the recommended sizes for a sump for a 180g?

mfinn · 08/24/2008, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fender4string
out of curiosity, what's the minimum and the recommended sizes for a sump for a 180g?

There is no min or recommended sizes. But one rule of thumb is to use the absolute biggest size you can make work for the room you have.

fender4string · 08/24/2008, 09:32 PM

ok thanks-I haven't read anything specific in the forums regarding sump size per display tank size so I wasn't sure. Is is just the more gallons you have in the system, the more stable the water parameters?

mfinn · 08/24/2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by fender4string
ok thanks-I haven't read anything specific in the forums regarding sump size per display tank size so I wasn't sure. Is is just the more gallons you have in the system, the more stable the water parameters?

that's the idea.

sjm817 · 08/24/2008, 09:56 PM

Agree with everyone else. A 75G makes a nice sump. I use one on my 180 along with a 65G for a fuge. They are in the basement, but I would still use a 75 if it were in the stand.

I also agree on the G3. Not that great a skimmer, and far too small for a 180.

08/22/2008, 04:29 AM	#1
admann Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: lakewood, co Posts: 51	sump size First let me say hello to all who remember me. 8 month's ago I had started to get a 180 gal started, my mom got very sick and i had to take care of her. to make a long story short my sis moved back here and my mom has moved in with her. so on to the sump question.... the tank is a 180 gal and the sump is going to go under the tank so space is limited. after looking into what all im going to put in the stand and the sump can be up to 54" long and 18" wide. so the question is do i make a diy sump and make it as large as i can? or use a store bought tank that is only 48 long? if i use a store bought it would probably be a 75 ( 48x18x20 ) thanks in advance for all help and opinions.

08/22/2008, 05:28 AM	#3
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Agree. The only problem I see (having a 180 and 75gal sump myself) is the height of the sump. If your stand is only so high, and the tank underneath is tall, you'll have a difficult time working on and cleaning your skimmer and sump itself. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

08/22/2008, 09:49 AM	#4
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	a custom is usually nice because you can design it around your equipment, but a 75 stock tank will work fine too. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

08/24/2008, 11:18 AM	#7
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I agree with everybody on the 75 gallon tank as a sump. I will say that should should reconsider the use of the asm skimmer. They really are not very good skimmers. Checkout the MSX skimmers. One of the best values for the money. http://www.marinesolutionsinc.com/ca...ql7bp26ji84do7 __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

08/24/2008, 09:56 PM	#13
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Agree with everyone else. A 75G makes a nice sump. I use one on my 180 along with a 65G for a fuge. They are in the basement, but I would still use a 75 if it were in the stand. I also agree on the G3. Not that great a skimmer, and far too small for a 180. __________________ - Scott

08/22/2008, 05:16 AM	#2
toolfan Moved On Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boston,Ma Posts: 87	A 75g would make a fine sump. throw a few baffles in it and your golden

08/24/2008, 11:02 AM	#6
danmartis Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: van nuys, CA Posts: 685	make it as large as you can if possible

08/24/2008, 07:32 PM	#9
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	out of curiosity, what's the minimum and the recommended sizes for a sump for a 180g?

08/24/2008, 09:32 PM	#11
fender4string Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Novi, MI Posts: 1,550	ok thanks-I haven't read anything specific in the forums regarding sump size per display tank size so I wasn't sure. Is is just the more gallons you have in the system, the more stable the water parameters?