75 gallon makes a good sump for 180 gallon DT?

Whitelight · 05/07/2012, 04:29 PM

I'm new to saltwater and am looking to set up my first tank. After some great suggestions from RC members, I've decided a 180 gallon tank will be the perfect size. However, I'm still saving up (and will be for a year or two) to afford the 180 and all the equipment. Plus, it's hard to justify spending several grand on something that you're not 100% you'll like and stick with, since I've never actually owned and maintained a saltwater tank.

As part of the future planning for the 180 gallon build, I'm thinking of getting a 75 gallon tank and modifying it to use as a sump. I'll get dividers to create bubble traps and partition my refugium and inlet/return sections.

So what I'm thinking is that I'll go ahead and buy a 75 gallon tank on Craiglist NOW and use it as my main tank for a couple years. Then, in a few years when I'm ready for the big 180, I'll just convert that 75 gallon into a sump.

I can buy a 75 gallon tank and 'complete' setup for a few hundred dollars on Craiglist, so I think this will be a great way to try out FOWLR and reef keeping before I completely empty my wallet on this hobby.

Questions:
1) Would a 75 gallon tank be a suitable choice as a sump for a 180 gallon? In terms of water volume I think it will be great, but I'm worried about the height. Stands are commonly built 30" high (and mine will be too), while a 75 gallon tank is 21" tall. Subtract out building materials, and I'll only have a few inches of room between the top of the 75 gallon sump and the bottom of the DT. I think this will make it hard to do maintenance on the sump and clean out the skimmer.

2) Does anyone have a better suggestion for a sump for a 180 gallon tank? The prebuilt ones I've seen max at 35 gallons or so and cost $300-$400. That sounds like a lot of money for a sump and not much water volume for that size DT.

Thanks in advance for any feedback/suggestions on my plan or the two questions.

husslr187 · 05/07/2012, 04:44 PM

are you or a friend able to build stand? i would go that route that way you can build it the height you want. im planning one myself and im shooting for 42" tall. keep in mind though that i will be on a ladder to work in the tank.

Whitelight · 05/07/2012, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by husslr187

are you or a friend able to build stand? i would go that route that way you can build it the height you want. im planning one myself and im shooting for 42" tall. keep in mind though that i will be on a ladder to work in the tank.

I can build a stand and that's what I was planning to do. But I still want the stand to be around 30" high because it will be in my den and viewed mostly while sitting down. A higher stand like yours sounds good for tanks that are viewed while standing.

husslr187 · 05/07/2012, 05:25 PM

if you build in a box for the tank to recess into the bottom framing you would have more room. downside would be that you would have to silicone the tank in the bottom framing to keep water from getting down there

05/07/2012, 04:29 PM	#1
Whitelight Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 53	75 gallon makes a good sump for 180 gallon DT? I'm new to saltwater and am looking to set up my first tank. After some great suggestions from RC members, I've decided a 180 gallon tank will be the perfect size. However, I'm still saving up (and will be for a year or two) to afford the 180 and all the equipment. Plus, it's hard to justify spending several grand on something that you're not 100% you'll like and stick with, since I've never actually owned and maintained a saltwater tank. As part of the future planning for the 180 gallon build, I'm thinking of getting a 75 gallon tank and modifying it to use as a sump. I'll get dividers to create bubble traps and partition my refugium and inlet/return sections. So what I'm thinking is that I'll go ahead and buy a 75 gallon tank on Craiglist NOW and use it as my main tank for a couple years. Then, in a few years when I'm ready for the big 180, I'll just convert that 75 gallon into a sump. I can buy a 75 gallon tank and 'complete' setup for a few hundred dollars on Craiglist, so I think this will be a great way to try out FOWLR and reef keeping before I completely empty my wallet on this hobby. Questions: 1) Would a 75 gallon tank be a suitable choice as a sump for a 180 gallon? In terms of water volume I think it will be great, but I'm worried about the height. Stands are commonly built 30" high (and mine will be too), while a 75 gallon tank is 21" tall. Subtract out building materials, and I'll only have a few inches of room between the top of the 75 gallon sump and the bottom of the DT. I think this will make it hard to do maintenance on the sump and clean out the skimmer. 2) Does anyone have a better suggestion for a sump for a 180 gallon tank? The prebuilt ones I've seen max at 35 gallons or so and cost $300-$400. That sounds like a lot of money for a sump and not much water volume for that size DT. Thanks in advance for any feedback/suggestions on my plan or the two questions.

05/07/2012, 04:44 PM	#2
husslr187 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: perryville md Posts: 100	are you or a friend able to build stand? i would go that route that way you can build it the height you want. im planning one myself and im shooting for 42" tall. keep in mind though that i will be on a ladder to work in the tank. __________________ 210 gallon FW tank w/ 125gal sump, reeflo super dart gold 2 oscars, pleco, & 5 tinfoil barbs

05/07/2012, 05:25 PM	#4
husslr187 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: perryville md Posts: 100	if you build in a box for the tank to recess into the bottom framing you would have more room. downside would be that you would have to silicone the tank in the bottom framing to keep water from getting down there __________________ 210 gallon FW tank w/ 125gal sump, reeflo super dart gold 2 oscars, pleco, & 5 tinfoil barbs