47gal column tank sump/refugium help needed

chefcg1 · 08/21/2012, 03:30 PM

I need some suggestions for my 47gal column tank filtration system. The tank is 18X20X30, but the stand has only room for 10X14 sump or whatever. It does have a shelf that could be used to make another level. I could go sumpless and just do a HOB protein skimmer or get one of those HOB refugium and skimmer combo like CPR aquafuge unit. I guess my biggest quandary is finding a sump that would fit the 10X14 space. My budget is sub $400. This will be a reef tank FYI. Thanks!

csm41 · 08/21/2012, 04:24 PM

I would get a good HOB skimmer such as a Reef Octopus or an Aquamaxx HOB1 and then also purchase an Aquaclear 70 filter and add a bag of this to it:

http://www.bluelifeusa.com/CLEARFxPRO-225ml

This stuff is awesome. I use an Aquamaxx HOB1 skimmer that hangs on my custom 10 gallon sump and I throw a bag of the CLEAR FX PRO in the center chamber. I had to use a 10 gallon sump because it was the only size that would fit in the stand for my 56 gallon column.

KimP · 08/21/2012, 06:46 PM

I kept a 47 gal column for 5 years as a seahorse tank. It's frustrating because I couldn't add a sump underneath. I did the same as the previous poster did. A hob skimmer and an ac70 for carbon and whatever other media I wanted to run. I also used a canister filter for many years before the ac70 and loved it. No different than a reactor and you know the water is getting pushed through the media. I tried a cpr hob refugium. Size small is all that will fit, without the skimmer. I took it right off because it takes up an entire side. So either I couldn't run anything else, or it was blocking a big chunk of my viewing if it hung on the side. Plus the small is really too small to do much of anything, imo.

Some things to think about. Those are cool but challenging tanks, have fun!

KimP · 08/21/2012, 06:48 PM

Oh, you could also build a new stand inexpensively, that is bigger than the tank footprint, giving you more room underneath. I know a guy with the same tank that did that. Now he has a sump, ato, and small refugium. Pretty nice set up!

chefcg1 · 08/22/2012, 05:06 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. I have been considering the HOB skimmer and doing a reactor under the tank to save space. Then there is the idea of the stand build.....that ideally may be the way to go to do it.

KimP, i think i saw on another site your posts about the sea horse tank, that sounds very interesting to me...hard?
Thanks!

KimP · 08/22/2012, 12:45 PM

The seahorses weren't hard at all. I kept erectus and got them from a great breeder already eating frozen. They are just limiting. You can't keep most other fish with them and some corals.

Rinkrat · 08/22/2012, 06:57 PM

HOB skimmers are nice canister filter may help as well.
Dan

08/21/2012, 03:30 PM	#1
chefcg1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 10	47gal column tank sump/refugium help needed I need some suggestions for my 47gal column tank filtration system. The tank is 18X20X30, but the stand has only room for 10X14 sump or whatever. It does have a shelf that could be used to make another level. I could go sumpless and just do a HOB protein skimmer or get one of those HOB refugium and skimmer combo like CPR aquafuge unit. I guess my biggest quandary is finding a sump that would fit the 10X14 space. My budget is sub $400. This will be a reef tank FYI. Thanks!

08/21/2012, 04:24 PM	#2
csm41 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 75	I would get a good HOB skimmer such as a Reef Octopus or an Aquamaxx HOB1 and then also purchase an Aquaclear 70 filter and add a bag of this to it: http://www.bluelifeusa.com/CLEARFxPRO-225ml This stuff is awesome. I use an Aquamaxx HOB1 skimmer that hangs on my custom 10 gallon sump and I throw a bag of the CLEAR FX PRO in the center chamber. I had to use a 10 gallon sump because it was the only size that would fit in the stand for my 56 gallon column.

08/21/2012, 06:46 PM	#3
KimP Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 86	I kept a 47 gal column for 5 years as a seahorse tank. It's frustrating because I couldn't add a sump underneath. I did the same as the previous poster did. A hob skimmer and an ac70 for carbon and whatever other media I wanted to run. I also used a canister filter for many years before the ac70 and loved it. No different than a reactor and you know the water is getting pushed through the media. I tried a cpr hob refugium. Size small is all that will fit, without the skimmer. I took it right off because it takes up an entire side. So either I couldn't run anything else, or it was blocking a big chunk of my viewing if it hung on the side. Plus the small is really too small to do much of anything, imo. Some things to think about. Those are cool but challenging tanks, have fun!

08/21/2012, 06:48 PM	#4
KimP Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 86	Oh, you could also build a new stand inexpensively, that is bigger than the tank footprint, giving you more room underneath. I know a guy with the same tank that did that. Now he has a sump, ato, and small refugium. Pretty nice set up!

08/22/2012, 05:06 AM	#5
chefcg1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks for the advice guys. I have been considering the HOB skimmer and doing a reactor under the tank to save space. Then there is the idea of the stand build.....that ideally may be the way to go to do it. KimP, i think i saw on another site your posts about the sea horse tank, that sounds very interesting to me...hard? Thanks!

08/22/2012, 12:45 PM	#6
KimP Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 86	The seahorses weren't hard at all. I kept erectus and got them from a great breeder already eating frozen. They are just limiting. You can't keep most other fish with them and some corals.

08/22/2012, 06:57 PM	#7
Rinkrat Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 66	HOB skimmers are nice canister filter may help as well. Dan