Need help deciding on sump dimmensions

[montein]

I am putting up a 180 gallon. I have purchased an ASM G5 protein skimmer and I am talking with someone local who can build me a sump. Problem is I really don't know what I need or how much water volume is recommended in a sump/refugium for this size of tank. I know the footprint of this skimmer is 16x17, but how deep can this model sit? Plus he asked me if it needed a shelf to sit on. I think not but.............?
Any and all input would help a ton.

[bertoni]

To Reef Central

I'd try to have a 30g (or larger) refugium area, if possible, but a smaller one could still do a lot. I don't know anything about that particular skimmer.

[Avi]

Well, I'd just use the general rule that the bigger the sump the better. So, use whichever size you can afford and have room for in the stand or wherever else you might be putting the sump. Have the biggest area you can as a section for growing Chaeto under a suitable light, sufficiently close to the top the sump's water surface to support a good healthy growth of the Chaeto. You can make reference to this:

http://www.reefcentral.com/calc/sump.php

Also, take a look around this site....

www.melevsreef.com

And, that kind of skimmer needn't be raised when it's in the sump.