sump pump external w/smaller sump or internal/larger sump ?

j-123 · 11/08/2006, 11:44 AM

hi,

i have a new 58 gal reef aquarium,,, 36L,18w, 21h

i want to run a sump for sure and maybe make it refugium.

question,,,

the sump i found is a ...Berlin Sump BS-1: A sump for "Berlin" filtration system up to 125 gallons

i get the smaller one 23" x 12" x 14" i can run external pump and protien skimmer... and fit into my stand...

or

get the bigger one 30" x 14" x 16" which will take base of my stand,,, so will have to run protien skimmer and return pump in side of the sump..

question ,,, i understand running external pump ,,, keeps heat out of aquarium ,,, is this significant ?? much of a plus for going external ?

i also understand more water volume better,,, so bigger sump ,, more water ,,, is better,,,, but then i have to run internal pumps and skimmer ??

so not sure which provides more benifits ??

other thing ,,, if i can i put pump and skimmer in sump still make it a refugium ??

this is the sump i am looking at
http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...mp.asp?CartId=

any help would be great,,, trying not to have to buy things twice !!

thanks

papagimp · 11/08/2006, 12:12 PM

Okay, to start, the larger of those system claims to hold 16gallons of water. In all honesty, larger systems are better and easier to maintain water quality, but those 16gallons aren't going to make that large of a difference. don't get me wrong, every little bit helps, but if you were talking the difference between 50 gallons and 100 gallons, I'd say bigger. For just a 58 gallon, I think the smaller of the two will work just fine. As for the heat issue, alot of it will depend upond what type of pump you are using. In my 55g I have a cap1800 return from my refugium, only pushes about 300gph (probably a little lower than that) and it doesn't heat my tank up that much. Neither do the three powerheads in the display. When you start getting into larger pumps that pull more wattages, then you'll start seeing a significant increase in heat buildup. The choice is yours. Now for making this a refugium, you'd just have to add a baffle or possibly even section off a small portion from the return pump, You could even use live rock rubble to block off the pump from the fuge part. You just need to make sure the return isn't going to get massively clogged up with macro aglea or sand or whatever you want in their. One thing to consider though, do you plan on upgrading the tank in the future? On my 55g I made sure to buy lights, filters, ect... that would work for a much larger system that way once I upgrade, I don't have to spend another whopping amount of hard earned dough. But that's just a thought for ya.

j-123 · 11/08/2006, 12:31 PM

pump,,,

i forgot about sizing that,,, so how many gal/hour should i shoot for net after all the losses ??

i will see if i can find spec's on cap1800..

thanks for info !

papagimp · 11/08/2006, 12:45 PM

don't bother finding specs on a cap pump, just ignore them compltely, it's not that great. As for sizing the pump, alot of it's just preference. I prefer a lower flow from my refugium, my powerheads in the tank take care of flow for me so the fuge is strickly pod raising and cheato. it also keeps the microbubbles down, but my fuge has baffles in it for that purpose as well. for a 58gallon, I would think anywhere from 300gph to 600 would be sufficient.

11/08/2006, 11:44 AM	#1
j-123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: texas Posts: 64	sump pump external w/smaller sump or internal/larger sump ? hi, i have a new 58 gal reef aquarium,,, 36L,18w, 21h i want to run a sump for sure and maybe make it refugium. question,,, the sump i found is a ...Berlin Sump BS-1: A sump for "Berlin" filtration system up to 125 gallons i get the smaller one 23" x 12" x 14" i can run external pump and protien skimmer... and fit into my stand... or get the bigger one 30" x 14" x 16" which will take base of my stand,,, so will have to run protien skimmer and return pump in side of the sump.. question ,,, i understand running external pump ,,, keeps heat out of aquarium ,,, is this significant ?? much of a plus for going external ? i also understand more water volume better,,, so bigger sump ,, more water ,,, is better,,,, but then i have to run internal pumps and skimmer ?? so not sure which provides more benifits ?? other thing ,,, if i can i put pump and skimmer in sump still make it a refugium ?? this is the sump i am looking at http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_...mp.asp?CartId= any help would be great,,, trying not to have to buy things twice !! thanks

11/08/2006, 12:12 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Okay, to start, the larger of those system claims to hold 16gallons of water. In all honesty, larger systems are better and easier to maintain water quality, but those 16gallons aren't going to make that large of a difference. don't get me wrong, every little bit helps, but if you were talking the difference between 50 gallons and 100 gallons, I'd say bigger. For just a 58 gallon, I think the smaller of the two will work just fine. As for the heat issue, alot of it will depend upond what type of pump you are using. In my 55g I have a cap1800 return from my refugium, only pushes about 300gph (probably a little lower than that) and it doesn't heat my tank up that much. Neither do the three powerheads in the display. When you start getting into larger pumps that pull more wattages, then you'll start seeing a significant increase in heat buildup. The choice is yours. Now for making this a refugium, you'd just have to add a baffle or possibly even section off a small portion from the return pump, You could even use live rock rubble to block off the pump from the fuge part. You just need to make sure the return isn't going to get massively clogged up with macro aglea or sand or whatever you want in their. One thing to consider though, do you plan on upgrading the tank in the future? On my 55g I made sure to buy lights, filters, ect... that would work for a much larger system that way once I upgrade, I don't have to spend another whopping amount of hard earned dough. But that's just a thought for ya. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

11/08/2006, 12:45 PM	#4
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	don't bother finding specs on a cap pump, just ignore them compltely, it's not that great. As for sizing the pump, alot of it's just preference. I prefer a lower flow from my refugium, my powerheads in the tank take care of flow for me so the fuge is strickly pod raising and cheato. it also keeps the microbubbles down, but my fuge has baffles in it for that purpose as well. for a 58gallon, I would think anywhere from 300gph to 600 would be sufficient. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

11/08/2006, 12:31 PM	#3
j-123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: texas Posts: 64	pump,,, i forgot about sizing that,,, so how many gal/hour should i shoot for net after all the losses ?? i will see if i can find spec's on cap1800.. thanks for info !