sump for 46 gallon bowfront

bryanvin · 12/23/2007, 07:35 PM

Currently am running a 46 gallon sumpless bowfront Fowlr tank. I have HOB skimmer, filter, and power head but would very much like to switch over to a hang on overflow and sump/refugium. Main problem is I dont have much room to work with being that My tank is on a bowfront stand.

At the very max, and this is leaving no room to work with, i have 34" x 9" x 16" room underneath the stand. That being said, whatever size sump which could fit there would be only around 15 gallons or so.

Would that size sump/refugium even be worth the effort/money for the tank that I'm running? And if any of you are using a similar set-up tank, any info you have would be appreciated.

mg426 · 12/23/2007, 08:00 PM

It would certainly be an asset to your system.

woodycb · 12/23/2007, 08:23 PM

I have a 46bow also, A 10gal is the biggest tank you get under the stand. It worked well for me. It is a little tight but I had room for a hob skimmer, phosban reactor, cheato, and a return pump.

kstallbe · 12/24/2007, 08:31 AM

Interesting question.... I am also setting one up on on a 46g bow. I have ordered the overflow, but have not yet started on the sump/fuge. I have to figure out how to get my ballasts up and out of the way before I can start on the sump. I also want to do an auto-top off. Maybe we can share some design ideas here. I'm gonna subscribe to this thread and will update any of my progress to ya.

Keith

kkoch · 12/24/2007, 09:34 AM

I too have a bow front, 40g. I will be using a 10g glass aquarium for skimmer and return pump. Baffles are in the middle. I plan to have a seperate 5g fuge which will flow back into the 10g sump. The fuge is fed via the return line. This should be fine for my tank.

corals b 4 bills · 12/24/2007, 10:23 AM

I put a 15 gallon glass tank under my old 46 by removing the rear center brace and replacing it (even with the tank full).

Dingo Dog · 12/24/2007, 10:57 AM

My 46 gal bow has a HOB that's run with a 1200 MaxiJet, then I have 3 other 1200 MaxiJets and a small Hydro Koralia that are just for flow. Two of the 1200's have the rotating deflector. This has been my setup since early 2004.
What would the advantage be by adding the overflow and sump/refugium?

tazzmanian123 · 12/24/2007, 03:02 PM

Well, I haven't made the coral plunge yet, Patiently trying to get Tank just right, & it's almost there.

Here's My 46g. Bow view with new Nova Extreme Pro 6bulb T5's
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0734.jpg

After exhaustive searching for a fuge to fit in stand, here's what I found and am using
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...2410PFNOPF.jpg

Heres my custom RO/DI ATO setup
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0735.jpg
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0737.jpg

Finally found an awesome skimmer that fits in my fuge
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0738.jpg

Fuge in use
http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0736.jpg

Tank has been up since march, is almost where I want it, but not there yet. Its become an obsession with me....lol

tazzmanian123 · 12/24/2007, 03:10 PM

Here's a link to where I got Fuge. Hope it works.

http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp

GL.

bryanvin · 12/24/2007, 04:28 PM

How did the protein skimmer that came with the refugium work? and which type of skimmer/pump did you switch to? and why the switch?

That little fuge/sump setup is exactly what I'm looking for.

tazzmanian123 · 12/24/2007, 05:07 PM

The skimmer that came with was barely usable, & required constant tuning. After 3 or 4 different skimmer tries, & found the one I currently have, & love it. Very quality. Heres link of what got.

http://www.dtpetsupplies.com/catalog...llon-aquarium/

My tank is not drilled, so after trial & error again, I use a lifereef overflow to get water from tank to fuge. 600gph.

http://www.lifereef.com/frame.html

The pump that was supplied with fuge is nowhere near what I desired for flow. After numerous pumps, I finally found the one I am currently using. Small footprint, with very nice flow.
QuietOne 4000

Also have 2 Koralia 2's & 2 Koralia Nano's for adittional flow in tank.

Absolutely love my new T5 light hood, which relaced my PC hood.

http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index...OD&ProdID=1382

Hope this helps.

kstallbe · 01/11/2008, 06:22 AM

So, I recently got my overflow/siphon box from LifeReef. I then measured my specs underneath my stand. I got 8.5" W at the narrowest and 32.5" long. However, the stand interior quickly tapers to 10" and is at max about 12" wide.

So, because I would like to place the sump/fuge in through the front cabinet door the max I can go with would be 25" L x 15" H. This is fine by me. Alos, because I want to do an auto-top off like on melevsreef.com. So, having the sump/fuge take up only half the space will allow me room to place a container of ro/di water next to the fuge

So, I have been thinkning about bulding this thing but after time invested and trips to the store and all the hassle...I sent an email to Jeff at LiveReef to see how much he'd kill me for a 14" x 10" x 12" sump/fuge!

(He just wrote back saying hed get back to me end of next week)

Anybody else got PHOTOS of their bow front sump/fuge in the stand??????

tazzmanian123 · 01/11/2008, 07:07 AM

Zotzer has a very nice 46g setup. It has a hob fuge/skimmer, & seems to be doing an excellent job with her tank.

http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=16446

kstallbe · 01/30/2008, 02:41 PM

Okay. So, I took the time and measured everything carefully. Then I tried to figure things out and started sketching. I then emailed Jeff at Life Reef who has been willing to make a sump for me.

Thing is, I only wanna have to do this once. I really did not want to screw up on the dimensions, pay for a sump ... and then realize it won't fit.

So I asked around for some Computer Aided Design software that was easy to use and free. People on RC recommended google sketchup. THAT THING ROCKS!

It can be a bit difficult to use but it is powerful. I could print the designs and fax them straight over to Jeff at Life Reef. Really cool. Now he has the exact dimensions of the sump and my stand.

Plus, I could model all the things in 3D, the sump, the stand, the skimmer, phosban reactors, mag pump - whatever I could measure could be drawn. Then I could move them all around and make sure that they will fit in the stand. Amazing.

So, if anybody wants a copy of the file I created for their 46g bowfront, feel free to pm me. It can only be opened with sketchup as far as I know. The limitation I had was that the sump had to be able to fit in the front cabinet door and then be laid down (fish tank is full on stand and back is against a wall).

So, the stand I have is about 25" tall. Therefore, the diagonal of the rectangle on the sump could be no longer than 25" otherwise it wouldnt lay down once placed vertically inside the stand. The basic dimensions I came up with were 19L x 14.5H x 8.5W (inches).

Good luck.

Deb91 · 01/30/2008, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by tazzmanian123
Here's a link to where I got Fuge. Hope it works.

http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp

GL.

I would love that if the skimmer worked,or you could get that set up like that someplace else!

RJFich · 01/30/2008, 04:55 PM

I have a 46 and use a 15 tall. slid right into the stand and works great, being that its tall in case you need to turn your pump off you will have less of a chance of overflowing your 10 gallon sump.

kstallbe · 01/30/2008, 05:07 PM

seems like an extremely tight fit. how do you get in there to work around in the stand. Also, do you have room to hang things on like phosban reactors?

12/23/2007, 07:35 PM	#1
bryanvin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 111	sump for 46 gallon bowfront Currently am running a 46 gallon sumpless bowfront Fowlr tank. I have HOB skimmer, filter, and power head but would very much like to switch over to a hang on overflow and sump/refugium. Main problem is I dont have much room to work with being that My tank is on a bowfront stand. At the very max, and this is leaving no room to work with, i have 34" x 9" x 16" room underneath the stand. That being said, whatever size sump which could fit there would be only around 15 gallons or so. Would that size sump/refugium even be worth the effort/money for the tank that I'm running? And if any of you are using a similar set-up tank, any info you have would be appreciated.

12/23/2007, 08:00 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	It would certainly be an asset to your system. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

12/23/2007, 08:23 PM	#3
woodycb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 785	I have a 46bow also, A 10gal is the biggest tank you get under the stand. It worked well for me. It is a little tight but I had room for a hob skimmer, phosban reactor, cheato, and a return pump. __________________ We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

12/24/2007, 10:23 AM	#6
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	I put a 15 gallon glass tank under my old 46 by removing the rear center brace and replacing it (even with the tank full). __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

12/24/2007, 03:02 PM	#8
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	My Setup Well, I haven't made the coral plunge yet, Patiently trying to get Tank just right, & it's almost there. Here's My 46g. Bow view with new Nova Extreme Pro 6bulb T5's http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0734.jpg After exhaustive searching for a fuge to fit in stand, here's what I found and am using http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...2410PFNOPF.jpg Heres my custom RO/DI ATO setup http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0735.jpg http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0737.jpg Finally found an awesome skimmer that fits in my fuge http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0738.jpg Fuge in use http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/a...3/100_0736.jpg Tank has been up since march, is almost where I want it, but not there yet. Its become an obsession with me....lol

12/24/2007, 08:31 AM	#4
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	Interesting question.... I am also setting one up on on a 46g bow. I have ordered the overflow, but have not yet started on the sump/fuge. I have to figure out how to get my ballasts up and out of the way before I can start on the sump. I also want to do an auto-top off. Maybe we can share some design ideas here. I'm gonna subscribe to this thread and will update any of my progress to ya. Keith

12/24/2007, 09:34 AM	#5
kkoch Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Kenosha, WI Posts: 162	I too have a bow front, 40g. I will be using a 10g glass aquarium for skimmer and return pump. Baffles are in the middle. I plan to have a seperate 5g fuge which will flow back into the 10g sump. The fuge is fed via the return line. This should be fine for my tank.

12/24/2007, 10:57 AM	#7
Dingo Dog Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 432	My 46 gal bow has a HOB that's run with a 1200 MaxiJet, then I have 3 other 1200 MaxiJets and a small Hydro Koralia that are just for flow. Two of the 1200's have the rotating deflector. This has been my setup since early 2004. What would the advantage be by adding the overflow and sump/refugium?

12/24/2007, 03:10 PM	#9
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	Fuge Here's a link to where I got Fuge. Hope it works. http://www.protein-skimmer.com/shopp...itemdetail.asp GL.

12/24/2007, 04:28 PM	#10
bryanvin Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 111	How did the protein skimmer that came with the refugium work? and which type of skimmer/pump did you switch to? and why the switch? That little fuge/sump setup is exactly what I'm looking for. __________________ Tank started 12/01/07 Tiger Goby Coral Banded Shrimp Atlantic Flower/Rock Anemone 2 Ocelaris Clowns Coral Beauty Blue Leg Hermits Black Sea Cucumber Current Tank Info: 46g bowfront, 90 lbs live rock, 45 lbs live sand, Remora hang on skimmer, 2 Koralia # 2's, 2 x 96 watt 10,000k dual dayltight/actinic PC's, 2 phosphate reactors (one carbon/one phosban)

12/24/2007, 05:07 PM	#11
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	The skimmer that came with was barely usable, & required constant tuning. After 3 or 4 different skimmer tries, & found the one I currently have, & love it. Very quality. Heres link of what got. http://www.dtpetsupplies.com/catalog...llon-aquarium/ My tank is not drilled, so after trial & error again, I use a lifereef overflow to get water from tank to fuge. 600gph. http://www.lifereef.com/frame.html The pump that was supplied with fuge is nowhere near what I desired for flow. After numerous pumps, I finally found the one I am currently using. Small footprint, with very nice flow. QuietOne 4000 Also have 2 Koralia 2's & 2 Koralia Nano's for adittional flow in tank. Absolutely love my new T5 light hood, which relaced my PC hood. http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index...OD&ProdID=1382 Hope this helps.

01/11/2008, 06:22 AM	#12
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	So, I recently got my overflow/siphon box from LifeReef. I then measured my specs underneath my stand. I got 8.5" W at the narrowest and 32.5" long. However, the stand interior quickly tapers to 10" and is at max about 12" wide. So, because I would like to place the sump/fuge in through the front cabinet door the max I can go with would be 25" L x 15" H. This is fine by me. Alos, because I want to do an auto-top off like on melevsreef.com. So, having the sump/fuge take up only half the space will allow me room to place a container of ro/di water next to the fuge So, I have been thinkning about bulding this thing but after time invested and trips to the store and all the hassle...I sent an email to Jeff at LiveReef to see how much he'd kill me for a 14" x 10" x 12" sump/fuge! (He just wrote back saying hed get back to me end of next week) Anybody else got PHOTOS of their bow front sump/fuge in the stand??????

01/11/2008, 07:07 AM	#13
tazzmanian123 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Las Vegas, NV. Posts: 94	Zotzer has a very nice 46g setup. It has a hob fuge/skimmer, & seems to be doing an excellent job with her tank. http://www.wamas.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=16446

01/30/2008, 02:41 PM	#14
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	Okay. So, I took the time and measured everything carefully. Then I tried to figure things out and started sketching. I then emailed Jeff at Life Reef who has been willing to make a sump for me. Thing is, I only wanna have to do this once. I really did not want to screw up on the dimensions, pay for a sump ... and then realize it won't fit. So I asked around for some Computer Aided Design software that was easy to use and free. People on RC recommended google sketchup. THAT THING ROCKS! It can be a bit difficult to use but it is powerful. I could print the designs and fax them straight over to Jeff at Life Reef. Really cool. Now he has the exact dimensions of the sump and my stand. Plus, I could model all the things in 3D, the sump, the stand, the skimmer, phosban reactors, mag pump - whatever I could measure could be drawn. Then I could move them all around and make sure that they will fit in the stand. Amazing. So, if anybody wants a copy of the file I created for their 46g bowfront, feel free to pm me. It can only be opened with sketchup as far as I know. The limitation I had was that the sump had to be able to fit in the front cabinet door and then be laid down (fish tank is full on stand and back is against a wall). So, the stand I have is about 25" tall. Therefore, the diagonal of the rectangle on the sump could be no longer than 25" otherwise it wouldnt lay down once placed vertically inside the stand. The basic dimensions I came up with were 19L x 14.5H x 8.5W (inches). Good luck.

01/30/2008, 04:55 PM	#16
RJFich Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 85	I have a 46 and use a 15 tall. slid right into the stand and works great, being that its tall in case you need to turn your pump off you will have less of a chance of overflowing your 10 gallon sump.

01/30/2008, 05:07 PM	#17
kstallbe Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Forest Hills, New York Posts: 275	seems like an extremely tight fit. how do you get in there to work around in the stand. Also, do you have room to hang things on like phosban reactors?