Adding a 20g sump to a 150g system?

luntiz · 08/11/2008, 04:03 PM

Hey guys, I've had my system up for a month and recently got a Deltec HOB Skimmer. The problem is since my tank is too close to the wall, I have some problems getting the skimmer to fit and functioning properly.

Since my tank and stand are definately way too heavy to move, and would require so much work to drain, lift and refill, I want to add a HOB overflow and a sump. The problem with this is the biggest "regular shape" tank I can get under the stand is a 20g. Would this be a problem? I know I should aim for something a lot bigger, but my doors won't allow for anything larger than 24'' to get in. The physical opening of my stand is 24''x16'', so I could put something in with a footprint of that, but I think that would require a custom tank, and I'm not too sure about the prices for something like that.

What do you guys think?

Slakker · 08/11/2008, 06:24 PM

It certainly can't hurt anything, AFAIK. I'd say try it out and see how it goes.

dmilne85 · 08/11/2008, 06:45 PM

well ive never done this i know you can remove the center brace and install a bigger longer sump, then put the brace back. checkout this halfway down the page http://www.melevsreef.com/55g/55sump.html . i new a guy who did this to his 120 and said that he build the extra brace for when he removed the center one and the stand didnt really move and there wasnt much weight on that center brace. - if it were me... id be afraid to do it, just thought id throw that option out there for ya

limitdown · 08/11/2008, 08:39 PM

If removing the center brace would allow you to fit a bigger sump, then definitely go that route.
However, I would drain at least 100g of water before removing the brace.

tcmfish · 08/11/2008, 08:43 PM

You have a HOB skimmer though and you won't fill the sump all the way so i don't know how you plan to utilize the skimmer in the sump?

luntiz · 08/11/2008, 08:58 PM

I was just going to put the whole unit into the water instead of hanging it off the sump.

Would a 20g sump be too small (in terms of plumbing and floods)?

luntiz · 08/11/2008, 09:43 PM

Oh, would it be possible to get (2) 20g and plumb them together? Or would the water level not even out?

I was thinking of getting (2) 20g tank and drilling both and attaching bulkheads and PVC to each other, possibly making one a sump and one a refugium. Does that sound like a good idea?

luntiz · 08/11/2008, 09:44 PM

As you can tell I'm unsure about removing the center brace off my stand, heh.

TXAlbert · 08/11/2008, 09:46 PM

adding a 20g sump to a 150g system would make it a 170g system. Simple enough

fireman912 · 08/11/2008, 09:59 PM

My last tank was an oceanic 90 gallon tank with the oceanic stand and i knocked out the center brace to put in a bigger sump and then just put the brace back with no problems

luntiz · 08/11/2008, 10:10 PM

Did you have to drain some water from the display?

fireman912 · 08/11/2008, 10:18 PM

I only drained about 15 gallons from the display

tcmfish · 08/12/2008, 02:02 AM

Doing two twenties would be fine. Also this allows you to seperate parts of the sump like you said for a refugium without the need for baffles. Just make sure the pipe connecting the two can handle the flow going through the whole sump.

cbusreefer · 08/12/2008, 12:55 PM

I had two twenties on my old setup. The overflow drained into a 20H (sump) and then gravity fed into a 20L (fuge). Here's a pic...
[IMG]http://i34.*******.com/21l8kjp.jpg[/IMG]

08/11/2008, 04:03 PM	#1
luntiz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 612	Adding a 20g sump to a 150g system? Hey guys, I've had my system up for a month and recently got a Deltec HOB Skimmer. The problem is since my tank is too close to the wall, I have some problems getting the skimmer to fit and functioning properly. Since my tank and stand are definately way too heavy to move, and would require so much work to drain, lift and refill, I want to add a HOB overflow and a sump. The problem with this is the biggest "regular shape" tank I can get under the stand is a 20g. Would this be a problem? I know I should aim for something a lot bigger, but my doors won't allow for anything larger than 24'' to get in. The physical opening of my stand is 24''x16'', so I could put something in with a footprint of that, but I think that would require a custom tank, and I'm not too sure about the prices for something like that. What do you guys think? __________________ 14,200gph and counting... I need more circulation!

08/11/2008, 06:24 PM	#2
Slakker Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Southeastern Wisconsin Posts: 4,521	It certainly can't hurt anything, AFAIK. I'd say try it out and see how it goes. __________________ -Tyler Oceanic 58RR display/20H sump/fuge thread...follow the red house. Current Tank Info: Oceanic 58g, 20H sump, AquaC EV-150, 175w Hamilton 14k + 2x39w T5HO Actinics

08/11/2008, 08:39 PM	#4
limitdown Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 640	If removing the center brace would allow you to fit a bigger sump, then definitely go that route. However, I would drain at least 100g of water before removing the brace. __________________ All I want for Christmas is to stay employed... Current Tank Info: 200g display + 50g sump FO

08/11/2008, 08:58 PM	#6
luntiz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 612	I was just going to put the whole unit into the water instead of hanging it off the sump. Would a 20g sump be too small (in terms of plumbing and floods)? __________________ 14,200gph and counting... I need more circulation!

08/11/2008, 09:43 PM	#7
luntiz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 612	Oh, would it be possible to get (2) 20g and plumb them together? Or would the water level not even out? I was thinking of getting (2) 20g tank and drilling both and attaching bulkheads and PVC to each other, possibly making one a sump and one a refugium. Does that sound like a good idea? __________________ 14,200gph and counting... I need more circulation!

08/11/2008, 06:45 PM	#3
dmilne85 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Arizona, now in Pittsburgh :0( Posts: 602	well ive never done this i know you can remove the center brace and install a bigger longer sump, then put the brace back. checkout this halfway down the page http://www.melevsreef.com/55g/55sump.html . i new a guy who did this to his 120 and said that he build the extra brace for when he removed the center one and the stand didnt really move and there wasnt much weight on that center brace. - if it were me... id be afraid to do it, just thought id throw that option out there for ya

08/11/2008, 08:43 PM	#5
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,658	You have a HOB skimmer though and you won't fill the sump all the way so i don't know how you plan to utilize the skimmer in the sump?

08/11/2008, 09:44 PM	#8
luntiz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 612	As you can tell I'm unsure about removing the center brace off my stand, heh. __________________ 14,200gph and counting... I need more circulation!

08/11/2008, 09:46 PM	#9
TXAlbert Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Aggieland Posts: 169	Re: Adding a 20g sump to a 150g system? adding a 20g sump to a 150g system would make it a 170g system. Simple enough

08/11/2008, 09:59 PM	#10
fireman912 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 44	My last tank was an oceanic 90 gallon tank with the oceanic stand and i knocked out the center brace to put in a bigger sump and then just put the brace back with no problems

08/11/2008, 10:10 PM	#11
luntiz Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 612	Did you have to drain some water from the display? __________________ 14,200gph and counting... I need more circulation!

08/11/2008, 10:18 PM	#12
fireman912 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Houston Posts: 44	I only drained about 15 gallons from the display

08/12/2008, 02:02 AM	#13
tcmfish Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 3,658	Doing two twenties would be fine. Also this allows you to seperate parts of the sump like you said for a refugium without the need for baffles. Just make sure the pipe connecting the two can handle the flow going through the whole sump.

08/12/2008, 12:55 PM	#14
cbusreefer Moved On Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Dublin, OH Posts: 497	I had two twenties on my old setup. The overflow drained into a 20H (sump) and then gravity fed into a 20L (fuge). Here's a pic... [IMG]http://i34.*******.com/21l8kjp.jpg[/IMG]