I have a sump/refugium situation.. ideas??

SarahSinger29 · 03/09/2013, 10:31 PM

So, I have a 27 gallon Marineland cube that came with a stand. My tank has been up and running for a long time, so moving the actual tank and stand isn't really an option unless I take the whole thing apart and I just can't do that right now. Currently, I use a cpr overflow box that I have plumbed into a 10 gallon hexagon I had laying around. The hex is basically its own little tank underneath and aside from my display and the hex exchanging water it doesn't really have a 'sump' quality to it, or the sump quality I want. It serves a good purpose either way, I have a bunch of the ugly stuff hooked up to it and it's got live rock, live sand, and cheato so it does do some filtration. Like I said though, just isn't really what most people would imagine is under a tank! lol

My issue is this...the freaking dimensions inside that stand are approx. 17" x 17" and what's even worse is that the front opening is only about 15". Not many sumps on the market that you can fit in there. Minus one, the dreaded C3 Marineland sump (they did that on purpose lol). I'm well aware that this sump is not the best sump out there, and I'm well aware that it has gotten horrible reviews from just about anyone who has set eyes on it. BUT I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone else who has made some modifications to it to make it better, or if anyone has any ideas on what I could possibly do to it to make it better.

OR does anyone know where I could find one that would fit these ridiculous dimensions? Like I said though, the doors are only going to let me fit something 15" wide through it and I only have 17" dimensions on the inside. I know there are custom builders who make sumps for people but I haven't found one that charges under $400 and I really didn't want to pay that much plus shipping etc. Granted, the c3 sump is $199 and it's way overpriced but I think that was a smart move on Marinelands part for pretty much making others options impossible or way more expensive.

I did have a 14 gallon oceanic biocube underneath there at some point before I decided to make that into a little frag, neon goby home. It was a tight squeeze getting it in and out but I did it (I want to say that I had to take off the lid but I can't remember exactly), though I'm not sure what the dimensions are on that. Hell I could get a biocube cheaper than the freaking c3. Does anyone think it would be possible to make some mods to a biocube and turn it into a sump/refugium?

Basically, I need ideas! and just for the record I suck at building stuff and there is no local fish store where I live minus a small little place that just started to buy a few saltwater items and the lady that runs that sections asks me questions, so I don't think I'll find any help there! haha I built a DIY overflow once, and as I said, I'm currently using a cpr overflow box.

It looked really pretty though!

JP Reef · 03/10/2013, 08:08 AM

What you may be able to do is stack a couple 5g tanks like stairs. It would require you drilling a hole in the side of the upper tank to drain to the lower tank. Plus you would have to make a small support structure for the upper tank. I looked at doing something similar when I was looking at a cube tank. How much height do you have? You could then customize each tank to get what you need.

I would have split the overflow to drain into both tanks, and make the upper tank a refugium. I would then put a set of baffles in the lower for a Protein Skimmer (if you need one) and the return pump. Drain the upper tank into the return pump chamber.

03/09/2013, 10:31 PM	#1
SarahSinger29 Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 19	I have a sump/refugium situation.. ideas?? So, I have a 27 gallon Marineland cube that came with a stand. My tank has been up and running for a long time, so moving the actual tank and stand isn't really an option unless I take the whole thing apart and I just can't do that right now. Currently, I use a cpr overflow box that I have plumbed into a 10 gallon hexagon I had laying around. The hex is basically its own little tank underneath and aside from my display and the hex exchanging water it doesn't really have a 'sump' quality to it, or the sump quality I want. It serves a good purpose either way, I have a bunch of the ugly stuff hooked up to it and it's got live rock, live sand, and cheato so it does do some filtration. Like I said though, just isn't really what most people would imagine is under a tank! lol My issue is this...the freaking dimensions inside that stand are approx. 17" x 17" and what's even worse is that the front opening is only about 15". Not many sumps on the market that you can fit in there. Minus one, the dreaded C3 Marineland sump (they did that on purpose lol). I'm well aware that this sump is not the best sump out there, and I'm well aware that it has gotten horrible reviews from just about anyone who has set eyes on it. BUT I'm wondering if anyone knows anyone else who has made some modifications to it to make it better, or if anyone has any ideas on what I could possibly do to it to make it better. OR does anyone know where I could find one that would fit these ridiculous dimensions? Like I said though, the doors are only going to let me fit something 15" wide through it and I only have 17" dimensions on the inside. I know there are custom builders who make sumps for people but I haven't found one that charges under $400 and I really didn't want to pay that much plus shipping etc. Granted, the c3 sump is $199 and it's way overpriced but I think that was a smart move on Marinelands part for pretty much making others options impossible or way more expensive. I did have a 14 gallon oceanic biocube underneath there at some point before I decided to make that into a little frag, neon goby home. It was a tight squeeze getting it in and out but I did it (I want to say that I had to take off the lid but I can't remember exactly), though I'm not sure what the dimensions are on that. Hell I could get a biocube cheaper than the freaking c3. Does anyone think it would be possible to make some mods to a biocube and turn it into a sump/refugium? Basically, I need ideas! and just for the record I suck at building stuff and there is no local fish store where I live minus a small little place that just started to buy a few saltwater items and the lady that runs that sections asks me questions, so I don't think I'll find any help there! haha I built a DIY overflow once, and as I said, I'm currently using a cpr overflow box. It looked really pretty though!

03/10/2013, 08:08 AM	#2
JP Reef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Greensburg, PA Posts: 207	What you may be able to do is stack a couple 5g tanks like stairs. It would require you drilling a hole in the side of the upper tank to drain to the lower tank. Plus you would have to make a small support structure for the upper tank. I looked at doing something similar when I was looking at a cube tank. How much height do you have? You could then customize each tank to get what you need. I would have split the overflow to drain into both tanks, and make the upper tank a refugium. I would then put a set of baffles in the lower for a Protein Skimmer (if you need one) and the return pump. Drain the upper tank into the return pump chamber.