Is this a good deal?

[mickeym]

I will be setting up a 75 gallon Reef ready tank in the next couple months. Is this a good deal for a starter sump?? (I know it doesnt have everything..but is it a good place to start, for the money?


sump kit (http://cgi.ebay.com/SUMP-REFUGIUM-FOR-70-GAL-TANK_W0QQitemZ260170720170QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20755QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)


Thanks!

[Roger928]

Seems a bit much for a 10 gal tank / sump even with the goodies. I think you could do better with at least a 20 gal and DYI. IMO

[poppin_fresh]

Pass on it. If you are buying a reef ready, you dont need the surface skimmer box. Also, the bioballs are waste as is the return bulkhead and PC hood. What is that return pump?? Near as I can tell, one of the most important components is missing... a skimmer!

If you are even remotely skilled in the use of some basic tools you can build a much better set up for that kind of money. I would check out www.melevsreef.com and look for the info on sumps. You might not need to get as fancy as Marcs designs, but it will help you grasp the concepts.

[moze229]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010539#post11010539 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mickeym
I will be setting up a 75 gallon Reef ready tank in the next couple months. Is this a good deal for a starter sump?? (I know it doesnt have everything..but is it a good place to start, for the money?


sump kit (http://cgi.ebay.com/SUMP-REFUGIUM-FOR-70-GAL-TANK_W0QQitemZ260170720170QQihZ016QQcategoryZ20755QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)


Thanks!

There really isn't such a thing as a "starter sump". :) You either have one that works for your system or not. To me, that Ebay deal is WAYYYYY too much. Roger928 is correct - you need at least a 20 gallon anyway for a 75 I would think. 10 gallon is not going to give you much room for equipment. Most of the other items with the tank look like junk to me. Save your money for a skimmer. Buy a 20 gallon long and build the sump yourself. If you can cut plastic and use silicone you can do it.

Matt

[cd77]

I agree. Also, a 10G for a 75G tank seems a bit small. One of my big regrets still is starting with a cheap sump. IME, the bigger the better with respect to sumps/refugiums.

You may also be advised here against using bioballs in favor of using a macroalgae refuge.

That seller only has a feedback of 5 btw -- something I'm frequently leery of.

If you have some skills with acrylic, or you're willing to learn, check out http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

[cd77]

Heh -- two people got a reply in within the time it took for RC to process my post -- and they said more or less the same thing -- go figure.

[reefergeorge]

I would just buy a 20L and use a filter sock. I got away without useing baffels and don't have any micro bubbles with a mag 9.5 return.

[blcard]

I would atleast check around more and stick with more reputable sellers if possible.

If you must go cheap, used is typically the way to go. JMO

[moze229]

Type faster software engineer :) LOL

Just kidding with you.

Matt

[moze229]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010804#post11010804 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cd77
Heh -- two people got a reply in within the time it took for RC to process my post -- and they said more or less the same thing -- go figure.

And as you can see, the same thing happened to me :)

Matt

[Avi]

I think that a 10-gallon sump is just a wee bit too small for a 75-gallon tank, though if that's all you'd have room for, it's not so much of a problem. The thing is, that if you intend to have a highly effective skimmer in the sump, you'd be really lacking for space in there. On the other hand, you could plumb a good skimmer outside of the sump if you were intent on getting that one. The price, I guess is about right for a ready-made kit....superficially high if anything, and, if you aren't handy, it'll save you the trouble of hassling to build one.

[cd77]

Rush hour at RC -- all of us fish geeks with nothing better to do on a Friday night! :cool:

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010842#post11010842 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by moze229
And as you can see, the same thing happened to me :)

Matt

[poppin_fresh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010884#post11010884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cd77
Rush hour at RC -- all of us fish geeks with nothing better to do on a Saturday night! :cool:

Ummmm...its Friday. We still have one more night to get our geek on this weekend. :D

[cd77]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11010921#post11010921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by poppin_fresh
Ummmm...its Friday. We still have one more night to get our geek on this weekend. :D

:eek: Edited!! I guess Fridays and Saturdays don't hold as much meaning for me anymore.. it's like one 48 hour day.. seems to have started about the time I got married.. causation, or just correlation?

[mickeym]

Perfect!!!

Thanks for all the replies.... Now I know to avoid the smaller... Thanks for the links, I will do the myself..

Thanks everyone!!

[loosecannon]

I set up a 75 gal. I put a 50 gal. rubber maid ben in it from lowes. 12.00$. I put two , one I side each other, so it would not bow-out!

[gfxslayer]

I think 75 gal is too big, try 50 gal. Find cheap stuff first, as its your first tank. go with damsels, its the best beginner fish :) good luck.

[cd77]

Hmm.. I'd say the bigger the better with respect to tank size, and many people I know regret getting damsels as 'starter fish'. They're tank bullies.