Sump setup help

Dwright119 · 06/20/2018, 02:38 PM

Sorry for the crappy picture, I'm not at home to take another but will add more this evening.

This is the sump I just picked up for my first tank. 57g reef tank (including stand pictured), will definitely be running a skimmer, and potentially a fuge if I can figure out a way to fit it in there.

It's a 20g sump, but not long unfortunately.

Could someone give me advice on what I need to turn this sump into a functional one? Would it just be easier to go grab a 20g long and start from scratch? Pretty overwhelmed with all the info on sumps out there! Thanks guys!

mcgyvr · 06/20/2018, 05:15 PM

Well.. Its really not intended to run a fuge in there as it currently sits..
I believe its just the skimmer/drain section on the right and then return pump section on the left..
It may also be too shallow for the skimmer as it doesn't look like it will support more than like 5-6" of water..
I've never seen one of those in person so I'm not sure how those baffles are setup..

Personally anything under 40G is just too small for a sump if you plan on fuge setups..
I'd just use it as is and forget about the fuge..

Dwright119 · 06/21/2018, 08:42 AM

Hmmm okay thank you. So return pump on the left, skimmer on the right then?

I will probably get things going with this and then upgrade to a bigger sump in the future to accommodate fuge.

lapin · 06/21/2018, 12:44 PM

What this sump is, is a place for a skimmer and a few hang on the side reactors. Really not a "full service" item. If it was deep enough, that you needed stand for your skimmer. You could put a few rocks under that stand.
I would eventually get a sump or make my own. The biggest that will fit in your stand.

lpsouth1978 · 06/21/2018, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

...Personally anything under 40G is just too small for a sump if you plan on fuge setups..
I'd just use it as is and forget about the fuge..

I will have to disagree with you here. You can have an effective fuge in a smaller sump if you have a smaller DT. It is all about the ratio of fuge to DT size. I have a 40B DT with a 20L sump, but my fuge is about half of my sump.

I agree that you want the largest sump you can fit under your DT, but still be able to service it easilly.

mcgyvr · 06/21/2018, 06:18 PM

Well...it is my personal opinion so you can't disagree...

...

lpsouth1978 · 06/21/2018, 06:24 PM

Nope.... I'm right and you are wrong.

We all have opinions, and we are all entitled them. As long as our systems are doing well and we are happy with the results, who is to say what is right or wrong. What works for me may not work for someone else, and visa versa.

P.S. - This friendly banter is one of the reasons I enjoy this site.

fijisrfr · 06/21/2018, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lpsouth1978

Nope.... I'm right and you are wrong.

We all have opinions, and we are all entitled them. As long as our systems are doing well and we are happy with the results, who is to say what is right or wrong. What works for me may not work for someone else, and visa versa.

P.S. - This friendly banter is one of the reasons I enjoy this site.

But you just said he’s wrong. Then stated “ who’s to say what is right or wrong”?

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

AlSimmons · 06/21/2018, 06:52 PM

I'm not too familiar with those premade sumps, but one up and one down is really all you need. A heater is probably a prerequisite though in a tropical tank, but a skimmer, baffles, a refuge & an ATO is just a choice. Keep it simple. Focus on what's up top then what's down below. GL.

JMorris271 · 06/24/2018, 05:23 PM

So who is right and who is wrong?

06/20/2018, 05:15 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Well.. Its really not intended to run a fuge in there as it currently sits.. I believe its just the skimmer/drain section on the right and then return pump section on the left.. It may also be too shallow for the skimmer as it doesn't look like it will support more than like 5-6" of water.. I've never seen one of those in person so I'm not sure how those baffles are setup.. Personally anything under 40G is just too small for a sump if you plan on fuge setups.. I'd just use it as is and forget about the fuge.. __________________ Who me?

06/21/2018, 12:44 PM	#4
lapin Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Austin Posts: 801	What this sump is, is a place for a skimmer and a few hang on the side reactors. Really not a "full service" item. If it was deep enough, that you needed stand for your skimmer. You could put a few rocks under that stand. I would eventually get a sump or make my own. The biggest that will fit in your stand. __________________ Tank sizes, 2-10's a 55 and one that's about 500gal Current Tank Info: Interior decorating happening

06/21/2018, 06:18 PM	#6
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Well...it is my personal opinion so you can't disagree...... __________________ Who me?

06/21/2018, 06:24 PM	#7
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Nope.... I'm right and you are wrong. We all have opinions, and we are all entitled them. As long as our systems are doing well and we are happy with the results, who is to say what is right or wrong. What works for me may not work for someone else, and visa versa. P.S. - This friendly banter is one of the reasons I enjoy this site. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

06/21/2018, 06:52 PM	#9
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I'm not too familiar with those premade sumps, but one up and one down is really all you need. A heater is probably a prerequisite though in a tropical tank, but a skimmer, baffles, a refuge & an ATO is just a choice. Keep it simple. Focus on what's up top then what's down below. GL. Last edited by AlSimmons; 06/21/2018 at 06:58 PM.

06/21/2018, 08:42 AM	#3
Dwright119 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 4	Hmmm okay thank you. So return pump on the left, skimmer on the right then? I will probably get things going with this and then upgrade to a bigger sump in the future to accommodate fuge.

06/24/2018, 05:23 PM	#10
JMorris271 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Foothills of SC Posts: 2,010	So who is right and who is wrong? __________________ 120 gal mixed tank. Lightly stocked now but....