125 gal for sump ?

HJ99 · Dec 22, 2020

Excuse me for jumping around with the questions. The more I get into this and read, plans keep changing. So we started out with a used 125g thinking we saved a bunch of money. I planned to use a 55g to build my sump in the basement. Well the glass on the 125 has seen better days although it is still a sound tank. I think the wife and I have just about talked ourselves into getting a new reef ready 180. She had mentioned moving to a bigger tank than the 125 later but I'm not keen on the idea of tearing down once I get something going. So the question is...Will the 125 be practical for a sump or should I try and sell it and stay with the 55 ? I know it's said more water volume the better but I imagine it also means more to heat and pump etc. I could go either way because I know I'm not going to get much money out of the 125g and we have the space.

PatW · Dec 22, 2020

A 125 would make a good sump. You would have piles of room. You could have a refugium or use part as a frag tank.

laverda · Dec 22, 2020

I would use the 125 myself. You will be glad you did. And extra or larger heater should not be a big deal. Insulating the sides and back if not viewable could eliminate that need.

Soren · Dec 22, 2020

I am in a similar situation, though my setup will be a 90-gallon display with a 75-gallon sump. I have the tanks available, so why not make use of the space and increased water volume? Sounds like a good plan to me!

Flippers4pups · Dec 22, 2020

@HJ99 Check out my build thread:

Build Thread - Flippers reef 125 gallon

The story of Flippers reef started long ago.......... In a time before a thing called "The Internet"existed. Land locked Missouri, mid western U.S.A. back in 1993. I had just got out of the army in 1992 and got busy starting a family. See, I had fresh water tanks off and on since I was very...

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