90 gallon new tank build Sump Selection

crash29ca · Mar 13, 2017

Hi everyone!!

I had a tank before with moderate success, it was a 50 gallon short with homemade sump that was made from a 20 gallon tank. (syphon overflow)

So I have been out of the game for just over a year and found myself missing it. I have recently bought a 90 gallon pre-drilled tank and stand, I am planning on making a mixed reef with lots of SPS. So my next purchase plan is the sump. Not sure what size to get. I am looking at running a zeovit system, and some marine pure in a low flow area of the sump. Skimmer will probably be a Simplicity brand with a foot print of 7X7 inches. Most of the sumps rated for a 90 gallon are between 24-26 inches by 12 inches, these seem small but would give me lots of room for an ato and a zeovit external reactor. Will these smaller sumps work or should I be looking at a bigger one. I like the design of the Eshopps refugium(R100) and the Trigger 26 but little bit worried about the small size. The Eshopps R200 would fit but would limit external equipment. Do the manufacture's size charts work well or do I need a larger size. What are your guys thoughts. If anyone else has any suggestions feel free to let me know. Stand has an under area that is 46"X14"

lion king · Mar 13, 2017

I have a 90g and you're right, the problem is sump size vs room for additional equipment. I find it very cramped and frustrating working in the stand, I have the eshopps r200 sump, a 3g ato reservoir, temp controller, 3 brs dosers w/reservoirs and timers, and other outlets. I had a gfo/carbon reactor and a nitrate reactor BUT man is it cramped, very frustrating. So plan it well.

crash29ca · Mar 13, 2017

That's what I am worried about with the Eshopps R200. If I want a fair amount of sps I will probably have to go to a dossing pump system. That will take more room. What skimmer are you using. Because I was thinking the skimmer section would be big enough 2 split into 2 and have an insump zeovit reactor. Here is a pic of my new tank

lion king · Mar 13, 2017

It's a bubble magus curve 5 skimmer, it does have a small footprint; but I only consider it a decent skimmer-not great. I like the eshopp skimmers I have on my other 2 tanks better, but the footprint is larger on the eshopp skimmer for the same tank size. The thing is to all your stuff mounted and arranged before you fire her up, so you can push the sump around a bit to get to everything. Repeating myself, plan well, I made additions and subtractions along the way which made it more frustrating as the tank was running.

Smo · Mar 13, 2017

If you have an in-sump ZEOvit reactor, it needs to be down stream of the skimmer. I have mine in the return pump section of a Trigger Sys Emerald 34.

michaust · Mar 13, 2017

Check out lifereef sumps they will custom build for you and are very good

crash29ca · Mar 14, 2017

I did look at the life reef sumps. It they are very expensive for what you get. Almost double the price. I am thinking I will go with the Trigger emerald26 after reading Lion kings issues with space. May be able to fit the zeovit in the centre section and still have room for marine bure as well.

Martyd · Mar 14, 2017

I've had two Trigger Systems sumps, a 36 and a now a 39. Both are great. I'd go as large as you can.

USMA36 · Mar 14, 2017

I have a trigger ruby 36. Lots of room if you aren't running a refugium.

justingraham · Mar 14, 2017

I use a Forty breeder and made it the way I wanted

crash29ca · Mar 25, 2017

My sump descision has changed for the last time. I have decided to build my own. This is mostly because I already have a 30 gallon tank to use and I have gotten the acrylic for the baffles for free from my work. So basically it will only cost me a tube of silicone. So that has left me with my next step. Rock. I am not sure how much to order. The only available rock right now is dry Marco rock from Key Largo. Since this will be all dry rock I don't think I will need a full 90 lbs. I am looking for an average amount of rock. Normally I would think to use about 90lbs of live rock but I will get more than that in volume with dry rock. Just not sure how much more. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

justingraham · Mar 25, 2017

Go with 65-75 lbs I would say that's all I'm going to use in my 90

brownsalt92 · Mar 25, 2017

I run a emerald 26 on my 90 sps dominate tank i will post a current pic of tank tommaro evning after i do tank maint.
IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170326/71daddf342810caf2ea388d09d3bb03d.jpg[/IMG]

brownsalt92 · Mar 25, 2017

brownsalt92 said:
I run a emerald 26 on my 90 sps dominate tank i will post a current pic of tank tommaro evning after i do tank maint.
IMG]https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170326/71daddf342810caf2ea388d09d3bb03d.jpg[/IMG]

Xclusive Reef · Mar 26, 2017

here is an idea. forget the trigger sumps and all these expensive tanks. your stand is about what 48Inches long? look for the $1 buck tank sale and get a 30 or even 40 gallon tank and build it. your will probably spend under $100 bucks and you will still have about 11-112 inches to put other equipment in. take that money your saved and spend it on a good skimmer not something crazy like a bubble king but something more like a reef octopus regal 150INT.

crash29ca · Mar 26, 2017

nycluis718 said:
here is an idea. forget the trigger sumps and all these expensive tanks. your stand is about what 48Inches long? look for the $1 buck tank sale and get a 30 or even 40 gallon tank and build it. your will probably spend under $100 bucks and you will still have about 11-112 inches to put other equipment in. take that money your saved and spend it on a good skimmer not something crazy like a bubble king but something more like a reef octopus regal 150INT.

That is exactly what I am doing. I have a 30 gallon tank and I got acrylic for free from my work so I am going to build the sump from that. Then after I have everything else and the tank up and running I will look at building a sump that will fit a bit better. But almost free will work for now

Xclusive Reef · Mar 27, 2017

crash29ca said:
That is exactly what I am doing. I have a 30 gallon tank and I got acrylic for free from my work so I am going to build the sump from that. Then after I have everything else and the tank up and running I will look at building a sump that will fit a bit better. But almost free will work for now

i watched a video once that said glass does not bond well with acrylic. look into it before you start.

justingraham · Mar 27, 2017

nycluis718 said:
i watched a video once that said glass does not bond well with acrylic. look into it before you start.

Works fine for me and everyone who bought there sump kits off exotic marine

U just have to use the right silicone and I believe it was ge silicone 1

crash29ca · Jul 22, 2017

So it's been a while since I have updated. After a few weeks of procrastinating putting my sump together I realized my major design flaw that would have kept water from flowing through my low flow area and creating a dead spot in my sump. Went to LFS that makes aquariums and sumps he helped me with my design and I was able to have him build it for just cheaper than I could buy one for. So here is the new sump which is 14"X30"16"high

crash29ca · Jul 22, 2017

So there are 2 sides to this sump the side that will be in the front will house the skimmer which I just ordered. Bubble Magnus cure A5(DC pump). And the other side has restricted flow to creat a lower flow area. The idea behind this area is to create an area where I can build a larger than normal bacteria population. The zeovit bacteria area where I will use marine pure for a habitat for them.