Been driving my self nuts over picking a refug/sump!?

[SamsReef]

Sumps should be basic in my opinion. Simple three compartments in an aquarium.

First compartment - large enough to fit your slimmer and returns(filter socks are a waste of money and time)

Large second compartment where you can either grow your macro algae, collect detritus once in a month and kill all micro bubbles from slimmer. You can also hang ur reactors here.

Third one for return. You can either silicon the baffles in between urself or get it done for cheap.

Please don’t pay a lot for those sumps which are impractical.

Sam

 

[Flexin]

The R-100 is for 75 to 120 gallons. You should be able to get it for under $200. It has room for probes, skimmer, heater. However, measure the size of the heater so you know where it will go and it will fit. If you have a backup heater, I think things will be tight. But heck, if you have room for a 300 why not

For the person with the heater in the second return, consider taking the bulkhead out and submerge the heater (if it’s a heater that should be submerged). That looks fairly close. Also when you change the sock the overflow height will be a little lower than when the sock is dirty and the height rises.

 

[danreefman]

I had an eshopps refugium. The medium cube. Had heater fully submerged in second hole.

There is a lot of spots where the poop settles in these refugium. I had two pumps to keep everything rolling. Needless to say it is not a good design. More simple 3-4 chamber refugium is better.

Sounds earlier like you were in the market to spend 300-500 on a sump. Go to advanced acrylics and order a pre-made order costume order one. I had one made with covers. Covers really help with salt creep, consistent perimeters, evaporation. Of coarse with all the bells and whistles going to have to at least double that budget.

Honestly some of the best tanks I've seen in person literally have a tub with rock or chaeto or both. With a sock tied to return hose and a pump sitting on the other side. No baffles. Simple works well.

 

[PopaSmurph]

I know you don't want to cut acrylic so check out Jax.racks on eBay he was very helpful in making custom baffles to meet my build plans for my sump I didn't go with filter socks so I added another adjustable baffle and you can pick any color acrylic here's a pic of mine the empty chamber is my refugium my h80 is here just waiting on my cheato from algae barn. It's a 20g long and built it for just under $150 all I had to do was silicone baffles in place.

 

[vetteguy53081]

The three best units out there for durability and space I have seen are : Synergy reef, Trigger systems and Skimz. I have synergy and skimz and love them