jonthany
New Member
Hey Guys,
I just wanted to share my experience. I have a Deep Blue 60 Gallon cube. I wanted a cube because I liked the look of it. However, having a cube really limits your options for filtration. I started out with an Eshopps RS-75. I went with this sump because it was the only off the shelf sump that would fit in the cabinet without buying a custom one. The RS-75 is a good sump but there is not enough room in the sump to include a refugium. Here is a pick of my sump the old way I had it set up.
The sump works well but in the last few months I have been having some really bad nitrate issues. I do weekly water changes and I do not over feed. What I really think the system was lacking is refugium. I contacted a couple companies about building a custom one for me but they were either too expensive or not what I was looking for. So I did some thinking. First I thought maybe I could get a smaller glass tank and set it up as a fuge and just plumb it in. But then I would need another pump to pump the water from the sump into the other tank. Then my next problem would have been dividing the tank so that the return wasnt moving the stuff in the fuge around. So after about an hour of sitting in front of the stand with my tape measure, I finally figured out that I could actually fit 2 RS-75 sumps in the cabinet. So that is exactly what I did.
My idea was to drill a hole in both tanks on opposite ends and line them up and connect them with a 2 inch bulk head. The best way to do this would be to move the sump facing forward so I could put the other one next to it.
Now I had to disconnect all the equipment in the tank and the return. I left the tank lights on and the pump in the tank running while I did this whole thing.
Now all that was left to do is the measure 4 times and then cut the sumps. I was really worried about cracking one or both sumps can having the whole project be a disaster so I did a little research and also the people at home depot were helpful for one... or so I thought. So I mark the sump where I want to drill, I get the bit out and go to connect the pilot bit with the hole bit and the pilot bit does not fit the hole bit. I have to run back to home depot right before they close, wait 20 minutes for someone to help me so I don't buy the wrong part again. Finally get home and now all I need to do is drill the hole... Well the new larger pilot bit fits the hole bit but it now is to large for my drill. I have to run to my office to grab my other drill.... Finally im all set.... Mark both sumps with a marker and measure them both twice!!!
Drill the first one...
Drill the second one...
Line them up... Sigh of relief they line up perfectly.
Now that the hard part is done all that is left is to get everything back together...
Reassembling everything wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Got the heater, protein skimmer, phosban reactor hooked back up. Lined the other tank up right next to it.
Clamped the 2 inch bulkhead down as tight as I could.
Filled the substrate with fuge mud.
Leak test
NO LEAKS!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
I filled the rest of the sump up the rest of the way..
I let the water sit in the sump overnight with the protein skimmer running to pull as much particles out of the water as possible and also allow the mud to settle as well.
Whats a project without a little blood lol
This picture is from the next morning after everything has settled
Now its time for some plants and a fuge light....
JOB COMPLETE!!!
I doubted myself the whole way but it everything worked out great. If anyone has any questions let me know.....
I just wanted to share my experience. I have a Deep Blue 60 Gallon cube. I wanted a cube because I liked the look of it. However, having a cube really limits your options for filtration. I started out with an Eshopps RS-75. I went with this sump because it was the only off the shelf sump that would fit in the cabinet without buying a custom one. The RS-75 is a good sump but there is not enough room in the sump to include a refugium. Here is a pick of my sump the old way I had it set up.
The sump works well but in the last few months I have been having some really bad nitrate issues. I do weekly water changes and I do not over feed. What I really think the system was lacking is refugium. I contacted a couple companies about building a custom one for me but they were either too expensive or not what I was looking for. So I did some thinking. First I thought maybe I could get a smaller glass tank and set it up as a fuge and just plumb it in. But then I would need another pump to pump the water from the sump into the other tank. Then my next problem would have been dividing the tank so that the return wasnt moving the stuff in the fuge around. So after about an hour of sitting in front of the stand with my tape measure, I finally figured out that I could actually fit 2 RS-75 sumps in the cabinet. So that is exactly what I did.
My idea was to drill a hole in both tanks on opposite ends and line them up and connect them with a 2 inch bulk head. The best way to do this would be to move the sump facing forward so I could put the other one next to it.
Now I had to disconnect all the equipment in the tank and the return. I left the tank lights on and the pump in the tank running while I did this whole thing.
Now all that was left to do is the measure 4 times and then cut the sumps. I was really worried about cracking one or both sumps can having the whole project be a disaster so I did a little research and also the people at home depot were helpful for one... or so I thought. So I mark the sump where I want to drill, I get the bit out and go to connect the pilot bit with the hole bit and the pilot bit does not fit the hole bit. I have to run back to home depot right before they close, wait 20 minutes for someone to help me so I don't buy the wrong part again. Finally get home and now all I need to do is drill the hole... Well the new larger pilot bit fits the hole bit but it now is to large for my drill. I have to run to my office to grab my other drill.... Finally im all set.... Mark both sumps with a marker and measure them both twice!!!
Drill the first one...
Drill the second one...
Line them up... Sigh of relief they line up perfectly.
Now that the hard part is done all that is left is to get everything back together...
Reassembling everything wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. Got the heater, protein skimmer, phosban reactor hooked back up. Lined the other tank up right next to it.
Clamped the 2 inch bulkhead down as tight as I could.
Filled the substrate with fuge mud.
Leak test
NO LEAKS!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!
I filled the rest of the sump up the rest of the way..
I let the water sit in the sump overnight with the protein skimmer running to pull as much particles out of the water as possible and also allow the mud to settle as well.
Whats a project without a little blood lol
This picture is from the next morning after everything has settled
Now its time for some plants and a fuge light....
JOB COMPLETE!!!
I doubted myself the whole way but it everything worked out great. If anyone has any questions let me know.....
