DIY Sump 20 High or 20 Long?

[Faccia di Pesce]

So I decided to build a Sump after buying a HOB Skimmer and Filer (Tunze) for my new 40 Gallon Breeder. . Live and learn.

Question. I have a 20 Gallon High tank. Would that work? Or should I go with a 20 gallon long? I want to put a Refugium in it.

I just bought this Skimmer for 75.00 which I will use.

Omega 130 Protein Skimmer

Why does BRS recommend this? The Vertex Omega skimmer is one of the nicest skimmers you can find in or out of its price range for tanks up to 100 gallons. We use the Omega line of skimmers on a few different tanks around BRS and find them to work really well, and at the same time looking nicer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Plan on selling my Tunze Skimmer and Filter.

Tunze Comline® Reefpack 250 (0250.000) - AquaCave.com

Tunze Comline® Reefpack 250 (0250.000) - At AquaCave, we offer Best Prices, 5% Back, and Free Shipping on full line of Tunze products.

www.aquacave.com

So which tank would be best for sump? Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Seanb]

So I decided to build a Sump after buying a HOB Skimmer and Filer (Tunze) for my new 40 Gallon Breeder. . Live and learn.

Question. I have a 20 Gallon High tank. Would that work? Or should I go with a 20 gallon long? I want to put a Refugium in it.

I just bought this Skimmer for 75.00 which I will use.

Omega 130 Protein Skimmer

Why does BRS recommend this? The Vertex Omega skimmer is one of the nicest skimmers you can find in or out of its price range for tanks up to 100 gallons. We use the Omega line of skimmers on a few different tanks around BRS and find them to work really well, and at the same time looking nicer...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

Plan on selling my Tunze Skimmer and Filter.

Tunze Comline® Reefpack 250 (0250.000) - AquaCave.com

Tunze Comline® Reefpack 250 (0250.000) - At AquaCave, we offer Best Prices, 5% Back, and Free Shipping on full line of Tunze products.

www.aquacave.com

So which tank would be best for sump? Any suggestions? Thanks.

A 20 gallon long would give you much more space for things like skimmers, heaters, and a refugium.

 

[GaryE]

Here's my 20 long home build sump

 

[Pistondog]

long would give more options

 

[Pistondog]

Here's my 20 long home build sump

Nice big refugium

 

[Cole.mormon]

do the 20 long

 

[GaryE]

Nice big refugium

I need to harvest chaeto

 

[Pistondog]

I need to harvest chaeto

You're good, its not turning white yet.
Chaeto at the surface is the way to go.

 

[GaryE]

Yeah, but it's all the way to the bottom and getting packed in.

It's still not as bad as my other tank.

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

ok long it is!! Thanks!!!

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

Another question. What kind of baffles should I use? I have Polycab Lexan but I heard they can bow and break tank? Should use glass? Also what about the refugium? I heard somewhere that light can cause algae to grow in parts of the sump as it bleeds out of the refugium area? Is that true? if so what baffles should I use for the refugium area?

 

[GaryE]

As you can see in my pics, I used black acrylic.

I got 12" x 12" sheets on amazon. The 20L is 11 7/8 " wide on the inside, so the cuts weren't too bad

 

[GaryE]

And use this to seal it all up. Sticks to glass and acrylic

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

And use this to seal it all up. Sticks to glass and acrylic

Thanks alot! will do.

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

As you can see in my pics, I used black acrylic.

I got 12" x 12" sheets on amazon. The 20L is 11 7/8 " wide on the inside, so the cuts weren't too bad

is this good?

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

Or this one???

 

[GaryE]

Use the 1/4". Much stiffer

 

[TDEcoral]

Bigger and longer is better when it comes to the sump IMO. Also be sure to make the baffles low enough so that when the return pump is off, the sump can hold the water that siphons down the return pipe.

 

[Faccia di Pesce]

Bigger and longer is better when it comes to the sump IMO. Also be sure to make the baffles low enough so that when the return pump is off, the sump can hold the water that siphons down the return pipe.

Thanks I read up about that and will definitely calculate that into my build.

 

[GaryE]

Drill a hole in your return right at or above the water line in your tank for siphon break. 1/8" should do it... That will minimize the amount of water that gets dumped into the sump from the return. You will still have some drain in from your overflow..