Longnose Hawkfish
Valuable Member
Hey everyone! I am planning on buying a new tank and need help with the design of my sump. I don't know what I should put into it besides a skimmer and a Refugium. Any ideas on what I should put in? Thanks! 
DIY Sump?
- Thread starter Longnose Hawkfish
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ks_reeftank
Active Member
Melevsreef.com | Acrylic Sumps & Refugiums
I modeled my diy sump after this. Lets me control flow through the refugium better
I modeled my diy sump after this. Lets me control flow through the refugium better
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
Depends on what you want to accomplish. You really don't "need" a refugium. Most refugiums are too small to be of any real benefit anyway. I just included components that you already had mentioned. You may want to add reactors for carbon, GFO, or bio-pellets. Just depends on your set up and how much room you have. They can be as simple, or as complex as you want them to be. You didn't mention the size of the display or sump.
OP
OP
Longnose Hawkfish
Valuable Member
I really want a refugium for algae growth, and I was planning on getting carbon, GFO, and bio pellets. Would those reactors go above the sump? And the display tank will be a 60g cube, sump will be 20 gallons. Thanks.
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
You may not have much room in a 20 gallon sump (assuming a 20 long??) for reactors also. But, most reactors do not need to actually be inside the sump. You can mount them elsewhere inside your stand.
Just for reference, this is a 20 gallon long sump that I am building for a smaller tank than what you have. Total water volume of this system will only be about 35 gallons.
Here you can see that my GFO & carbon reactors will be mounted (well they are just sitting there in the picture) higher up in my stand.
Just for reference, this is a 20 gallon long sump that I am building for a smaller tank than what you have. Total water volume of this system will only be about 35 gallons.
Here you can see that my GFO & carbon reactors will be mounted (well they are just sitting there in the picture) higher up in my stand.
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OP
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Longnose Hawkfish
Valuable Member
What are the dimensions of your sump? And my reactors will be above the sump area. Is 20g sump to small for a 60g cube? So will just a skimmer and some filter pad be fine in the sump?
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
Standard 20 gallon long (with trim) - 12½" x 30" x 12½". No, a 20 gallon sump is not too small for a 60 gallon. Skimmer and filter pad will be fine, just remember to clean or replace the pad often. The sponge you see in mine is just to catch whatever might come out of the fuge area, before it gets to the return. My tank drain will go into a filter sock to catch the larger pieces that are skimmed out the display.
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Longnose Hawkfish
Valuable Member
I actually think it will have to be a 20g tall to fit in my stand. Would I have to get a different pump to power my reactors? Any good skimmers that would work for me? Thanks! your sump looks nice!
your sump looks nice!
Fin
Professional Procrastinator
I would use a separate pump for your reactors. There are lots of good skimmers out there for that size tank. I don't really want to get into that discussion. Everyone will have their own opinion. I would say that most people would not disagree too much on the Reef Octopus line. The one in my sump is a 10 year old Euro Reef. Still works fine for me.I actually think it will have to be a 20g tall to fit in my stand. Would I have to get a different pump to power my reactors? Any good skimmers that would work for me? Thanks!
gtbarsi
Well-Known Member
If you are going to run bio-pellets, then your fuge is not going to grow much algae, they use the same things. The most your fuge is going to do for you is grow a small amount of algae but it may be enough to grow and maintain a decent pod population.
