Need sump/refugium recommendations

[Breakthecycle2]

Right now my sump is an Elso sump 1000. I want to add a refugium and right now (for those with knowledge on what the sump looks like), I am using a very small chamber with some chaeto and live rock and a light. I do not want to use the ATO section of the sump for this, so I am left with buying something else and selling this one. My tank is an Elos 90 gallon (48x24).

 

[Daddio]

Bought a sump/refugium from this guy on eBay: fishstix_sumps on eBay

Don't have it online but the build quality is great. I bought the 47" long model and it come with the nifty light, bulkheads and filter socks. It is beautiful (almost don't want to hide I under the tank. Huge refugium area - about 20x18.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Those look really nice. The build quality is OK?

 

[Daddio]

It's incredible. I was afraid to buy something off ebay but am more than happy with the build quality.

 

[TriggerThis]

Look online and find the design of a sump you like and tweak the measurements so it fits all your equipment correctly.
Then go buy a used glass aquarium that takes up as much space as possible under your stand.
Then go to lowes and buy a couple sheets of 1/4 acrylic and aquarium safe silicone.
Finally. Take it home and cut/glue the pieces in where your measurements say.
There you have a $350 name brand sump for maybe $40 and it's custom to your system.
Come one people, it's just a tank with some dividers in it.

Here's mine. It's modeled after a trigger systems sump that runs over $250
Mine was $32

 

[Breakthecycle2]

It's incredible. I was afraid to buy something off ebay but am more than happy with the build quality.

Can you tell me how big the refugium area is?

 

[Daddio]

It's about 20x18. Will hold a depth of about 10 inches of water.

TriggerThis is right in many ways though... I have a home-built sump now and didn't have the time (or skill) to to build something nicer than what I presently have. I also have an in wall build so I spend a lot of time behind the tank it it will be nice to see something attractive rather than my amateur sloppy attempt at a sump. His is very nice and neatly done!

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Yeah my attempt at making a sump would fail miserably. lol

 

[NanaReefer]

Yeah my attempt at making a sump would fail miserably. lol

If I can do it so can you! Did this tonight. 20L Never did this before. Watched a ton of YouTube videos. Measured with my eyes only. From right to left...intake, fuge, bubble trap and return. Easy peezy!

 

[MechEngineer]

Just did a custom sump for my new frag tank, $40 for 40gal long tank, $40 for the baffles cut, $10 for the aquarium silicone, designed the sump from experience, working well

 

[TriggerThis]

I designed mine to hold the maximum volume of water possible without overflowing when the power goes out.
It's a 29 gallon tank and it runs with 26 gallons of water in it.
Then when the return turns off, 3 gallons drain back down lol.
So yeah it's a 1/4 from the top but it never goes over
I did that so I can run the max water volume possible for my setup. The more water the better. IMO

 

[MechEngineer]

The way to design, more water better! Also always plan for overflow my frag tanks 45g and dumps just the right amount when pumps off so about roughly 35 of the 40 gal capacity used

 

[jason g]

Look online and find the design of a sump you like and tweak the measurements so it fits all your equipment correctly.
Then go buy a used glass aquarium that takes up as much space as possible under your stand.
Then go to lowes and buy a couple sheets of 1/4 acrylic and aquarium safe silicone.
Finally. Take it home and cut/glue the pieces in where your measurements say.
There you have a $350 name brand sump for maybe $40 and it's custom to your system.
Come one people, it's just a tank with some dividers in it.

Here's mine. It's modeled after a trigger systems sump that runs over $250
Mine was $32

This is exactly what I did with both my sumps I had. I just went out and bought a 20g and 30g tanks and had my uncle place the acrylic baffles inside and I instantly saved 200$. Much cheaper way to go and it's customized to my needs.

 

[VicD81]

I built my own but then cracked it within a day of having in online!

 

[Daddio]

Doh! It was really nice!

 

[prsnlty]

Just did a custom sump for my new frag tank, $40 for 40gal long tank, $40 for the baffles cut, $10 for the aquarium silicone, designed the sump from experience, working well

Nice sump! Question. How do you figure out your baffle height and leave room for back flow when power cuts off unexpectedly? (Florida here, the lightning capital of the world, lol) I will be doing a 55g sump for a 180g DT and will be dividing it by 3. Left to right: |overflow+skimmer/fuge/return|

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Anyone know anything about this one?

ESHOPPS | ADV-300

 

[VicD81]

Anyone know anything about this one?

ESHOPPS | ADV-300

That bubble trap doesn't seem too useful. If you remove the sponge in the end you are going to get lots of bubbles. Its missing a baffle.

 

[Daddio]

Not sure if you want a refugium, but looks like there is only room for either a skimmer or refugium... Not both.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

That bubble trap doesn't seem too useful. If you remove the sponge in the end you are going to get lots of bubbles. Its missing a baffle.

The bubble trap is behind the black backing.