Noob looking for Triton sump advice

Whiskeyboy84 · Dec 25, 2017

I have been doing a lot of research and I am in the process of building my system. I just finished the ruff framing of my stand for my 8ft long 200+ gallon reef tank coming beginning to mid Jan. I have a 96”L x 19”W x 22” T cabinet space with a 40” reinforced framed opening the stand is 2x6 and will be skinned inside and out in 3/4” cabinet grade playwood. So I was looking at going with a Trigger Sumps Triton 44 but I feel it is too small for my system even though they say it’s good for a 200g tank. I know I need a 20g or larger Refugium as my first step in filtration I really would like a 40g fugi and a 20g area for my skimmer and a 10g area for my return pumps as well as my pumps for my carbon and GFO reactors, and UV sterilizer. Given the entire stand is 11 ft long because of the recessed opening in my living room where I chose to put the aquarium I feel I will have plenty of room for my ato, and dosing containers opposite of the sump. Also my aquarium is being built with a Center overflow 1.5” drains times 2 and 1” returns times 3. I really want to start this system off on the right foot and going with the Triton method.
So I was thinking about having a custom sump built 15”hx15”w65”L using 30 inches for Refugium the next 20 inches for my Skimmer and the last 15 inches for my return pump keeping my Refugium level at about 13 inches my skimmer level at 12 inches and then my return pumps at 11 inches.
I am not sure how much volume that gives me at this point but I am currently working on that lol. So my question is who would you guys recommend as a fabricator that can help me with the project and what should something like this run me?

Whiskeyboy84 · Dec 25, 2017

So I just figured out the volumes and they are a bit low with the measurements I listed but they meet the Triton 10% minimums I even thought about running two Trigger Systems Triton 44 Sumps opposing each other basically twin Sumps. Lol

st0rmtr000pa · Jan 1, 2018

I just ordered a Triton style sump from Elite Aquatics. They have been great from the very beginning. Their work looks great as well. I’ll let you know how the build quality is when I receive it in the next couple of weeks. Are you in a huge rush to get a sump? I wouldn’t recommend two sumps. Just get a custom one built and I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 1, 2018

Awesome I look forward to hearing and seeing what you get I just contracted one from a custom builder here in San Antonio that my LFS recommended and the photos and sample they have in the shop looks nice I haven’t even got my display tank yet it’s all paid for but is being custom built it’s a 24w96L20H with Center overflow two 1.5 inch drains and three 1 inch returns. I asked for a 30 gal refuge and a skimmer section big enough for a recirculating skimmer, May add an ATO section after the return if there is room because I gave him a 16W15h55L dimensions to stay within. Going clear with black dividers. Nothing crazy I am going to run a 2-3000 gph return pump haven’t picked it out yet looking at sicce and and a 500gph loop for my GFO, Carbon Reactors and UV sterilizer.

landlubber · Jan 2, 2018

after looking over the few commercially available options i decided just to go custom. i haven't got my sump yet from the builder but it allowed me to incorporate all the perks i wanted and maximize the size and in the end its costing a third of what i was considering otherwise.
it does come with a few drawbacks though, companies like synergy and trigger really do a great job of aesthetics whereas mine will be your standard glass "no frills" function over form style sump.

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 2, 2018

I agree the shelf pickings for Triton Method Reefing are slim and they don’t offer anything in the way of covering larger systems 200g and up are left out. I agree with function over form originally I was going to convert a 75g Glass tank myself but once I drew up my plans and measured everything out I just didn’t have the space in my stand for it, height wise.

Jon Coleman · Jan 2, 2018

Whiskeyboy84 said:
I agree the shelf pickings for Triton Method Reefing are slim and they don’t offer anything in the way of covering larger systems 200g and up are left out. I agree with function over form originally I was going to convert a 75g Glass tank myself but once I drew up my plans and measured everything out I just didn’t have the space in my stand for it, height wise.

So I recently installed the Triton 44 sump under my 210 gallon reef and I must say that the build quality and the general functionality of this sump is hard to beat. The water level in both the refugium section and the skimmer section are height adjustable and the 4 position dosing rack makes it really easy to get all of your dosing needs lined up. The one thing I have noticed is that even though my cheato is growing really good, I’m still getting a little hair algae in the sump. I’m kinda wondering if I need a scrubber also to offset what’s not being consumed in the fuge. Either way the Triton 44 is a really solid sump and if you do go that route I don’t think you will regret it.

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 2, 2018

Jon I was worried that the Trigger systems Triton 44 was going to have issues keeping up with nutrient reduction because of the undersized Fuge for a 200+g aquarium. Triton recommendation is 10% minimum so if you want to maximize the Triton Method one would conclude a bigger fuge is better lol. I asked for a 20% volume sized fuge because I want to try and maximize the leverage of the Fuge. Also are you just growing Cheato? If so I have read and seen where guys are using two to three different macros in their Fuge for nutrient reduction. The 10x turnover flow rate through the sump is a min recommendation as well on my 200g setup I am looking at running about 3500g turn over. I will also be leveraging my Fuge with some reef saver blocks and copopods.

Jon Coleman · Jan 2, 2018

That makes complete since. I’m just growing cheato and mangroves and recently switched from the kessil h80 to the a380 and I’m quickly running out of room for the mangroves. I’m running a vectra L1 and even though it’s just barely giving me the 10% I’m at .25 nitrate and 0 phosphate.

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 2, 2018

I am definitely not the smartest reefer I, just have been trolling as many threads, mag articles and YouTube videos I can find educating myself from others experience and trying to avoid as many pitfalls as I can lol. I have a great LFS here in San Antonio that I bounce ideas off of all the time lol for this build. I also will be utilizing the Kessil h380 lights for my Fuge and A360 T5 hybrid setup for my display. It’s going to be a mixed reef aquarium focus is on the reef but will have some fish mainly for my wife and kiddo lol! We have a 55g brackish system also that is a South American tank with a focus on the Mollies that we absolutely adore and was my gateway into the hobby. We started out knowing nothing of fish husbandry and lost a few fish trying to wing it after we lost one I started reading and finding what I was doing wrong and corrected my technique if you will. Then my wife accepted fish from her moms tank this was before I raised my salinity and brought the tank from the realm of freshwater to brackish. This ended up introducing Ich to our tank and we lost 1/4 of our babies! Now we have successfully transitioned our mollies to the brackish environment which I found was their natural habitat and have had three broods so they must be happy lol! So we have a 10g fry tank that I just transitioned the first juveniles back to the main display and have the 10 fry I saved in the fry tank. We aren’t breeding because we intentionally picked all females but they can store sperm for up to 6 months so far all the offspring we have saved appear to be females any males will be seperated and taken to the LFS because I don’t want inbreeding lol that was outlawed in Texas atleast 10 years ago lol!

st0rmtr000pa · Jan 2, 2018

Whiskeyboy84 said:
Awesome I look forward to hearing and seeing what you get I just contracted one from a custom builder here in San Antonio that my LFS recommended and the photos and sample they have in the shop looks nice I haven’t even got my display tank yet it’s all paid for but is being custom built it’s a 24w96L20H with Center overflow two 1.5 inch drains and three 1 inch returns. I asked for a 30 gal refuge and a skimmer section big enough for a recirculating skimmer, May add an ATO section after the return if there is room because I gave him a 16W15h55L dimensions to stay within. Going clear with black dividers. Nothing crazy I am going to run a 2-3000 gph return pump haven’t picked it out yet looking at sicce and and a 500gph loop for my GFO, Carbon Reactors and UV sterilizer.

Sounds like a nice setup! I had my tank custom made as well. It’s a 60L x 24W x 20H (125 gallon). External overflow in the back. Star fire all around and eurobraced. 3 - 1” drawings for bean animal design. 2 - 1” returns. I also have a frag system next to it with the same tank designs . It’s 30L x 24W x 10H (30 gallons). What skimmer are you thinking of going with? My sump is going to be all black with clear windows on the side. It’s going to look like the picture I posted but the Triton Method And have a few other customizations i.e. extra bulkheads etc. I can’t wait to get this baby going. Sicce makes a good pump. I had one in my last tank. No complaints. I’m going with the Vectra m1 this time for both tank. The pump is super quite! I’d recommend it. It’s smart going with a separate pump for your reactors.

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 2, 2018

Nice I am still building my stand it’s a built in in an 11ft recess in my living room that I have wall mounted my TV over and built two cabinets on either side one with drawers in it and the other holds my electronics for my Tv like my Dish receiver, Xbox, and my Desktop tower. Right now I have a Magnus Curve 5 for getting the system up and running going to start with frags and figure a smaller Skimmer will suit once the Reef matures and Skimmate Output our paces the curve 5 I will switch to a Reef Octopus Skimmer, probably a recirculating model.

Erick Armanii · Jan 8, 2018

Hey whiskey I’m in a similar situation expect I ended up ordering the triton 44.. my question to you and the forum.. if your running triton and a UV sterilizer how are you getting the recommended 10x turn over? I had a bad ich outbreak on my old 125 that I battled and won after a long 3-4 months! I’m now upgrading and going triton but after my grueling battle with ich I will forever run UV

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 8, 2018

Erick I am going to be running an abyzz return pump but the UV sterilizer as well as my carbon/gfo reactors will be ran off a manifold with gate valves to dial down the flow.

Erick Armanii · Jan 8, 2018

Same! Everything I read and all the vids I’ve seen is ran thru the manifold.. I’m just wondering how to get 10xs turn over with lower flowing GPH in the sterilizer...

Are you returning the UV back into the sump or is it being fed to the Display and am I missing something?! Help!! Lol

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 8, 2018

Oh lol yeah back to the sump

Erick Armanii · Jan 8, 2018

Ok ok ok now it’s adding up! Send a pic once it’s built!

Whiskeyboy84 · Jan 8, 2018

Will do still a few weeks out on the Tank checked on it today and my sump builder is a month or so out having him build my ato container with four 1000ml containers attached to the ato for my Core7 elements really taking my time and doing this right the first time! Contemplating building my own hood to run T5’s with Kessil A360’s or just running the 5 A360’s but ehh! As far as the sump it’s going to be two 1.5 inch returns feeding a 30g Fuge followed by my Skimmer and return sections the Abyzz a200 DC will handle the return work it has a 1.5 inch out put so I plan to run 1.5 inch to 2 inch for my manifold I will have 5 T’s to give me ports for my UV Sterilizer, Carbon, GFO, a port to hook a garden hose to to aid with water changes since it’s in the middle of my house lol I will use the pump to pump water out as I use my transfer pump from my RODI reserve tanks to pump fresh water in if or when I ever have to do a major water change.