Please advice - Sump Design for Tight Stand Space

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

So i have this 22.2 US gallon tank and i want to make it a reef aquarium the problem is i have a very small area in my stand because of the pillar in the middle , its split the are in half exactly 22cm * 28cm , so im wondering if that is enough space for a sump setup and i think to design a pump that will look similar to external filters .. So any ideas ?

cdness · Aug 7, 2013

I edited your thread title a bit to try catch those who are able to assist quicker with a detailed title...

Can you post a picture of your stand?

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

cdness said:
I edited your thread title a bit to try catch those who are able to assist quicker with a detailed title...

Can you post a picture of your stand?

Ok no problem , thanks .. Yes i can just a second .

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

Reefing Madness · Aug 7, 2013

One tall tank in one side, and a tall tank in the other, one intake, the other a Fuge. Drill a couple of 1.5" holes (circular) prop one up a bit higher than the other, let gravity feed one to the other.

beaslbob · Aug 7, 2013

It the back just a peice of cardbord or actually wood?

What I did on my 55g was cram in a plastic storage container but with the long dimension for and aft instead of right to left. So the back stuck out behind that tank. (I also set the back on couple furring strips to support the container above the floor.) This had the added advantage that the drain from the overflow was then a "straight" shot to that container.

I had the pump on the other side but my stand did not have the full all the way back divider, just a strip on the center front. So I guess you whould have to drill a hole in your divider for a pipe to ge between both sections.

I would also recommend a seperate refugium container and sump. That way the refugium can remain almost full and the varying water levels would be in the sump.

my.02

KingOfPain86 · Aug 7, 2013

Build a new stand.

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

Reefing Madness said:
One tall tank in one side, and a tall tank in the other, one intake, the other a Fuge. Drill a couple of 1.5" holes (circular) prop one up a bit higher than the other, let gravity feed one to the other.

Thanks for the tips but do i really need a Fuge ? i was thinking to put a Skimmer on the other side , its not enough ?

zemuss · Aug 7, 2013

Yusuf do some research on a ATS (Algae Turf Scrubber). This might be better than a FUGE.

It looks as if you can fit two 5 gallon tanks correct? Use one for the Heater and Skimmer and the other for the ATS.

beaslbob · Aug 7, 2013

Yusuf said:
Thanks for the tips but do i really need a Fuge ? i was thinking to put a Skimmer on the other side , its not enough ?

IMHO your question should be turned around. I personally consider a refugium much more necessary than a skimmer. The plant life does much more than any skimmer plus the skimmer removes many good things like coral larva and food.

still that's just my .

.02

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

beaslbob said:
It the back just a peice of cardbord or actually wood?

What I did on my 55g was cram in a plastic storage container but with the long dimension for and aft instead of right to left. So the back stuck out behind that tank. (I also set the back on couple furring strips to support the container above the floor.) This had the added advantage that the drain from the overflow was then a "straight" shot to that container.

I had the pump on the other side but my stand did not have the full all the way back divider, just a strip on the center front. So I guess you whould have to drill a hole in your divider for a pipe to ge between both sections.

I would also recommend a seperate refugium container and sump. That way the refugium can remain almost full and the varying water levels would be in the sump.

my.02

Thanks for sharing your experience although i could not get the image of your setup exactly

but will take your advises in concern .

beaslbob said:
IMHO your question should be turned around. I personally consider a refugium much more necessary than a skimmer. The plant life does much more than any skimmer plus the skimmer removes many good things like coral larva and food.

still that's just my .

.02

But i saw many people saying that Fuge often collect the NO2 on it and take a lot of work ?

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

zemuss said:
Yusuf do some research on a ATS (Algae Turf Scrubber). This might be better than a FUGE.

It looks as if you can fit two 5 gallon tanks correct? Use one for the Heater and Skimmer and the other for the ATS.

Will do , thanks

Planedoc · Aug 7, 2013

This might not work for you but maybe you could add another piece of furniture next to your tank to house a sump. I've seen people do this for ato tanks. Maybe a stand with a plant on it, dvd storage cabinet, or a cabinet with a cushioned top that you could sit on and stare at your tank. I don't know what extra space you have, just offering a different approach. You could also, maybe, at a support beam from left side to right side under the tank and remove center support. 22 gallon is pretty small as far as tanks go. What is the thickness and type of wood on that stand.

Tapatalk on Galaxy S3

Reefing Madness · Aug 7, 2013

Yea, you can have the one side for the sump and the other side have the skimmer set up. That'll work for ya.need to drill a hole in the side so that you can run the skimmer pump line and return feed.

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

Planedoc said:
This might not work for you but maybe you could add another piece of furniture next to your tank to house a sump. I've seen people do this for ato tanks. Maybe a stand with a plant on it, dvd storage cabinet, or a cabinet with a cushioned top that you could sit on and stare at your tank. I don't know what extra space you have, just offering a different approach. You could also, maybe, at a support beam from left side to right side under the tank and remove center support. 22 gallon is pretty small as far as tanks go. What is the thickness and type of wood on that stand.

Tapatalk on Galaxy S3

Nice idea will keep in mind

, and i really dont know what type of wood but this is chines cheap tank .

Yusuf · Aug 7, 2013

Reefing Madness said:
Yea, you can have the one side for the sump and the other side have the skimmer set up. That'll work for ya.need to drill a hole in the side so that you can run the skimmer pump line and return feed.

In general i think this will be my setup