refugium size it worth the effort

[Reefermike]

i am building a new sump. the dim that would fit my needs were 14.5 x 14.5 x 24. after the pump and skimmer sections i can make a third area it would be about 8 gal . the current tank is a 90 . I am considering a smaller display. That would be later . Question is the volume available big enough to do any real good.

 

[Anthony Wood]

What's the water level in the sump going to be at? Make the baffles a tad higher and you could easily get 12-15 gallons out of the sump. If the water level is to high for the skimmer raise it a couple inches to the correct height.

Unless your heart is set on making a custom acrylic sump. Why not just use a 20g long glass tank, go to Lowes get some glass baffles cut and silicone them into place. Your done. You are only gaining a tad over a gallon by doing 14.5"x14.5".

Yes the extra volume would be worth it plus it takes ugly equipment out of the display, gives you so many more skimmer options, gives the room for reactors and other equipment additions and finally to have a refugium if you so desire. Point being there are other benefits from a sump other then just water volume.

 

[Reefermike]

issue fitting skimmer and cad light biopellet reactor in the sump. A 20L is not wide enough to support both. I may end up blowing the biopellets off

 

[Anthony Wood]

Make the section longer and don't put them side by side. But go with a custom acrylic if you want nothing wrong with that. Back to your point yes the extra water volume is worth it although it may not make a huge impact on the water chemistry of the tank.

 

[Reefermike]

well in a perfect world i would make it bigger. At the present time i have a standard 90. The stand is custom oak and 48x18 so there is a limited amount of space. I currently use a RL 100 eshopps sump. I have my ato top off under the stand and the sump . I also have dosing containers . I built this sump out of glass. it is 24 x 14.5 x 14.5 inside dim out od. It is 1/4 glass. Yes i can get a slight amount mor volume by raising the baffle for the fuge section . I can get about 10-12 gal which is just over 10 %. If it doesn't look like it will be enough i may go another route and build an algae scrubber. I probably should swap this 90 for a 75.