Sump Ideas for Unused Space

acesfull44 · May 6, 2016

So, I am in the process of recovering from some unfortunate issues with my DT:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/came-home-to-a-disaster.247271/

One of the really nice benefits of this unfortunate circumstance, is I made a MASSIVE upgrade in my sump. I now have a 60x24x20 sump, which provides me with 74.8 gallons of water volume vs my old sump of 29.9 gallons.

SO, now I have this:

I would like to hear ideas of what you would do with the return section of 24x18x12, which is 22.4 gallons of volume. Clearly you can see my return pump is lost in this section, and I feel like its a TON of space that is going to waist, so lets hear them ideas!

Tegridy Reef · May 6, 2016

Move that apex that salt will rust that eb8 out u got an algae scrubber

ReefQueen · May 6, 2016

Add a baffle, some egg crate and a light and presto, frag section

acesfull44 · May 6, 2016

That guy said:
Move that apex that salt will rust that eb8 out u got an algae scrubber

Nice thought. I am moving my RODI stuff around which will allow me to put my board that houses all my apex goodies in its place, which is safely away from the sump enough to not be worried about that. Good lookin out though!

DannyB · May 6, 2016

Looks like a good amount of space for any reactors you may need?

acesfull44 · May 6, 2016

ReefQueen said:
Add a baffle, some egg crate and a light and presto, frag section

Great idea, and I actually have a nice 2 bulb T-5 fixture that would work real nicely!

acesfull44 · May 6, 2016

DannyB said:
Looks like a good amount of space for any reactors you may need?

It is a great amount of space, and as you can prolly see, I have a GFO reactor and a biopellet reactor in the middle chamber, along with my skimmer so I am not sure what other reactors I would need moving forward, but I will keep that in mind for sure. Thanks.

ReefQueen · May 6, 2016

acesfull44 said:
Great idea, and I actually have a nice 2 bulb T-5 fixture that would work real nicely!

Also I don't see a fuge, is that in the works at all? Sorry about you recent issues, but congrats on the upgrade! I would kill you be able to fit anything bigger then a 15 gallon in my stand, for the reactors mentioned above

ReefQueen · May 6, 2016

ReefQueen said:
Also I don't see a fuge, is that in the works at all? Sorry about you recent issues, but congrats on the upgrade! I would kill you be able to fit anything bigger then a 15 gallon in my stand, for the reactors mentioned above

Oh jeeze, kill to, not kill you lol.

acesfull44 · May 6, 2016

ReefQueen said:
Also I don't see a fuge, is that in the works at all? Sorry about you recent issues, but congrats on the upgrade! I would kill you be able to fit anything bigger then a 15 gallon in my stand, for the reactors mentioned above

In my previous sump, I had one that had Sand, Live Rock and Chaeto. In the first chamber with the filter sock I have that Live Rock, and Chaeto in there, but my bud talked me out of moving my sand in there so I threw that out.

ReefQueen · May 7, 2016

acesfull44 said:
In my previous sump, I had one that had Sand, Live Rock and Chaeto. In the first chamber with the filter sock I have that Live Rock, and Chaeto in there, but my bud talked me out of moving my sand in there so I threw that out.

Ah ok, I didn't see a light so wasn't sure. My fuge doesn't have sand either

acesfull44 · May 7, 2016

ReefQueen said:
Ah ok, I didn't see a light so wasn't sure. My fuge doesn't have sand either

I am moving a bunch of stuff around because of this, RODI unit, my apex board, etc, and once I do that I will put the mini LED light I had on my old sump back on over that section.
This is it, and its awesome! http://www.zetlight.com/index.php/products?id=20

Reefersutherland_ · May 7, 2016

jsker · May 7, 2016

Start your own mangrove plantation

acesfull44 · May 7, 2016

jsker said:
Start your own mangrove plantation

Would this take place or be part of a fuge? What would the benefit of this be?

jsker · May 7, 2016

acesfull44 said:
Would this take place or be part of a fuge? What would the benefit of this be?

I am still reading up and the benifits of mangrove in the sump, from what I under stand the mangrove are also a good natural filer for phosphate and nitrate

Baby Ray · May 7, 2016

I would maybe add in a frag rack somewhere in there.
Also I would move your refugium to the chamber before the return pump, or in the return pump chamber. If the fuge is before the skimmer, all the pods will just become skimmer food.
You could also use baffles to cut off a section in the return pump area and have a small tank for a mantis shrimp or something like that.

That would be really cool.
Hope this helps. I wish I had extra space in my sump