Why Spend hundreds to Thousands on a Sump

Feet4Fish · Dec 4, 2020

Ashish Patel said:
Here is my new sump for my 400gallon.

240 gallon box. 68"X48"X 16"

The design is going to simple. 3 drains on the left, return on the right, I'll probably glue one sheet of plastic down the middle so water can circle around.

Where did you get the box?

Ashish Patel · Dec 5, 2020

Feet4Fish said:
Where did you get the box?

Duracast Rectangular Open Top Aquaculture Tank - 240 Gallon

This is the Duracast Rectangular Open Top Aquaculture Tank - 240 Gallon. Dura Cast Products manufactures several types of tanks for the Aquaculture industry including: open tops, vertical and cone ...

www.tankandbarrel.com

Ashish Patel · Dec 5, 2020

Ashish Patel said:
Duracast Rectangular Open Top Aquaculture Tank - 240 Gallon

This is the Duracast Rectangular Open Top Aquaculture Tank - 240 Gallon. Dura Cast Products manufactures several types of tanks for the Aquaculture industry including: open tops, vertical and cone ...

www.tankandbarrel.com

Shipping was $250. Wish i had gotten large water storage container to justify this expense but overall i felt $500 is a good price for my needs. Plus i feel it will be easy to keep it clean and it will serve as a back up tank incase my display has a major tank failure

lefkonj · Dec 5, 2020

Sumps aren't about just being pretty but extremely functional. If you have the experience and desire you can build one that is amazing, as many of the posts have shown. If you don't want to be bothered building it you can buy one from a company that has spent the time and resource to make it highly functional.... To each their own but in reality if I am spending 8k on a tank setup, what is another 800 on tested/proven product.

Timfish · Dec 5, 2020

I certainly don't see any added functionality with the designs I've seen with the expensive sump/refugium designs. Simple glass or acrylic tank has always worked for me. I would avoid using tote boxes or food containers however. They will age and become brittle and crack.

Cell · Dec 5, 2020

Why buy a painting when I can paint my own? It will do the same thing, cover up the hole in my wall, right?

Tamberav · Dec 5, 2020

Because it looks cool and you can match the PVC colors!

Some people like to make the sump area of their tank look sexy like a nice car engine or such.

If you got the money to spend then go for it.

Reefvision · Feb 8, 2021

Ashish Patel said:
Shipping was $250. Wish i had gotten large water storage container to justify this expense but overall i felt $500 is a good price for my needs. Plus i feel it will be easy to keep it clean and it will serve as a back up tank incase my display has a major tank failure

Thanks for this link . Shipping is $$ but I feel this is what I needed.

Smokeshow · Feb 8, 2021

I only have $80 in my sump. I got a 55g for free. Cleaned it up and had a local glass shop cut the baffles for me and I siliconed them in.

Ashish Patel · Feb 8, 2021

Reefvision said:
Thanks for this link . Shipping is $$ but I feel this is what I needed.

Best thing is to order a few items in one go! I am now looking at $200 shipping for a 8' sheet of starboard so looking for a storage vat.

ReefCheef · Feb 8, 2021

To each his own. That said, in my experience, the tank up top usually matches the tank below.

Daniel@R2R · Mar 3, 2022

Mickeyt1reef said:
After dealing with other sumps in the past and now my WaterBox sump I was.... to say the least frustrated. After looking for a sump I liked, most pre-fab would need modification or require customization. Custom means $$$$. I have decided to back to a wide open plastic sump for my new build, just like the tank had before for 20 bucks. The sump will start with an Aquamax Filter Roller, Great White skimmer a bucket fuge, thanks for the idea Coral Euphoria, in the past I used Tupperware type containers. Some of the water flow will be diverted through/directed by ceramic media blocks and back to tank via 2 Jebao DCP 3000's. One will drive a manifold and serve pretty much as back up. So, I guess my point is saving 4 to 600 dollars on a sump funds the rest of the gear.

What are your thoughts?

I loved my Geos Reef sump I had on my last tank. I'd order another from them for sure. I do think it comes down to personal preference.

NowGlazeIT · Mar 3, 2022

Diy sump for me. The commercial sumps look cooler and some have the mat roller attachments that I couldn’t do but it’s fun to build/customize your own. Especially when you know what equipment you’ll be running.