Sump Construction/Tank Upgrade

[jcolon2]

Hello everyone. I would like to give a synopsis of my new upgrade before I even get into the sump. I purchased a 55 gallon tank and stand for 50 dollars (I actually love the dimensions). I purchased a new redsea wavemaker for 40 dollars (I need to purchase 2 powerheads, preferably koralias). I own the bak pak 2 protein skimmer. I purchased a heater from walmart, and will be combining it with my tetrafin heater. I have 30 pounds of very fine live sand from petco. I combined it with 20 pounds of live caribsea sand (not nearly as fine, which I like). I purchased a Coralife 48" Deluxe series fixture (brand new, 2 65 watt True Actinic 03 Blue and 2 65 watt 10,000K Daylight straight pin compact fluorscent lamps, 2 on/off switches with 2 cords for 2 separate timers, built-in electronic ballasts and cooling fans, highly-polished reflector, acrylic lens cover). I currently only have 18 pounds of live rock (I need at least 37 more pounds). I have a cleanup crew: snails, hermits, blood shrimp, and a cleaner shriimp). I have two oceallaris clowns. I have 2 xenia frags, armor of gods zoos, unknown zoos, lunar eclipse zoos, green polyp toadstool leather, pink monti cap, ORA green birdsnest, pagoda cup, Tyree full spectrum chalice, orange agent acan, red acan, a green palythoa, and orange lobo which will be arriving from wetthumbfrags. I purchased two beautiful maxima clams and am having them held at the lfs.

I would like to construct a sump. The tank is not drilled; I am ordering an overflow box from ebay (probably an Eshopps model). Due to weight issues the sump can only be 20 gallons or less. I wanted a 15 gallon however, due to cost I am merely going to use the 20 gallon that I upgraded from. I would like for it to house my protein skimmer and 2 heaters. I also wanted to build a refugium into it. Thanks. Oh btw, I am not the best handyman, so this will be interesting.

Justin

 

[KathyC]

Are you sure a 20g is going to fit under the 55 - what kind of stand do you have?

What wattage are the heaters?

 

[cowfish]

I'm not sure it's practical to have a sump/fuge/skimmer in a 20g tank. I'd just add a couple of baffles to act as a bubble trap for the skimmer. One half of the sump for the skimmer and the other for the return pump. Evaporation will occur primarily in the return section of the sump so you don't want it to be too small or you run the risk of burning out your return pump. An ATO will help.

Also, I don't think you can use regular Koralias on a wavemaker. They're not designed to start and stop. There are controllable Koralias that are made for this, but I don't think they'd work with the Red Sea wavemaker.

 

[jcolon2]

Hi Kathy. I believe the 1st heater is 200 watts, the one I put in the 55 (I will probably upgrade to a 300 in the near future) However, it is operating fine, plus I will combine it with the 100 watt heater that I use for the 20 gallon (they both are keeping the tanks at 78 degrees). Cowfish, should I just keep the protein skimmer in the regular tank and add the fuge to the sump? I am also confused as to how the baffles actually work.

 

[KathyC]

Overkill on the heaters unless you live in an unheated space
I wouldn't put more than 2 100w heaters on that tank, they will be plenty.

Is the 20 a 20 Long?
I am breaking down one of my tanks in the next few weeks (replacing it with my new 45g Marineland cube ) - it has a 20L sump - it might be pictured in the thread..will see if I can dig that up for you. Might help you with design

 

[jcolon2]

Thank you Kathy. I researched the CPR 150, I love it already. Everything for my tank is pretty much ordered/set up. I am only looking for Live rock now. Once I do I am going to post pictures : )

Cowfish: Thank you for the help. I followed through with your advice. I purchased 2 maxijet 1200s to go with the wavemaker. I am expecting them anyday. Also, do you still have the xenia and kenya tree? Thanks.