Help building my 20 or 30 gallon sump!

[roypersson]

Hello,

I'm completely green to the saltwater aquarium hobby. I've struggled though the past two months of of curing 100 pounds of live rock in my 55 gallon tank. I've made ALL the typical rookie mistakes. When trading away 10 pounds of my live of my live rock today to a fellow reef keeper he took one look at my tank and said - if you wanna be a reef keeper you need to set up a sump.

He referred this website (which has been great reading tonight) and now I seek more advice on what I need to build a sump.

He said I need a 20 or 30 Gallon Acrylic tank which I can put organic matter into (such as seaweed), an overflow box, a mag 5 water pump and some lighting.

I want to build this out of as much used equipment as possible. Can people please comment on where I should look to collect these items (maybe post on here?) and how much I should expect to pay for thest things new / or used?

Thanks so much - this is my first post - sorry so long.

Good night and happy new year!

Roy Persson

 

[rkaragozler]

welcome to mr. is your 55 gallon tank on a stock stand,
Mods if this is in a wrong thread please move.

 

[INNEED]

welcome to mr

 

[roypersson]

It is on a metal stand.... plenty of space below for a sump. Can definitely fit a 30 gallon on there if I wish.

 

[rkaragozler]

ok these are the dimensions of a 30 gallon, 36 1/4 x 12 5/8 x 16 3/4.
do you have a skimmer?

 

[roypersson]

Hello,

Yes I have a coralife 65 gallon rated tank skimmer. The person who was here said it was perfect for what I am running.

I do have those dimension under the tank - just checked. With ten inches in height to spare for hand room and lighting.

Roy

 

[rkaragozler]

Is this your skimmer
http://www.marineandreef.com/Coralife_65_Skimmer_Coralife_Super_Skimmer_65_p/res33000.htm

 

[roypersson]

Yes this is!

 

[rkaragozler]

Ok I did some research on that skimmer you could run it externally or internally
Which one would you like to do, this will determine how your baffles will be set up

 

[roypersson]

Which is easier to manage or makes less mess? If both have no advantages in these areas then I guess I would put it in the sump to save space under the tank.

 

[rkaragozler]

in sump would be your best bet, just incase it leaks.
do you have a return pump?

 

[roypersson]

No - other than the skimmer - I have no other equipment necessary from the skimmer.

These are the tips I need. On the equipment I should search for, the costs for them and about how much I should expect to pay.

 

[rkaragozler]

1- 30 gallon tank, their is a $1 a gallon sale going on now at petco I believe, look it up on the forum.
2- mag 7, new goes for about $100
3-4 pieces of glass cut free
4-overflow box, a member here had one for $10 bucks.
5- a couple pices of hose free I have some laying around.
6- a couple of clamps about $1 each at HD
7- a light if you want a fuge $45 at HD
8- a sock holder new about $25.

 

[rkaragozler]

member is swervo513 he has an overflow box from eshopps $10

 

[roypersson]

Very helpful information! Thanks so much! I assume the clamps have to be plastic so they don't corrode.

Whats a fuge?

 

[rkaragozler]

i like plastic ones better a little pain to work with but won't corrode.
A fuge is where you put your macro algae in to help with removal of your nitrates using caulerpa or chaeto, also and area for copepods and amphipods to grow, it's just another are for biological filtration

 

[rkaragozler]

Here is one that I designed for another member here (CheckSix187)

 

[roypersson]

looks simple... but somehow very complicated

I'm on the petco website right now trying to learn more about the $1 gallon deal.