Wanting to add sump

[labnjab]

I've decided that I want to eventually add a sump to our 29 gallon, but I had a few questions. All I really want it for is to hide my skimmer and heater and add more water volume. Should I also add some live rock to it? I was thinking of a 15-20 gallon tank for the sump. Also, does anyone have a recomended brand of overflow and pump and a good place to get them, or are there any premade setups?. I know i need 2 pumps, checkvalves and plumbing, and one pump needs to be higher output then the other, what would be the recomended GPH for my setup?

I'm still planning this out, and it will be a few months before I get it running but I'd like to get a shopping list together and start buying parts over a few months. Thanks for any help and info.

[travie]

I've decided that I want to eventually add a sump to our 29 gallon, but I had a few questions. All I really want it for is to hide my skimmer and heater and add more water volume. Should I also add some live rock to it? I was thinking of a 15-20 gallon tank for the sump. Also, does anyone have a recomended brand of overflow and pump and a good place to get them, or are there any premade setups?. I know i need 2 pumps, checkvalves and plumbing, and one pump needs to be higher output then the other, what would be the recomended GPH for my setup?

I'm still planning this out, and it will be a few months before I get it running but I'd like to get a shopping list together and start buying parts over a few months. Thanks for any help and info.

I don't think you need to pumps. Just one pump to move water from the sump to the main tank. The overflow box takes water down to the sump.

You should add LR to the sump.The overflow box needs to be rated for more GPH then the water pump.

Bigger the sump in volume the better.

[labnjab]

Thank you travie. So here's what i'm looking at for making this happen

tank, around 15-20 gallons
pump (any recomendations?)
overflow (any recomendations?)
plumbing (probably pvc)
live rock and base rock
possible live sand,
check valves
powerhead

Things i have

skimmer
heater
lighting

Is there anything I'm missing?

[cocoa_pleco]

tank- 15g long or 20g long if you can
pump- im using the Lifegard QuietOne, its meant for sump and other anti-gravity applications
overflow- the company TOM has a good overflow, its a bit pricey ($100) but it has a auto shutoff incase of a power outage. you can use a simple $30 overflow off of ebay too
plumbing- yep, go to home hardware and make your own out of PVC

[Dr.Fragenstein]

There are many "pre-made" sumps out there, Precision Marine, Eshopps, Pro Clear, All Glass..... The DIY will save you $$ and add cutomizing options. I would get the biggest tank you can. If its a SUMP it doesn't typically contain rock and sand. It holds water and your equipment. If it is a REFUGIUM than it will contain rock and sand and macro algae but typically NOT a skimmer and equipment. OR you can do a combo by putting in a baffle and putting your skimmer on one side and the sand, rock and algae on the other w/ a light of course. Eshopps has probably the cheapest over flow box on the market but it does not have some of the bonus features the more costly ones do, like a air lifting pump and so forth. I would include BALL VALVE to the list as well and most likely a union or two. Mag Drive pumps are nice also


Good Luck

[labnjab]

what would the best for my setup? Refugium only, sump only, or a combo. I really want to hide all the equipment that I can, but I also don't want to spend more money then i have into the tank already. I know I want to do one because I know it benifits a reef tank greatly, but I want to do it right, or I might as well not do it at all.

[cocoa_pleco]

IMO sump only works for you, unless you want a fuge for growing frags/nursing sick fish

to get a cheap sump post a local ad, you'd be amazed what people have sitting around. i got my sump cheap (retails for around $500 new) and the guy just had it sitting in his basement for a few years

[labnjab]

I'll go with just a sump, seems like the eaisest and most cost efficient, and will free up room in the tank and allow for the display level to stay consistant. No sand, or rock, just equipment and pumps. If I want to do frags i'l get some of those small shelves that attach to the tank with suction cups, sorta like this http://www.mag-racks.com/
Now im off to make my christmas parts list...lol. My family always wonders what to get me
I'm not gonna put it under the stand now that the 29 is on. I have room under my 55 gallons stand which is right next to it, which gives me room for a 20 long. I'm looking on craigslist and free cycle for a tank now. Thanks you to everyone for the help.


edit: I'll post an add on craigslist for a sump now, thanks for the suggestion