[Drafterdude]

Ok so here is my idea.
I started several months ago with a sea clear system II tank with a built in wet dry filter and protein skimmer, the problem is that the there is only 8" of display area from front to back. so i bought a 90 gallon glass aqaurium for a 100 bucks, with a top and rounded front cornes or zero edge as i belive they are called, mind you it is only zero edge on the front and not the back at any rate my idea is this, since i am building my reef in the new 90.
I was wondering what others thoughts on making the 55 tank a sump and iether maintain the wet dry filer and protein skimmer and add an additional protein skimmer and fill the main area of the sump with live rock. or should i just get rid of the wet dry filter and basically plug the back filter area off and just use the front area as the sump.
Ideas comments? see attached pictures of the new tank and drawing of the existing tank/proposed sump.
best regards

[NATIVEVAMAN]

Dennis,I have to say that I am not exactly in love with your design(and I say that with nothing but kindness in my heart).The bio balls are not really a good idea as they are difficult to to clean and have been accused of massive nitrate build ups.The best way to use a sump is with biological filtration,using algeas like cheato or calurpa.The space you have allowed for filtration is to small to be succesful.Also I have never seen a sump designed with a specific "viewing area".On the up side,if I was going to build a sump I would use the exact tank you have,its perfect.Have a look at this drawing and see what you think.

[Drafterdude]

Native,

Maybe i did not explain my plan as well as i should have, i have heard the same about the bio balls.
So one of my thoughts was to exclude the back portion all together just seal it off and use the remaining front portion as a sump on the sea clear by creating roughly 40 gallons of sump with live rock and a protein skimmer. basically the half hexagon area where all the filtration is currently would just be dead space and the front area would be the sump. so the 55 would sit on the floor just below and behind and would be gravity fed from the main display.
I have talked to a coupe of local reefers and they dont use fuges they use rubber maid tubs 50 gal size for sumps and just place tons of live rock and a capable skimmer, to increase water volume and natural filtration from live rock. I got the idea from a guy i bought my PC lighting from, he basically has around 8000 gallons of tanks set up and he uses a huge skimmer and live rock rubble for filtration, is an awesome setup to see, he raises corals, and clowns, all the tanks are connected via plumbing. and all his livestock looks exceptionally good. His main display is around 1500 gal and is almost 6 feet in depth.

basically the sump would take a shape like this if the existing filtration area is exclude from the final design. see previous pictures.

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Best regards