[WNY Reefer]

Hello Fellow Reefers, I'm in need of thoughts and ideas for a sump system. I have a 55g and there isn't much room in the stand area. Does anyone have thoughts on how to either find a sump system for a 10" wide space, or ideas of how to make one. I've been to melevsreef for ideas, just looking for any other thoughts

[glampka]

Another idea from the ones I sent by PM - can you put a sump in an adjoining room?

[christopherkeene9]

Same situation here. Adding it to another room isn't possible. What are the alternatives?

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by WNY Reefer

Hello Fellow Reefers, I'm in need of thoughts and ideas for a sump system. I have a 55g and there isn't much room in the stand area. Does anyone have thoughts on how to either find a sump system for a 10" wide space, or ideas of how to make one. I've been to melevsreef for ideas, just looking for any other thoughts

What are the dimensions that you are working with and do you want it hidden under your existing stand? Are you placing your protein skimmer in it or exactly what equipment would you like your sump to house? Are you thinking of making it double as a refugium or strictly a sump?

I can help with all of them, just want to narrow my suggestions to you.

[wesley6610]

Originally Posted by christopherkeene9

Same situation here. Adding it to another room isn't possible. What are the alternatives?

What are your requirements alsot that you would like your sump to have?

[WNY Reefer]

I'm planning on putting it under my stand if possible. The dimensions to work with under my stand are 36"L 10"W 20"H. I'm planning on putting my skimmer and heater in the sump. If I have the room, I would like to double as a refugium. Look forward to hear your thoughts

[wesley6610]

Okay, I will tell you that since it is only 10" W to work with you will have to get the skinniest Fish tank or plastic tub you can find, I would suggest a 15 gallon or 20 gallon high tank. See, you have more than enough height and length, but the width is what limits the size sump. What size tank do you have again?

[WNY Reefer]

55 gallon tank

[wesley6610]

Okay, well I would suggest using either the 10, 15, or 20 H to get your refugium going, what size and kind of protein skimmer do you have? Is it hang on the back style? If so I would suggest leaving it on the display tank and instead I would use the sump strictly for macroalgae filtration and perhaps a DSB and som LR rubble. If you do it this way, you maximize a little sump area and still get the benefits of a reguim under your stand. Also, it will allow you to avoid skimmer level fluctuations that can come from evaporation of such a small sump size. You will just have to partition off the return pump area in the sump and make sure you have the right size pump, perhaps a Rio 1100 would do the trick. Also, you will have to get a overflow box or DIY one to deliver the water to the sump if your tank doesn't already have a built in overflow area. I would estimate that this entire project purchased and not DIY should cost about $200, but the benefits far outweigh that initial setup.

Let me know if I can help further.

[WNY Reefer]

I was really hoping to put my skimmer down underneath. i been having anothe thought. Would I be able to possibly restructure my back brace of the stand. I was thinking of attaching a piece of wood and extend it out a little the have a support piece of wood to attach that to.

[wesley6610]

That is another possibility, but If you go that route I would suggest that you empty the tank to about 20% your water level and take it off. I wouldn't remove that brace with a full tank still on it while you contruct your sump and new support brace system. I have seen some people do it and it didn't turn out well at all.

[WNY Reefer]

I thought of another possibilty. I'm thinking of attaching a L-brace support in the middle of each opening in the back of the stand. i'm thinking that would give plenty of support. what do you think.

[wesley6610]

An L-brace may work in fact, but it also depends on how much live rock and sand you have in your tank as to how well you build the L-brace. You can assume that each actual gallon of salt water is estimated at 8 lbs if I'm not mistaken, so take all of that into account and if that L-Brace can hold that weight if for some reason your tank isn't very well leveled, I say go for it. But at anytime if your feeling unsure, I would stay stop and ask someone. LFS or a Home Depot/Lowes associate on balancing weight would be a good source of practical real time applications. Also, just take a look at how they construct their stands and braces in your LFS provided that its made out of real wood and not professionally done and covered up.

[WNY Reefer]

Wesley,

Thanks again for the input. I'm thinking by using 2 braces would be plenty. right now the center brace piece of wood is a 1x4. I'm thinking of using a 1x4 on top part of L-brace and the back part would be a 2x4. Ihave about 60 lbs LR and 40 lbs LS

[wesley6610]

I'm sure that your two brace system for the weight you have outlined will be more than enough. Please take pics so that I can see your progress.

[gimmito]

Do you have an acrylic place that's local ? If you do, give them your dimensions and see how much it would cost. I know marc at meleve's reef makes them also. There's also a guy who goes by acrylicman on ebay who does custom jobs. I did a 20 gal. aga long tank under my 55 gal that I saw melev do...total cost 50 bucks.

[wesley6610]

I got my first wet/dry trickle filter from that same guy on eBay, he was very good and professional with me as well. I would highly recommend looking into those alternatives before dismantling your stand initially.