need to build sump for new 55

[rcupak]

Anyone out there build a sump/refugium for a 55? I just set up my salt tank and have been reading that this is the way to go. I've got the room under the stand that it sits on (standard All Glass 55 with wood stand) and was thinking about using a 10 gal for the project. If you built one can you tell me what, where and how? Also how much it ended up running you for $$$$? Thanks a ton for anything you can tell me....

[Iraf]

I haven't personally built one but I can say without much doubt a 10g would be to small, the big thing you have to figure out is how much water is going to drain off your display tank into the sump in case of power outage which is dependent on the placement of your overflow, most skim the top 1.5-2" of water so thats probably a good 8-10 gallons there of overflow, plus you will constantly want to maintain your sump at about 50% full or close to to help with heat dissipation if you run a submerged pump as alot of people do.

There are guys on here with alot more experience and alot better advice than this but just my $.02 worth

Personally I wouldnt go smaller than a 20g sump and maybe a 5-10g for a refugium

[Tangster]

Whats there to build ? I have ran sumps since 80 or s and when Wet Drys where the rage I built a acrylic box that set on the 10 sumps rim for the bio tower.. Other then that I just put a 10 under the stand and a pump and water comes in one end and the pup on the other end sends it back to the tank I set the skimmer and heater and thats it. I set mine up to run a water level of about 5 to 6 inches deep. or what ever level that it works out to As the sump water level is determined by the main pump depending on the type and size of the pump.. And a 10 will do fine I have used a 10 for tanks up to 90 gallons never a problem.

[Iraf]

What tang said...

And on price it's dependant on the cost of acrylic or glass in your area. Here a 8x4 sheet of acrylic is roughly $140 that's for 3/8" thickness