Someone suggest a sump for my build - details inside!

fuxxy · 05/22/2018, 07:24 PM

I have an established reef tank, about a year old.
120 gallon DT with a homemade 55 gallon sump. Glass tank with acrylic baffles.

My baffles in the sump are progressively coming loose. I think it's time to replace the sump with something professional.

My stand opening is 43 1/2 inches wide, 21 1/2 inches deep
I'd like to raise copepods, so a refugium is mandatory. The bigger the better.
I'd also like to run a calc reactor at some point.

Looking for suggestions for a replacement.

Superstan · 05/23/2018, 07:45 AM

You could either drain your sump and reseal your baffles with silicone, replace the baffles with glass in which you would still have to reseal it with silicone or rebuild your sump with all acrylic and seal it with "Weldon" useing a 22 gauge applicator bottle. Weldon causes Acrylic to form a molecular bond and permanently fuses the Acrylic together. If over time you have a leak in your Acrylic tank or sump it can be easily fixed by using a little bit more Weldon. In my opinion Acrylic is always the best way to go. I am New to the hobby myself but as a stay home dad I have had the time to do a lot of research. Check out "The King of DIY" on YouTube. He has some great tutorials. Best of luck my friend.

Superstan · 05/23/2018, 07:48 AM

You could either drain your sump and reseal your baffles with silicone, replace the baffles with glass in which you would still have to reseal it with silicone or rebuild your sump with all acrylic and seal it with "Weldon" useing a 22 gauge applicator bottle. Weldon causes Acrylic to form a molecular bond and permanently fuses the Acrylic together. If over time you have a leak in your Acrylic tank or sump it can be easily fixed by using a little bit more Weldon. In my opinion Acrylic is always the best way to go. I am New to the hobby myself but as a stay home dad I have had the time to do a lot of research. Check out "The King of DIY" on YouTube. He has some great tutorials. Best of luck my friend. You can buy Quality Acrylic cut to your desired specs at "EM Plastics".

ryeguyy84 · 05/23/2018, 01:29 PM

how about a trigger ruby 36? if it were me i would fix my baffles if the current sump is working for you.

homer1475 · 05/23/2018, 04:37 PM

King of DIY. LMAO

More like the joker of DIY. Some of his stuff is OK, but most of it is large, unsightly, and just plain ugly.

If the current sump works, drain it, and fix it with glass baffles. Of course if your looking to throw money away, building an obsession will build you anything you want in acrylic.

fuxxy · 05/23/2018, 06:39 PM

I do not like my current sump.

It's too tall, and too tight to manage my skimmer.

I've read that acrylic doesn't like to stick well to silicone, and this is the third wall to separate from the glass and bust it's seam. It's also way too deep to properly put an ATO float.

Im honestly not looking forward to spending $1200 on a fully featured sump. (Lifereef CLF1) That's twice what I spent on the display tank!

oldhead · 05/24/2018, 08:35 AM

BRS is having a 10% off select sumps right now.

Sk8r · 05/24/2018, 08:41 AM

An Eshopps 30 could serve.

lpsouth1978 · 05/24/2018, 03:39 PM

Why not build a new one? You could get a new 75G for about $200, used even less. Get some glass baffles cut and set it up the way you want. You could have a fantastic sump for less than $300. Even a 40B would be better than the 55 with it's 13" width.

FullBoreReefer · 05/25/2018, 06:47 AM

40b and DIY

05/22/2018, 07:24 PM	#1
fuxxy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 6	Someone suggest a sump for my build - details inside! I have an established reef tank, about a year old. 120 gallon DT with a homemade 55 gallon sump. Glass tank with acrylic baffles. My baffles in the sump are progressively coming loose. I think it's time to replace the sump with something professional. My stand opening is 43 1/2 inches wide, 21 1/2 inches deep I'd like to raise copepods, so a refugium is mandatory. The bigger the better. I'd also like to run a calc reactor at some point. Looking for suggestions for a replacement.

05/23/2018, 07:45 AM	#2
Superstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 2	Loose baffles You could either drain your sump and reseal your baffles with silicone, replace the baffles with glass in which you would still have to reseal it with silicone or rebuild your sump with all acrylic and seal it with "Weldon" useing a 22 gauge applicator bottle. Weldon causes Acrylic to form a molecular bond and permanently fuses the Acrylic together. If over time you have a leak in your Acrylic tank or sump it can be easily fixed by using a little bit more Weldon. In my opinion Acrylic is always the best way to go. I am New to the hobby myself but as a stay home dad I have had the time to do a lot of research. Check out "The King of DIY" on YouTube. He has some great tutorials. Best of luck my friend.

05/23/2018, 07:48 AM	#3
Superstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2018 Posts: 2	Loose baffles You could either drain your sump and reseal your baffles with silicone, replace the baffles with glass in which you would still have to reseal it with silicone or rebuild your sump with all acrylic and seal it with "Weldon" useing a 22 gauge applicator bottle. Weldon causes Acrylic to form a molecular bond and permanently fuses the Acrylic together. If over time you have a leak in your Acrylic tank or sump it can be easily fixed by using a little bit more Weldon. In my opinion Acrylic is always the best way to go. I am New to the hobby myself but as a stay home dad I have had the time to do a lot of research. Check out "The King of DIY" on YouTube. He has some great tutorials. Best of luck my friend. You can buy Quality Acrylic cut to your desired specs at "EM Plastics".

05/23/2018, 01:29 PM	#4
ryeguyy84 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,753	how about a trigger ruby 36? if it were me i would fix my baffles if the current sump is working for you. __________________ Current tank: 90G mixed reef. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon

05/23/2018, 04:37 PM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	King of DIY. LMAO More like the joker of DIY. Some of his stuff is OK, but most of it is large, unsightly, and just plain ugly. If the current sump works, drain it, and fix it with glass baffles. Of course if your looking to throw money away, building an obsession will build you anything you want in acrylic. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

05/23/2018, 06:39 PM	#6
fuxxy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 6	I do not like my current sump. It's too tall, and too tight to manage my skimmer. I've read that acrylic doesn't like to stick well to silicone, and this is the third wall to separate from the glass and bust it's seam. It's also way too deep to properly put an ATO float. Im honestly not looking forward to spending $1200 on a fully featured sump. (Lifereef CLF1) That's twice what I spent on the display tank!

05/24/2018, 08:35 AM	#7
oldhead Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: New Jersey Posts: 527	BRS is having a 10% off select sumps right now.

05/24/2018, 08:41 AM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	An Eshopps 30 could serve. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/24/2018, 03:39 PM	#9
lpsouth1978 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 915	Why not build a new one? You could get a new 75G for about $200, used even less. Get some glass baffles cut and set it up the way you want. You could have a fantastic sump for less than $300. Even a 40B would be better than the 55 with it's 13" width. __________________ Current tank: 40B work in progress w/20L sump

05/25/2018, 06:47 AM	#10
FullBoreReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Wooster, OH Posts: 1,862	40b and DIY __________________ 60x36x24 mixed reef. 40b sump. Regal 250int Varios. 4xHydra26HDs+t5s. 4xMp40wes. Apex2016.