Sump Question

[johnmackay70]

I have a 40 gallon breeder build currently going on currently.

I found that the original 40 I have had some scratches that I couldn't live with so I bought a used 40 from another ARC member.

I also have a 75 gallon that I was originally going to use as a sump, but that really leaves me very little room for anything else in the area used for my sump.

My question is this: should I go with the 40 or 75 as my sump/refugium

if I use the 40, there is a possibility that I could plumb in a small sink in there at some point - if I use the 75, there is little chance for that.

 

[johnmackay70]

Thanks for the reply, that is the way I am currently leaning. I love the idea of the 75 sump, but with the space I have, I just don't see it practical. That being said, a 40 gallon sump is still a good size for this system. I can still run a DSB + fuge with room for my equipment.

I am planning a fairly low tech setup (of course that may always change in time), but equipment planned is merely skimmer, heater and return pump.

 

[johnmackay70]

I really do want to run a DSB compartment - with LR and Cheato. Lights will run at night (to help with the ph swing of course)

I ran a very successful LPS tank back in the stone ages...(the 90's) with a very similar setup (except then I ran a plenum under the DSB - which I am not planning here). Back then we didn't have this fancy Cheato stuff - we had to run Calurpa - which would go into a dormant/die-off stage that would make a mess

After a few months of running, my tank was very stable and and I barely needed to dose Ca. Although every 6 months or so, I had to add a new layer of sand.

As for some of the "high tech stuff" (ie. Ca reactor) I will definately hold off on that, but I will have room under the display tank for inline equipment if needed later.

I also have a canister filter (with a built in UV sterilizer) that will sit under the display tank - I will only run this when I run carbon. (I may just scrap the canister idea and sell it - not sure yet)

RODI and holding tank - I think I have a couple of ideas as to how I can set that up in the room and not be in the way. Unfortunately, the easiest place for it would be directly above the sump, but that kinda scares me - in case there is an overflow mishap, the freshwater would end up in the sump - so I have some thinking to do on that.