A sump on display?

[fishyfishyfishy]

Hello everyone, I have been putting this off for way to long. I have seen many sumps that look ugly my plan is to section a 55gal into a sump for my 125g display my goal is to have it on a stand next to my display with as much equipment under stand as possible. Then coral in Front and using a divider of glass equipment in the back. Has anyone seen this done? Is my goal unrealistic? I do not have the under tank space required for even a small sump so I figured I already have a unused 55g tank why not go all out, I have glass cutting tools to run my input and out put lines. Positive and negative comments welcome for I have never had a sump. I currently have 4 cascade 1200 canister filters 2 in use. 1 bak pak R2 protein skimmer. More live rock than I want on display and a 5" crushed coral bed. I would like to add more equipment which is the reason I want a sump. But I want it to have a slight appearance of a display.

 

[ebushrow]

I have seen this done, not using a 55 gallon but that is irrelevant...you just have to maintain the sump like your display, scraping the glass, vacuuming out the detritus, etc...but you can add mangroves into it as well as many types of beautiful macro algae like dragons breath. Not usually done in the hobby, but can be a real looker next to your display. Just remember it might be an issue to have reverse photo periods having them next to each other.

 

[fishyfishyfishy]

I have seen this done, not using a 55 gallon but that is irrelevant...you just have to maintain the sump like your display, scraping the glass, vacuuming out the detritus, etc...but you can add mangroves into it as well as many types of beautiful macro algae like dragons breath. Not usually done in the hobby, but can be a real looker next to your display. Just remember it might be an issue to have reverse photo periods having them next to each other.

Would a wall between them help? I would so cut my wall to run lines lol, if not I can just limit it to non photosynthetic coral. I read the lighting between the two is best alternating. So the issue is the light from display being to close correct?

 

[ebushrow]

Sure.....it doesn't have to be completely in the dark, but the alternating photo periods help with ph swings....it's also not a necessity having them alternating... just easier on the corals