Help me create a budget.

Roy 9121 · Feb 28, 2017

I have a 55 gallon reef right now, and I'm thinking about up grading to a larger tank. I'm thinking something around 100 gallons. I am wondering if there is anything I may be able to reuse from my current system. Right now i have one AI Hydra 52, a 20 gallon sump, protien skimmer (not sure what it is or what size), a 1/10 hp chiller.

prsnlty · Feb 28, 2017

The hydra and 55g. Add another hydra to the new system and you could possibly use the 55g as a sump if it fits in the stand. Can't say anything about the skimmer if you don't know what it is. The skimmer you need should be 1.5-2x the total water volume of the system.

Roy 9121 · Feb 28, 2017

prsnlty said:
The hydra and 55g. Add another hydra to the new system and you could possibly use the 55g as a sump if it fits in the stand. Can't say anything about the skimmer if you don't know what it is. The skimmer you need should be 1.5-2x the total water volume of the system.

I'm thinking the hydra is the only thing I'm going to be able to reuse. I'm wondering if I even need a chiller since I'm not running a MH light anymore.

MaiReef · Feb 28, 2017

Roy 9121 said:
I'm thinking the hydra is the only thing I'm going to be able to reuse.

Depends upon the bioload in the new tank. Another Hydra 52 would be some serious light on a 90-100 gallon. You could probably use the 20 sump, but you will have the 55 gallon anyway.

You could probably use most of the equipment and upgrade based upon need.

Check out the skimmer too. It may be big enough.

Roy 9121 · Feb 28, 2017

MaiReef said:
Depends upon the bioload in the new tank. Another Hydra 52 would be some serious light on a 90-100 gallon. You could probably use the 20 sump, but you will have the 55 gallon anyway.

You could probably use most of the equipment and upgrade based upon need.

Check out the skimmer too. It may be big enough.

Don't think I can use the 55 as the sump. I'm thinking i may just add one AI prime.

prsnlty · Feb 28, 2017

Roy 9121 said:
Don't think I can use the 55 as the sump. I'm thinking i may just add one AI prime.

If you get a standard size 100g you will need to cover 4ft in length so yes you will need 1 more. You can adjust the levels if too strong. Look on the sales pages in this forum for a great deal on one. Personally I feel the 20g is too small for a sump. I have a 29g on a 45g tank and a 20g on a 29 tank and a 55g on a 180 & only because I couldn't find a 75 at the time of the build. The more water volume the better. Look at it this way, the larger volume tank you have the more likely you're going to have a larger evaporation rate. Therefore it will be much faster for a 20 gallon to run dry in the return section then it will be for a larger sump if you somehow run out of ATO water in your Reservoir. Also , when power shuts off for backflow . you will have some so you want to make sure that your sump can handle the amount that will go back into your sump upon power off.

prsnlty · Feb 28, 2017

You could always get the Petco dollar per gallon 30 or 40 gallon breeder ... the larger the better. Just make sure it will fit in your stand

Roy 9121 · Feb 28, 2017

prsnlty said:
If you get a standard size 100g you will need to cover 4ft in length so yes you will need 1 more. You can adjust the levels if too strong. Look on the sales pages in this forum for a great deal on one. Personally I feel the 20g is too small for a sump. I have a 29g on a 45g tank and a 20g on a 29 tank and a 55g on a 180 & only because I couldn't find a 75 at the time of the build. The more water volume the better. Look at it this way, the larger volume tank you have the more likely you're going to have a larger evaporation rate. Therefore it will be much faster for a 20 gallon to run dry in the return section then it will be for a larger sump if you somehow run out of ATO water in your Reservoir. Also , when power shuts off for backflow . you will have some so you want to make sure that your sump can handle the amount that will go back into your sump upon power off.

Good point, i didn't think about the evaporation. But my 55 is to tall for a sump, so i guess i should put a new sump in my budget.

prsnlty · Feb 28, 2017

The nice thing about the breeder tanks is that they are shorter :)

MaiReef · Mar 1, 2017

Where are you located? My brother has a 40 breeder that we built that he would sell for a $100. It has room for a skimmer, refugium and separate place for a return pump. There is a bubble trap in there.

Roy 9121 · Mar 1, 2017

MaiReef said:
Where are you located? My brother has a 40 breeder that we built that he would sell for a $100. It has room for a skimmer, refugium and separate place for a return pump. There is a bubble trap in there.

I'm in southern California.

MaiReef · Mar 1, 2017

oh well, here is a picture.

From Right to Left.
1st chamber for skimmer, bubble trap, second for rubble, third for macros and fourth for return pump. Usually there is eggcrate/lighting diffuser above the baffle for the last chamber to slow unwanted macro, but my brother put a large sponge in there instead. ATO can go in last chamber as well. It is where I have mine.

Roy 9121 · Mar 1, 2017

MaiReef said:
oh well, here is a picture.

From Right to Left.
1st chamber for skimmer, bubble trap, second for rubble, third for macros and fourth for return pump. Usually there is eggcrate/lighting diffuser above the baffle for the last chamber to slow unwanted macro, but my brother put a large sponge in there instead. ATO can go in last chamber as well. It is where I have mine.

What are the dementions? I haven't decided what tank I'm going to go with yet, so talking about a sump may be premature.

MaiReef · Mar 1, 2017

That is a 40 breeder. The individual dimensions are up to you based upon need. I usually make the return section 6" for pump room. I think we made it smaller and it was a tight fit for the DCT6000. The skimmer chamber height is 9-10" high and should be based upon the skimmer you choose. A stand could always be used for the skimmer, but the idea is with this design the water stays consistent in the skimmer chamber and can be flexible between the third baffle of the bubble trap and the over the top of the return pump chamber. I had a local glass cut baffles with 3/16" short of the distance between the glass on the inside of the tank. It can be done with a 40 gallon +$60 or less including silicone.