Possible to modify IceCap 48XL sump?

[CincyReefer07]

Hey guys, I’m getting ready to plumb my 310 gallon tank and IceCap 48XL sump, was wondering if anyone has this sump and has considered modifying it for more water volume and if it’s possible and if so how difficult it is or how easy it might be to accidentally screw the whole thing up. The corner that I have circled is a dedicated ATO section but I have a saltwater mixing station and ATO setup that I’ll be drawing the rodi water from for auto top offs, so this decent sized section isn’t even really needed necessarily. So was wondering if it could be modified just for more water volume in the sump somehow?

Any ideas? Anyone with experience with this same type of question or problem?

 

[Hungrypede]

I thought about buying this sump and turning the ATO section into a refugium. Seems perfect for a refugium with minimal light spill.

There’s 3 options I though of;
1) drilling inlets and outlets into the chamber - but this would have minimum water turnover and affect the sump’s leveling in the skimmer chamber.

2) Feeding it with a small pump, have an overflow and a higher emergency overflow directly into the return chamber.

3) Feeding it through the manifold, with an overflow and higher emergency overflow directly into the return chamber.

Good luck and post pictures if you do!

 

[Canuck007]

did you end up converting the reservoir into a refugium? i have the 36 sump and thinking of teeing off the drain to that section and let it overflow through some holes into the return section. I think it would be harder to get water in from the skimmer section to the refugium because of baffle heights etc.

 

[CincyReefer07]

did you end up converting the reservoir into a refugium? i have the 36 sump and thinking of teeing off the drain to that section and let it overflow through some holes into the return section. I think it would be harder to get water in from the skimmer section to the refugium because of baffle heights etc.

No I ended up not messing with it as much as I really wanted to. I was having a hard time deciding if I really want to either turn it into a larger refugium section or a larger return section and also risking the possibility of screwing something up. I’m usually comfortable with my diy skills, but I was too nervous about taking a drill or dremel to the brand new perfectly good as is sump. But that ATO section is just sitting there as unused space now which is kind of annoying.

 

[wattsg30]

No I ended up not messing with it as much as I really wanted to. I was having a hard time deciding if I really want to either turn it into a larger refugium section or a larger return section and also risking the possibility of screwing something up. I’m usually comfortable with my diy skills, but I was too nervous about taking a drill or dremel to the brand new perfectly good as is sump. But that ATO section is just sitting there as unused space now which is kind of annoying.

How do you like this sump?