Sump for 270 Gallon

[wattsg30]

I'm planning a 270 gallon (84"x30"x25") build and I'm curious what you all thought would be the best for a sump. I love Trigger sumps, and am looking at the Trigger Sapphire CR44. Given it only has 43 gallons of water volume, is that too small? I know I should be targeting 25% of the DT. I'm not finding many options for a ~70+ gallon sump and I love all of the bells and whistles with Trigger sumps. Would it be that concerning if I used the Trigger CR44 if it could fit my skimmer, macro, and reactors?

 

[fishywishy]

I dont think a 43 gal sump would be enough, thats around the same size i have on my 75 gal. I would just get like a 75 gal tank from petco and just make a sump yourself, it doesn’t have to be fancy or anything, here’s a good example of one: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/opinion-rant-sump-designs-are-overcomplicated.1070327/

 

[PharmrJohn]

I'm planning a 270 gallon (84"x30"x25") build and I'm curious what you all thought would be the best for a sump. I love Trigger sumps, and am looking at the Trigger Sapphire CR44. Given it only has 43 gallons of water volume, is that too small? I know I should be targeting 25% of the DT. I'm not finding many options for a ~70+ gallon sump and I love all of the bells and whistles with Trigger sumps. Would it be that concerning if I used the Trigger CR44 if it could fit my skimmer, macro, and reactors?

43g isn't near enough. For each inch lost in your display, you'll gain 6.2 inches in your sump. It's begging to overflow if your return fails. I'd say that a 100g sump is not that far off the mark. That would be a 2.7 inch gain for each inch lost from the DT.

 

[Maui The God]

i asked this question for my build which is basically the same size as your tank. ill link below if you want to see some of the replied.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/270g-sump-recommendations.1085664/

 

[C_AWOL]

If you absolutely have to have everything a trigger systems sump has, custom ordering will likely be your only option whether it be from them (if possible) or from else where such as advanced acrylics/fishtanksdirect/other.

Assuming it's not mandatory, I would opt for a regular 125g glass tank and call it a day.

I suggest calculating the potential backflow from your display to see how much capacity your sump will need to hold after factoring ~9-10" of water already being in the sump.

For example, "84x30x6"/231 (6 being how low the water drains from the highest to lowest point) results in approximately 66 gallons of backflow in the result of a power outage/return pump failure.

That means that whatever your sump ends up being, needs to hold whatever desired water height capacity and ~66 gallons of potential back flow to prevent a flood.

Lastly to pre-emptively answer a potential question, no check valves are NOT a reliable solution to this problem. They WILL fail and often at the worst possible time while adding additional cost/head pressure to a system.

 

[wattsg30]

43g isn't near enough. For each inch lost in your display, you'll gain 6.2 inches in your sump. It's begging to overflow if your return fails. I'd say that a 100g sump is not that far off the mark. That would be a 2.7 inch gain for each inch lost from the DT.

Yeah that was my biggest concern, how much would drain when the return is off. Thanks for calculating that.

 

[wattsg30]

i asked this question for my build which is basically the same size as your tank. ill link below if you want to see some of the replied.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/270g-sump-recommendations.1085664/

Awesome, thank you

 

[danreef55]

I'm planning a 270 gallon (84"x30"x25") build and I'm curious what you all thought would be the best for a sump. I love Trigger sumps, and am looking at the Trigger Sapphire CR44. Given it only has 43 gallons of water volume, is that too small? I know I should be targeting 25% of the DT. I'm not finding many options for a ~70+ gallon sump and I love all of the bells and whistles with Trigger sumps. Would it be that concerning if I used the Trigger CR44 if it could fit my skimmer, macro, and reactors?

Go to www.glasscages.com and use their tank builder with your exact specs for the sump. Any tank can be made into a sump. I have a 235 gal being built and a remote sump 72x24x24

 

[wattsg30]

i asked this question for my build which is basically the same size as your tank. ill link below if you want to see some of the replied.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/270g-sump-recommendations.1085664/

This is literally exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a ton for sharing!

 

[Maui The God]

This is literally exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a ton for sharing!

i was reading your thread and was like thats basically the same size as mine and i just asked this question lol. but alot of good info, so always willing to share.

for what its worth im leaning towards the synergy reef Rm-72 for roller mat. personally i like the clean look of already built and pre chambered sumps. im a sucker for the color options too. for me i want the sump to be as presentable as the display.

 

[wattsg30]

i was reading your thread and was like thats basically the same size as mine and i just asked this question lol. but alot of good info, so always willing to share.

for what its worth im leaning towards the synergy reef Rm-72 for roller mat. personally i like the clean look of already built and pre chambered sumps. im a sucker for the color options too. for me i want the sump to be as presentable as the display.

That’s a gorgeous sump. I’d love that, I just have a hard time with that price point. It’s basically as much as the tank haha

 

[Maui The God]

That’s a gorgeous sump. I’d love that, I just have a hard time with that price point. It’s basically as much as the tank haha

yea hefty lol. i know there are cheaper alternative that people have reccomended for sure. but you know the eye caught it and the eye likes what it likes lol

 

[wattsg30]

yea hefty lol. i know there are cheaper alternative that people have reccomended for sure. but you know the eye caught it and the eye likes what it likes lol

Don’t blame you one bit, it’s an awesome sump and so clean looking. What skimmer are you getting? I’m probably going with Reef Octopus Regal 300 SSS

 

[Maui The God]

Don’t blame you one bit, it’s an awesome sump and so clean looking. What skimmer are you getting? I’m probably going with Reef Octopus Regal 300 SSS

i have an old Reef Octo 150 int with the varios pump. love it. the thing is a beast. if/when i decide to upgrade it ill be leaning towards the reef octo 300 int or 300 SSS. i like the int version as its really easy to take the pump off for a cleaning but ive also notice the pipe connecter of the pump and skimmer body can be broken. on my 150 int it broke and i used pvc to glue it back. i never had problems with it after but that little issue leads me to want the SSS version.

 

[wattsg30]

i have an old Reef Octo 150 int with the varios pump. love it. the thing is a beast. if/when i decide to upgrade it ill be leaning towards the reef octo 300 int or 300 SSS. i like the int version as its really easy to take the pump off for a cleaning but ive also notice the pipe connecter of the pump and skimmer body can be broken. on my 150 int it broke and i used pvc to glue it back. i never had problems with it after but that little issue leads me to want the SSS version.

I have a 150 INT on my 90 gallon right now and I love it. Cake concern on the connection piece I always have to be so careful with that. I’m almost debating putting the 150 and a 300 on the 270

 

[Maui The God]

I have a 150 INT on my 90 gallon right now and I love it. Cake concern on the connection piece I always have to be so careful with that. I’m almost debating putting the 150 and a 300 on the 270

when would it be too much skimming? i had the same thought. run one dry and one wet

 

[wattsg30]

when would it be too much skimming? i had the same thought. run one dry and one wet

Overskimming is a myth imo. Unless you’re stripping nutrients completely to 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates I don’t see how you can over skim. With my bioload I’ll be fine lol

 

[Maui The God]

Overskimming is a myth imo. Unless you’re stripping nutrients completely to 0 nitrates and 0 phosphates I don’t see how you can over skim. With my bioload I’ll be fine lol

were on the same page lol. just helps with a heavy bioload which will probably end up happening with me lol

 

[wattsg30]

were on the same page lol. just helps with a heavy bioload which will probably end up happening with me lol

Same, I have 19 fish in my 90. I desperately need the upgrade

 

[Magic031707]

I'm planning a 270 gallon (84"x30"x25") build and I'm curious what you all thought would be the best for a sump. I love Trigger sumps, and am looking at the Trigger Sapphire CR44. Given it only has 43 gallons of water volume, is that too small? I know I should be targeting 25% of the DT. I'm not finding many options for a ~70+ gallon sump and I love all of the bells and whistles with Trigger sumps. Would it be that concerning if I used the Trigger CR44 if it could fit my skimmer, macro, and reactors?

I have a 75gal for my sump under my 250 gallon.