Sump for 75g

[Swbvegas]

I'm curious the ideal size sump for a 75g. Currently I'm limited on where to place it because of my stand. I've been looking at 10g tanks and a sump option which I know is really small and limited, but I'm curious exactly how small I can go, without wasting my time and money on a sump that's too small.

So what's the smallest sump you've built, or recommend for 75g? How can I fit a sump in this..
https://www.petsmart.com/fish/tanks...inition-led-ensemble---75-gallon-5306082.html

 

[mindme]

I'm curious the ideal size sump for a 75g. Currently I'm limited on where to place it because of my stand. I've been looking at 10g tanks and a sump option which I know is really small and limited, but I'm curious exactly how small I can go, without wasting my time and money on a sump that's too small.

So what's the smallest sump you've built, or recommend for 75g?

It's really about what you want. What equipment are you wanting to put in there? You could probably do a 10g tank if you are just wanting heaters and a return pump. But if you want a chamber for a skimmer, a chamber for a refugium, a chamber for return pump etc, then you'll start wanting longer tanks.

20g long or a 40g breeder are common choices.

 

[Spare time]

I went with a prebuilt fiji cube one for my 75 as I couldn't fit standard tanks other than a 20 long or smaller underneath and I wanted something with more height.

 

[Swbvegas]

I went with a prebuilt fiji cube one for my 75 as I couldn't fit standard tanks other than a 20 long or smaller underneath and I wanted something with more height.

Do you have pics? I'm essentially looking for cost efficiency and something more tall than long..

 

[Fishfreak2009]

I used the fiji cube DIY kit for a 20 gallon long. It's an awesome sump and fit under the stand of my marineland 75 gallon. Had space for dual filter socks, protein skimmer, refugium, and return pump. Last pic is before I siliconed the last piece of glass in place, dividing the skimmer from the refugium.

 

[Projects with Sam]

If you are going for small footprint and want to give-up the refugium you could probably get away with a 20 tall.
Though if you're wasting the space for an overflow and plumbing you may as well maximize your sump capabilities.
In my opinion, the best sump is the largest you can get into your cabinet with room for the rest of your equipment.
if you want a small sump don't get as much livestock.

Do you want to know the best size sump or the smallest? I'm confused by your question.

 

[Screwgunner]

I think it would depend on your overflow when it is up and running and you turn it off how much water ends up in your sump. 10 gallons seems small to me.

 

[Swbvegas]

If you are going for small footprint and want to give-up the refugium you could probably get away with a 20 tall.
Though if you're wasting the space for an overflow and plumbing you may as well maximize your sump capabilities.
In my opinion, the best sump is the largest you can get into your cabinet with room for the rest of your equipment.
if you want a small sump don't get as much livestock.

Do you want to know the best size sump or the smallest? I'm confused by your question.

Well essentially I want the smallest... every sump I've seen is from a small peninsula build but I would need something tall. My stand has two cabinets on each side. They are not connected, I would have approx 10inches in length to work with...


This is my setup
https://www.petsmart.com/fish/tanks...inition-led-ensemble---75-gallon-5306082.html

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Well essentially I want the smallest... every sump I've seen is from a small peninsula build but I would need something tall. My stand has two cabinets on each side. They are not connected, I would have approx 10inches in length to work with...


This is my setup
https://www.petsmart.com/fish/tanks...inition-led-ensemble---75-gallon-5306082.html

I'd run that tank with a sump through the wall to the other side or through the floor into the basement if possible. If not, then a Seachem Tidal110 HOB filter, a Reef Octopus HOB skimmer, and possibly a HOB refugium.

 

[Screwgunner]

That a lot of hang on back!

 

[Fishfreak2009]

That a lot of hang on back!

But for that stand, about all you can do. I'm planning similar for my 65 gallon ensemble from Petsmart. No sump, just Seachem Tidal110 and HOB skimmer. Although we will see, I may still try to fit a 20g long sump under it. Not much room though...

 

[Swbvegas]

I'd run that tank with a sump through the wall to the other side or through the floor into the basement if possible. If not, then a Seachem Tidal110 HOB filter, a Reef Octopus HOB skimmer, and possibly a HOB refugium.

Essentially that's what I'm trying to accomplish right now. I currently have two seachem tidal 110s... I don't really have a good skimmer atm, just a crappy fluval that doesn't really fit... and I've been trying to find a HOB refugium, but I feel like a small sump would be ideal.. idk. I'm worried about my coral growth atm because it's been going backwards, and I think it's mostly to do with inconsistencies in my filtration, along with losing some fish here and there. I'm tempted to try canister soon... I want to cut down on HOB and noises.

 

[Projects with Sam]

when he was a newb - probably a better video:

 

[Swbvegas]

But for that stand, about all you can do. I'm planning similar for my 65 gallon ensemble from Petsmart. No sump, just Seachem Tidal110 and HOB skimmer. Although we will see, I may still try to fit a 20g long sump under it. Not much room though...

If you're doing the same stand as me, you won't be able to run that sump.

 

[Fishfreak2009]

Essentially that's what I'm trying to accomplish right now. I currently have two seachem tidal 110s... I don't really have a good skimmer atm, just a crappy fluval that doesn't really fit... and I've been trying to find a HOB refugium, but I feel like a small sump would be ideal.. idk. I'm worried about my coral growth atm because it's been going backwards, and I think it's mostly to do with inconsistencies in my filtration, along with losing some fish here and there.

Honestly if you're checking your parameters daily you should be able to get away with just the HOB, dosing, and regular water changes. I kept a 180 with over 50 fish and a variety of inverts going for 3 months while I set up my 380 gallon. Just used a LOT of water and a LOT of salt. Just a 30 gallon wet dry filter for filtration.

 

[Swbvegas]

Honestly if you're checking your parameters daily you should be able to get away with just the HOB, dosing, and regular water changes. I kept a 180 with over 50 fish and a variety of inverts going for 3 months while I set up my 380 gallon. Just used a LOT of water and a LOT of salt. Just a 30 gallon wet dry filter for filtration.

How do you suggest checking parameters daily? For me, I work 50+ hours a week and I don't always have that time. I'm purchasing an ATO this week, hoping to save time. I'm 8 months into this so I'm still learning.

 

[Swbvegas]

when he was a newb - probably a better video:

I should have done this in the beginning .

 

[Fishfreak2009]

If you're doing the same stand as me, you won't be able to run that sump.

This is my 75 gallon ensemble from Petsmart. I bought the Marineland with the full length cabinet where I could fit a sump.

This is my 65 gallon we are converting into a reef the day we filled it with water. Goldfish are being upgraded into a 150 gallon stock tank. Not worried about fitting a 30" tank in the 36" stand, but instead I'm worried the stand is too short inside for any equipment to be usable.

And my 47 gallon reef in progress (will be filled with rock, sand, and water hopefully this weekend). Will be running a Seachem Tidal75 and no skimmer or refugium. LPS and softie tank with regular water changes. We may add a HOB skimmer and a UV sterilizer down the road, but we will see how things play out. Built the stand to function as shelves for my aquarium books and shells I bring home from school in St Kitts, as well as an end table where my wife and I can set our drinks while we watch the aquariums and TV.

 

[Projects with Sam]

ATOs are awesome. I've seen some tall wet/dry filters that may fit in one of those cabinets.
This is a YouTuber that runs a huge reef on canister filters:

 

[Fishfreak2009]

How do you suggest checking parameters daily? For me, I work 50+ hours a week and I don't always have that time. I'm purchasing an ATO this week, hoping to save time. I'm 8 months into this so I'm still learning.

My wife works 45+ hrs per week, maintains all the tanks (currently 3 reefs, a quarantine, and 2 freshwater systems running, with 2 more reefs in progress), all 11 snakes, all 6 geckos, 2 dogs, 4 cats, a parrot, 2 tortoises, a Central American wood turtle, a Uromastyx, my orchard with 50+ fruit trees and 200+ berry bushes, and maintains the yard and the house by herself (just consults with me on what to do when with the animals over the phone). She also works over an hour away one way from home. She still makes the time to top off each tank daily, measure the specific gravity, alkalinity, pH, phosphate, nitrate, calcium, and magnesium and record them into a Google Sheets document where I can view each one, feeds all the reef fish 4-5x daily by hand, and does weekly water changes on all the saltwater tanks.

I'm a few thousand miles away in veterinary school in St Kitts and she does all that by herself. She's the real MVP and I'm extremely lucky to have her, but the point is that she loves the hobby and the animals and makes sure that she makes time for them.

So shoutout to @Catnip885!