Sump for 180

mgoesma

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I have been thinking of upgrading my aquarium to a 180. Does anyone have any recommendations for sump size. If anyone also has a DIY design that would be great too.
 

Shaun Sweeney

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Bigger is better. 100 gallon sump would be nice with the 180 tank. In any case, for a sump to work properly (as a sump only) it has to be able to contain all the drain back water when you shut your pumps off. Only the DT and sump should be subject to water level changes with pumps off. Remember, you need a few inches above the pump intake in the sump to avoid sucking air. Ideally, the sump incorporates a bubble trap and the best of those requires 3 bulkheads. Water returning to the sump should pass over the first BH, under the next, and over the last one - closest to pump intake. The area above the pump intake is an ideal place to have you final layer of filtration. I use Marine Pure and lava rock. If you don't have a refugium proper, the first compartment of the sump can be a good place to keep a batch of live rock. With a big enough sump, you could also have some socks there but for a 180 gallon, you need at least 3 socks in play all the time with a few clean ones as backup. Skimmer should be in a separate container where the water level can be kept constant whether the main pump is on or off. There's bit to chew on. Hope it helps.
 

Chrisboling

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I have a 100 gal sump
20170103_164208.jpg
 
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Chrisboling

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Where the holes are is the drain section and from there to the skimmer section and then the fug and then return
 

Daniel@R2R

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I really like Geo's sumps. Check out the SU46RD.

SU46RD.jpg
 

justingraham

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Is the sump going to go under the tank or in a different room?
 

Daniel Strickland

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Biggest mistake I made (so far) in the setup of my new 180 is the size of the sump. I went cheapo and got a 22g trigger systems. Now I don't have a problem with the design I really like it. It allowed me to eliminate the socks (I use a roller filter) and place things neatly where I could access them. But it's to small..... I can't put as much biomedia in the sump as I would like. My skimmer barely fits. And I have to be super careful with my water levels or when I shut the pump down the drain back will overflow my sump. Now all this being said it works. It got me going at a price I could afford. But it will get upgraded someday.
 

tvu

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I have a trigger 40g on my 180. Leaves enough room in my stand and enough for back flow when the return pump is off. I think I purchased the sapphire 39(it's blue acrylic).
 
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mgoesma

mgoesma

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It will be under the tank. I am thinking a 40g breeder. I have a 29long now with my 90g display. I plan to reuse most of my equipment. I made sure to get a bug enough skimmer and return.

1484702386155-408386008.jpg
 
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mgoesma

mgoesma

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I have a trigger 40g on my 180. Leaves enough room in my stand and enough for back flow when the return pump is off. I think I purchased the sapphire 39(it's blue acrylic).
Can you please post a photo. This is what I'm thinking also.
 

cracker

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I have a 75 gl sump under a new 180 . Not plenty but decent room.
HPIM8479.JPG
 
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mgoesma

mgoesma

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Thank you everyone for the input. Can we switch the conversation over to lighting. I really like my current t5/led strip lights but led are not available in 72 inch. Does anyone have suggestions.​
 

justingraham

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Reefbrite's I believe come in 72 inches or u could split it up into two 36 inch fixtures or three twenty inch fixtures
 

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