125 gal. set up

[jtm]

First, I would like to thank everyone here for all the posts. I have learned so much by reading this board prior to setting up my first tank (55 gal) last year. It has been a success and I am officially hooked!!! It is time for more!!!!!!!
I'm planning on setting up a 125 gal. FOWLR. Which wet dry would you recommend? I use an Eheim wet dry for my 55 and I'm very happy with it, but for the 125 I think I will get the sump.
Also, do you think I can get away without a chiller? I live in Chicago and my 55 is doing just fine without it (tank is in the basement).
Thanks again.

 

[mr . salty]

As for the chiller,I live right across the lake from CHI,and my tank never got much over 86deg This past summer.So I doubt if one would be needed(especially in a basement)...As for the sump,,Why not just build one out of a glass tank???Say a 30-40 gallon...

 

[trigahappynigerog]

go with the sump it is much easier to maintain. i used my old 55g plexi for a sump/refugium. it will also add more volume to the main tank. you can use rubbermaid containers or cheap glass tanks.

 

[jtm]

Thanks for the replies......
I'm not sure if I'm able to bulid my own sump.....don't have any experience with that. Is it really worth it? Do you save a lot of money by doing that? How much will I need to spend if I go with a name brand? I'm not being lazy, I just want to be sure the thing works well.....

 

[sonny]

You can usually find an acrylic fabricator to build the box for you to the exact size you want. Look in the yellow pages under Plastics-fabricating. All you will need to do to make it work as a sump is drill a hole in it and add a bulkhead fitting. Get the fitting and buy a hole saw to match the size you need for the fitting. The drain into the sump can be very simple, like just a hose from the overflow into the box, or use another larger bulkhead fitting if you want.
Sonny