looking to go bigger what do i need to start this?

[1990jpyj]

ok i am in the process of getting ready to convert a 125g fw tank to a swt. i would like to run some type of a sump system but i dont have any idea of where to start. i have about a $1500 budget to make this happen here is what i have so far:
125g tank
tank stand
some testing equip.
and thats all i can think of
i would like to get some nice corals in this tank. mostly anenomies and some other small corals but lots of LR and a 2 tangs (one yellow and one hippo). i really need to know more about the sump system. that is the only thing i cannot figure out. i have looked around and asked a few ppl and i really never got a straight answer. my LFS said i should ask around and see what most ppl like because they can get my just about anything and said i could blow that budget easy if i set it up top-or-the-line. so any ehlp would be great. i mostly need as i said the info on how to build the sump system(like what type of pumps, skimmer, heater, etc..) i know nothing on this stuff. i have only had hang on items. and would like a clutter free tank

 

[trouble93]

You can save a few dollars by making your own sump and it's not that hard to do. You can use a old 20 or 29gal tank using cutting boards you can get from walmart. google diy sumps and you can get a few ideas on what way to go from here.

 

[oceansidefish]

Personally I would sell that thing and get yourself a nice reef ready 125 that already has the overflow built in and is drilled. If you don't want to go that route though you can do an external return and drain line setup but it won't look as clean. Also if you ever copper treated your tank I would sell it. You will have to get some good lighting if you want corals. I would go with a 60g tank as a sump and you can cut acrylic pieces to use as dividers for your chambers. You will definately need a good skimmer with tangs since they are messy. You will also need 120-180 pounds of rock (You can cut costs by buying maybe 60 pounds of LR used and make your own baserock. Then about 125-140 pounds of live sand. I also like using a nice UV light in the system. Especially helpfull for tangs since they are prone to getting ick. Most likely will also need a chiller. I am certainly not the equipment expert though.

 

[1990jpyj]

good ideas keep them coming. tank was not used with copper. had 1 fish in there for 3 months. never even bought more fish cuz i knew i went with the wrong type.

 

[mr_x]

a sump is just an extra tank plumbed into your main tank, that holds your equipment like your heaters and skimmer, and enlarges the total volume of the system.
i agree with the above comments about making your own sump. bigger is always better, for a couple reasons-
you'll have more total water volume.
you'll have more room in the sump for your equipment.
i also agree that a pre-drilled, reef ready tank is a tremendous advantage over a standard tank. if you don't want to sell your 125, have it drilled for a couple bulkheads. it's a common practice and your local fish store will usually do it for you for a couple bucks.
i don't think you should implement a UV sterilizer for a reef tank though. i believe that will do more harm than good i'm afraid. if you quarantine your fish ahead of putting them in the display tank, you'll have no problems with ich. ich is a living parasite that, if not present in your system, will never be a threat.
if you will implement a refugium as a form of filtration, you can do it in your sump(another reason to choose a large tank to make it out of).
as stated above, to make a sump, all you need todo is partition a tank into 2 sections. the first will be the intake area that holds the skimmer and heaters and such, and the second will be the return area. the water height in this area will fluctuate constantly due to evaporation. you want part of the sump to have nop fluctuation in the water height, so your equipment like your protein skimmer will function efficiently.
if you choose to implement a refugium, you'll need to partition the tank into 3 sections- intake, refugium, and return.
it's not as hard as alot of people make it out to be.

 

[robertmathern]

Building sumps is easy. Just take a little thought to get it the way you want. Google has alot of way to set one up. I do recomend a refugium for growing microalge and stuff. I made mine out of a 30 gal. It came out good. I was a little messy with the sealicone. Good luck let us know how it turns out.

 

[snakeblitz33]

Just to add to what Mr. X said:
When he means partitions, he means cut pieces of glass that fit the width of the sump. You can usually pick up the glass for about $5 a sheet and the cutter, oil, and pencil costs around $9. You cut the pieces of glass and insert them into the different sections that you want, I usually use CDcases to increase the height of the partition (baffle) as well as painters tape to hold the baffle in place. Make sure you use Silicone II that is food grade. If it is mold and mildew resistant, it will kill your fish and creatures. On the sides opposite of a lot of water flow, you may want to use a little extra silicone to make it stronger.
Check the integrity of your sump - make sure it does not leak out of any baffles you don't want it to. Then, once you are done - hook it up to the main system. Something I like to do is create one baffle that it high in the sump at first, then put PVC crate in the middle of the structure, so that you can lay filter media on top of it, and everything is filtered BEFORE it enters the sump. Also, below the filter it is beneficial to have some live rock rubble underneath it. I usually then have a partition set up for a skimmer chamber, then a refugium chamber, and then heater and sponge block filter, Then the last baffled section is the Return Pump section.
Anyways, there's a lot of literature on the subject, but if you need any help, e-mail me SnakeBlitz33@gmail.com or you can AOL IM me at SnakeBlitz33.
Have a great day!