mtsuguy
Member
I got a HOB refugium thinking that would work... and like a newb I figured out it was a good way to save time and cheaper than buying and drilling my tank but after reading and researching all this stuff I realized I needed to diy my own sump/fuge. My tank is a 55g, so a 20 long fits really good under the stand. I joined a local reef club up here and found out that the new octopus skimmers are coming out this week and the local store here(owned by a reef club member) said he would sell me the NW 120 Pro for 125 tax included. I figure that is an awesome deal and my coralife is getting on my last nerves so I prepayed for one. I'm going to start building the sump tomorrow becuase the local glass store is closed on sundays and lowes and home depot only have 1/8 inch glass. I dont trust 20lbs of live sand against 1/8 inch glass. So this is kinda what I was thinking and I'd like to get everyones input on it and if you have a better design please by all means chime in. The skimmer has a foot print of 8 x 10 and an optimal running depth of 10 inches, so thats the skimmer section. I will add an inch of length just for good measure. I want at least a 5 gallon fuge so I was going to do 10x10. The rest would be a bubble trap from the skimmer each peice being 11 7/8 in width and 10 inches tall. I have read about the 1.5" rule and I will follow that. For the fuge I was going to do 6" tall peice of glass and then use eggcrate for the rest of the height of the aquarium. As for the rest... The return and room for a little extra water incase of a power failure. My overflow is a single 1" hob (didnt want to drill). Other than that, I have seen a few debates about return pump size. What would be my best bet for a pump?