Setup ideas for a 300 sps

[playaslk]

Hey guys, I am in the middle of considering an upgrade to a 300 gallon.
I will set it up as mostly sps tank. Tank dimensions are 96/32/23 so I have some room to play with for a sump.

1. I am considering having two 40 gallon breeders which I would drill/bulkhead together (in 2 or 3 places). One would be for skimmer and ca reactor and the other would be a sand/refugium. Is this doable and if so, should the return pump be in the first sump (with all the equipment) or in the 2nd sump with the chaeto/sand (or whatever else is in there).

2. If I was to have the return in the first sump, should I have a small pump running water from the 2nd sump back into the first so it gets decent turnover in the refugium?

3. I am also strongly considering using sea swirls (with penductors) for part of my water flow. I have 2 on my 180 and like it. Yes they are unsightly but they provide real flow that sps seem to like. My return pump now is a laguna 1500. Can I use this return pump for the bigger tank or is it too small for a 300?

Thanks!

 

[stryker]

Use a 40g breeder fuge that's slightly elevated. Have a small tee off your drain feeding this fuge. Then gravity flow
Into the sump... Look for a bigger tank for
Your sump for more room, water volume, and Microbubbles control.
Return pump in your sump back to the display. I love sea swirls and will be using two on my tank also. I'm setting up a 270g and will be using a flowstar 1500 return. Will let u know if it's enough.

 

[bigpaul]

I have an 80 gallon sump/refugium and I wish it was larger. I would recommend using a larger breeder tank/sump for you equipment.

 

[playaslk]

Use a 40g breeder fuge that's slightly elevated. Have a small tee off your drain feeding this fuge. Then gravity flow
Into the sump... Look for a bigger tank for
Your sump for more room, water volume, and Microbubbles control.
Return pump in your sump back to the display. I love sea swirls and will be using two on my tank also. I'm setting up a 270g and will be using a flowstar 1500 return. Will let u know if it's enough.

You mentioned a tee off the drain. Doesnt that create a bunch of noise? (I was considering having a T in the return. I am going to set up a herbie overflow. I have a 180 currently and the 40gallon sump is perfect for the water volume in case of power outtage. Why do you recommend having the fuge elevated? I am not looking to have a giant sump just for the sake of having it. I actually prefer smaller as long as it can hold the water from the display w/ power off.

 

[playaslk]

I have an 80 gallon sump/refugium and I wish it was larger. I would recommend using a larger breeder tank/sump for you equipment.

how large is your display? what equipment do you house in your 80 gallon sump? In my mainly sps 180, I only have Ca reactor (and previously kalk reactor), skimmer, and return pump. I try keeping it simple.

 

[Emac909]

I would go bigger then 80g sump on a 300. I have a 90 g under my 300 and it gets to close for comfort when the return turns off.

The red lines are where the water levels sit when my return is on. The green line is when the return is off.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

If I were you, I would look into one big acrylic sump. John from advanced acrylics builds great sumps, and he can build a sump for every budget. I would also consider jumping up to a bigger pump. I would do the 2400 or bigger pump. I'm running the Fluval sp6 on my tank, and it's a bad arse pump.

 

[bigpaul]

My tank is 240 gallons and in my sump I have my protein skimmer that takes up a lot of room, biopellet reactor biopellet pump, uv pump, and return pump. After those items I really cant add anything else unless I take out my biopellet reactor but I am worried about it leaking. I would go with the largest sump/refugium you can get.

 

[playaslk]

Thanks for the advice guys ! I do appreciate the beauty of johns work but at the same time I rather not spend a ton in it. I prefer to spend that money in the display. I would probably consider getting a larger tank for a total sump that is larger than 80 total . What tank do you guys recommend? It cannot be longer than 6 feet and has to be reasonably low so I can work in it while in the stand

 

[Assyrian fish guy]

Clear ur in box

 

[playaslk]

Done, it's clean