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Refugium Tank help!!

Nawt2tawl

Non-member
Ok guys i need your help here I have a 90 gallon tank and a 20 gallon wet/dry sump. I am going to get rid of it. Because it is too tall for underneath my setup and i cant put a protein skimmer in it or do any maintenance. I want to get a 20 gallon or 30 gallon tank and turn it into a refugium. Now question is do you think thats big enough for a 90 gallon tank. I want to put my protein skimmer in it because i hate the HOB kind. Also how do i turn it into a refugium. I know you need macro algea live sand and live rock. Anything else....?
 
how much height do u have under ur tank? this will also dictate the type or size of the skimmer...................

I would go as big as u can fit , IMO, unless u baffle it (separated sections) the sand may get blown around in the sump, macro algae and live rock would be great though...................
 
4ft across and 20 inches high Keep in mind it has two doors 17 high by 22 across. I could break the middle piece of wood so it would be easier to put in. Bit i dont really wanna destroy the stand.......yet
 
Depending on the type of stand..you can remove the brace where the door hinge is...put the sump in and then replace the brace. also, you could buy an acrylic sump\fuge.

Escopps has nice ones for not too much money
 
Do you have a website. I just googled it found nothing. I don't think I can remove the brace. Worst part is. I can't even budge the thing to get behind it it's against the wall. (what did I get myself into. Hah)
 
k so i have a 90 with a 30 sump i had 4 ft under the stand but i only used 36" of it leaving 12" for cords and such you should baffle your fuge giving yourself space for equipment, mine is set up as follows ("/" is a baffle): |from tank+skimmer///fuge/return|
 
I would go a 40g breeder.

1. U can add 3 decent size chambers
2. In ur drain chamber u can fit a decent size skimmer.
3. Middle chamber deep sand bed with chaeto and liverock.
4. Last chamber would be return.
5. U would still have a lot more space for water volume, in case power ever goes out and water siphons down. You will have no overflowing water from ur sump.
 
O wait...... U only have 20 inches of height? That's really short for a 90g stand...... Are u sure is 20? Because u also need enough space for skimmer/return pump maintenance.
 
You should post a pic of ur stand wig the doors open just to get an idea of what we are dealing with.
 
IMG_0185.jpg
 
so yeah i think i screwed myself bad......i got the tank with everything included for 500$ after setting up and filling it i realized the protein skimmer that was installed in the sump was broken. So i have a 90 gallon tank filled with water and live rock that weighs a ton its against my wall and i cant move it to put a decent size sump in there. So i have to figure a way to get one to fit threw the doors......also if anyone has any comments or advice on my tank setup any input please lemme know its my first tank and im still learning. Thank for all the help so far great site!!!
 
I think u will have to build a taller stand... Or find one..... I can't fit anything in that stand......
 
what if i cut out the middle piece? or you think thats supporting the tank. Damn i thought this would b all set up. That guy screwed me. Btw what kind of leds were those you had that had the lighting storm and crazy colors.
 
yeah it does look relly nice, only problem is moving all my rock coral sand and everything over to the new stand would be so much work :/ Thank you tho
 
Think of it as saving a lot of work and aggrivation down the road. I have dealt with less than optimal stands; most of your pre made stands are a PITA to do anything with. They always seem to be a bit too small to accomidate our reefing needs. I will always build my own stands now, simply for the fact I can do exactly what I want with them. Good luck, you definately need a little more than what you currently have for room to work.

You could fit a 20 long in there, they make decent sumps; however with only 20" of height to work with you are very limited in the skimmer department!
 
It's easy to transfer the stand out....
Get 1 or two rubbermaid barrels (cheap money) maybe even 3 if u want to save all ur water .... Put all rock and water in barrels...... Then use the other barrel and put ur fish and corals in there.... Or if u have a qt tank or extra tank laying around.. U can put them in there....
DON'T DISTURB THE SAND BED!!!!!!!!
Leave it alone! Get a buddy or 2 and have them help u move the tank from existing stand an place new stand where u want it to be. And put I back together....... Make sure buckets have a powerhead in them.....
And about my lights... They are radion xr30's........
 

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