72 Bow Sump Help - Please

[Sea Serpent]

Hi all,
I have a 72 bowfront - established 1 1/2 years, with an established, working 5" Southdown DSB. I have just upgraded my lighting to 2 250 MH and 2 110 actinics and have noticed that the evaporates about 1 gallon per day. Here is the problem - I have an old wet/dry that I am using for a sump (no bioballs) which only holds about 5 gallons total. I want to put a larger sump in the cabinet and I thought a 20 long would be perfect - but I can't get it into the cabinet!

I looked at some of your "tank specs" and I see that there are a few 72 bowfronts with 20 gallon sumps - did you put them in BEFORE the tank (drop from the top)? Any suggestions on how I can increase the volume of my sump?

Is there a rubbermaid container with the dimensions of 12"wide x20"long x?" high? My other concern is that I have an EV 90 skimmer that has to be raised above the water line to flow properly - so it may need to be inside the container on a pvc pipe stand in order to work - So many questions . . .

TIA,
Sea Serpent
p.s. One LFS suggested that I tear down the reef and take the tank off the stand and drop the 20 long down through the top. He looked at me like I had three heads when I told him that I had a 5inch bacteria-laden sandbed which I have cultivated for over 8 months - I cannot/willnot disturb it! There has to be another way!

[ October 29, 2001: Message edited by: Sea Serpent ]</p>

 

[VC]

You could add a rubber made tub like you said
(not sure of the sizes they sell off hand)
and tie it together with your wet dry.
what I mean by that is you connect your wet/dry to your new tub with something like a 2" pvc
water will come down into your rubbermaid tub and up your wet/dry or the other way around.
so you will end up with a long sump and by useing both you could hold alot more water than only useing one tub.


Vince

 

[dsb1829]

Add a second sump. You can connect a second, smaller, tank to your current sump. All that is required is enough flow between the two sumps. In a 72g I would say that 2 1" bulkhead connectors would suffice. Once connected (by drilling) put the return pump in the second sump and it will pull water through from the first prior to returning it to the tank. IMO this is a better route than tearing down the entire tank.

 

[CLAY CRUDEN]

IS YOUR 20L GLASS/SILICONE? OR ACRILIC? KNEW SOMEBODY WHO HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TOLD HER TO TEAR IT DOWN AND ASSEMLE UNDERNEATH. SHE HAD GLASS SO SILICONE AND A COUPLE OF BUNGEES UNTIL IT SET. ACLRILIC WELD GLUE WORKS IN THE SAME WAY ALTHOUGH I WON'T COMMENT ON ACRILIC TANK DISSASSEMBLY. WORKED LIKE A CHARM

 

[Neal358]

i hade a 72 bow awith an aga stand and put a 20 gal sump in from the top thats the only way it will fit

 

[Sea Serpent]

These are all great replies - thanks! I didn't even think about assembling it inside the cabinet. I will have to seriously consider that. I just wish I had thought of this when before I did my DSB! I'll let you know what I come up with for a solution.
Again, thanks for the help!
Sea Serpent