Fuge/sump modification?

Well, here I go again overthinking things...my 10g sump currently has a 6x10x8 area for a fuge. Not great, but holds some chaeto and a DSB. The problem is, it leaves little room for my skimmer section and return pump.

So my latest thought is this...I get a medium-sized CPR HOB fuge--I can ditch the pump and just replumb a bit to have the water dump into the HOB instead of the fuge area of the 10g sump. I could also keep the CF clip on lamp for the HOB fuge (I may need a stronger bulb though as the water would be deeper.

The upswing in doing all this would be that it allow me to have a 12x10 area for my skimmer section, which would allow me to get the Reef Octopus I really wanted. Plus, I'd add more overall volume to the fuge as the medium size is 19x4x12.

What do you think? Decent idea?

 

Sounds easy enough. Another option is to get a bigger tank than a 10 gal...maybe a 20?

 

I thought about that--my 30g stand could hold it but it would leave literally no room. Plus, getting it in there would mean I'd have to cut the back center brace out and then re-glue? Not sure if I want to compromise the structure. Still...it is something to consider. How I hate gluing baffles though!

 

Well, the dust (literally) has settled on my redesigned sump. The HOB fuge sits on the back of the 10g sump and then dumps into the return section. My skimmer section has doubled and I already have noticed a decrease in bubbles (I now can upgrade my skimmer). My tank was really cloudy for a day as I had to transplant the DSB to the HOB fuge, but now it looks pretty good. Redoing the plumbing was a little bit of hassle, but there is actually less of it so that's a good thing.

 

Perhaps some pics to document your progress?!

 

Good idea. Here u go!

 

WOW!!!!
What a clean addition you have there@!!!!

I actually also have a HOB type fuge that would be hooked up the same way - just never saw someone actually do it!!!

Thanks for sharing!

 

No problem--besides the messy water for a day it was fairly easy to do. With limited space under my tank, it was an easy way to add more volume. I thought about a 20L but just too tight and left me no room for anything else. I got the longest fuge that would fit on the 10g. The total volume of the fuge is actually larger than it was in my sump. It really was a no brainer.

The only (minor) problem is that the outlet for the fuge doesn't go straight into the water where the return is so there are still some bubbles. I might get some 1.25 PVC to extend it (or maybe have it dump on the other side of the baffles).

 

Wow... props to you. that is actually a very nice solution.

 

That is freakin sweet ! Great thinking.