What Size Do You Like for Reef Sump in 4x2x2 tank Stand?

[Captainhemo]

I had similar experiences here. Built my stand way before I had even considered a sump, in the end I had to remove parts of the stand to fit the biggest sump I posibly could.
Try and buy your equipment before building a sump, that way you can custom fit everything as needed. There is no point having a huge skimmer area if you end up with a skimmer with a small footprint, on the other had, if you end up having a larger skimmer, you'll want to make sure you have enough room to fit it in. When you are selecting a skimmer, be sure you have enough vertical clearance in the stand to be able to easily remove the collection cup for cleaning, this was a really big issue for me as there wasn't alot of vertical space inside my stand.. Alot of skimmers are 20"+ and then need a bit more for the removal of the cup, just something to watch for.
As mentiioned a in an earlier post, make your return section as large as possible if you aren't going to be using an ATO. As the rest of the sumps water levels are maintained by baffles or dividers, any evap will cause the water level in the return section to drop, you don't want the pump cavatating/sucking air as water in the system evaporates. I lose about a gallon / day.
You'll also want to leave space for any heaters/probes/ phosban reactors etc etc, lots to consider .
A good site to start at is:
here
HTH

[my3kidsdad]

Wow you guys and girls are amazing. What good info.

What you all seem to be saying is buy the internal skimmer, external pump, ATO with baffles, external heater, and determine the return size according to your tank size and return hoses, etc. to set your baffle placements. I know i have missed some things like reactors. thanks for the heads up.

Then design the sump and (sump overhead room for plumbing) and stand to fit. Here's a question: Have you ever considered installing/building in a rubber floor under the sump to catch any spills?

[Captainhemo]

# 1 reccomendation, read as much as posible before you build, it's simple to make changes now, not so simple after you've already started

[kwirky]

Originally Posted by Captainhemo

# 1 reccomendation, read as much as posible before you build, it's simple to make changes now, not so simple after you've already started

yeah I say there's a 90% chance you'll want to do things differently a couple years from now and get a completely different tank. Don't stress too much. I agree that an auto-top off unit is VERY desirable and an in sump skimmer is just fine.

One important thing is to consider is how to get water into the top off resevoir when it's in the stand. If the stand's not built yet maybe make it tall enough to get a small bucket into the stand to dump water in. Otherwise scooping water in with a little rubbermaid container SUCKS

Do you have room surrounding the tanks in case you want to add a refugium, another system, etc etc? If so then you shouldn't have to stress too much right now because you can add as you go.