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#1
12-06-2007, 06:31 AM
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We have looked at the local shops. The sumps at Wai's is EXTREMELY expensive. For one to for the size of our tank he told us over $2000, which is compeletly out of the question. The biggest problem with trying to put together a system is we have no time. We have a 4 year old and 2 year old twins who are pretty much too much to handle right now. We can't even drive around to the LFS anymore as it is just not practical to take a preschooler and 2 toddlers into any of them, and I have the feeling that the LFS would just as soon not have our business, even though the kids are good, two 2 year olds are always very intrusive in a store like that. We don't have much time without them, and I need hubby along for the decisions so I can't go alone. All (except one) of the LFS are at least 40 minutes from us, as we are in the far SW.
We have been looking for a sump set up for months but I have no time to figure out what size pumps , what type of protein skimmer, what overflow, it all seems very complicated to me. I am usually very handy and with it and have no problems figuring things out, but all of this SW fish stuff just can't get into my brain right now...GPH, head height, angles, all of the abbreviations, just to much for my mommy brain! What I need is a system, something where the pumps are there, or at least I am told what they need to be (type, GPH...). And What protein skimmer, brand, size, where to get it. See I am NEEDY! And I don't have time to buy a tank, drill a hole, glue in baffles, I can't even imagine the disaster in our house when the twins get ahold of the glue (and trust me, no matter where I put it, they will get it, as is my life right now!) Is it WAAAYY better to have a drilled overflow, and what is the reason? We have a 72 gallon tank that was our first tank, and I guess we could relocate the fish to that tank temporarily. How, or who do you get to drill a tank, and what kids of overflow do you buy then? Is there a big risk of the tank breaking when it's being drilled? How do I know if the glass is the right kind to be drilled. We were talking about tearing down the tank to start over with the rock in a different formation anyways. I have been going to a couple of the bigger American forums but I never get an answer there, just found this site, I have hopes that friendly Canadians can help me out more! Does anyone know someone in Calgary who we could hire to help us out with this? It would be very helpful to have someone to drill the tank and set up the plumbing as well as help us out with what to buy. Maybe I'll make a post in the Calgary forum but any help here would be greatly appreciated. And sorry if I sounded all "poor me" about the kids, they are just a lot to handle right now, they bring new meaning to terrible two's. Thanks so much for the help and opinions Marcie 
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#2
12-06-2007, 07:00 AM
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What part of the city are you in? We should talk
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This and that.
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#4
12-06-2007, 07:19 AM
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Do the kids fit in the spare tank? Hmm, just a thought...
Marcie, there are lots of very experienced hobbyists in Calgary, most of whom are more than willing to help out newcomers. Maybe someone will offer to have you over and look at a simple sump set up. If you have a spare 72 sitting round (and you aren't going to put kids in it), that would make a great sump if you can fit it in your setup. Now, I've done the kids thing, and sometimes I just don't have time to do the things I really should do myself, so then I pay someone to do it. In this case you may want to buy that ebay model just for the convenience of it. Sure, you can do better, and certainly could make something similar for way less, but if time is an issue, maybe it's something to look at. And in the big picture, 300 bucks isn't THAAAT much....
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Brad
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#5
12-06-2007, 07:42 AM
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Thats so funny, put the kids in the tank! I will have to remember to tell my hubby that! The tank is a corner tank so the stand is not that big. The very biggest we can fit under is 32" and that's only if it is narrow, like 12". Any wider and it needs to be shorter since the front of the tank curves. Yeah I'm not so concerned about the price, we are willing to spend that much, it is more that I am worried about buying something where all of the accessories are junk, and won't work or will run poorly. I have been researching and reading for over a year, but I still can't grasp a lot of the details, like what GPH would be needed, and a lot of the abbreviations. For instance I got a reply on a US forum and it might as well been in Greek because it had technical terms and abbreviations galore, and the whole thing went right over my head
 Thanks for the help, Marcie
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#6
12-06-2007, 08:03 AM
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Personally I would not go with that package. I think you can set up a very simple sump with much better equipment for about the same or maybe a little more but at least you are getting quality. Only thing is, it will take a little more time. But I mean even if you buy that one from ebay, you still have to spend the time setting it just like if you buy everything locally at stores or from members here. If you dont have time to glue baffles and whatnot into a sump, maybe you can pay someone from your area a little to do for you. You can also go with a hang on the back overflow if you do not want to drill the tank. I have used one before (CPR brand) and never had problems with it but drilled is much nicer. Only thing with drilled, is then you also need to build a overflow box either in the tank or externally. As for GPH, thats not so hard to figure out. As long as your overflow can handle what your return pump GPH is, minus the pumps head loss (how much height water is being pushed up), your fine. There is a little more to it than that but you can match a return pump to a hang on the back overflow pretty easy. Again, Im sure someone near you could help. Besides that, there is not a heck of a lot to it.
On a side note, I had a tank set up for a long time with a Remora Pro skimmer, canister filter and hang on the back refugium...Probably one of the nicest tanks I have had looking back. No sump or anything. If you do not overstock, the remora skimmers can be pretty good. If your canister filter is only used for stuff like carbon and maybe purigen or phosphate removers, its a great thing to have. Also, the remoras run much better with the prefilter box (hides pump too).
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#7
12-06-2007, 04:17 PM
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Marcie,
As Brad mentioned, if your comfortable with the sump you mentioned, then go for it. It would not be for many of us, but that does not make it no good. That looks like a Coralife skimmer which many of have used. Not high end but still work. I would still watch what hang on overflow I purchased. Many threads on RC about problems with some of them. Others, like the Lifereef or similar have a good reputation. Having no experience with that type of sump set up, its hard to comment on how well its designed and will work. However, I do like the idea of dealing local, in case of problems. Albert may be a good one to get a hold of. Drilling is easily done, if thats the route you chose. Have to check for tempered glass though. I see your $400 budget plan. Its hard to get a decent skimmer for to much less than that, unless you can find a good used one on here. Many of us use Rubbermaid sumps, which are cheap. Lots of threads here on drilling & overflows & piping. Have a look in the library or put them in a search.
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Doug
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#8
12-06-2007, 11:16 PM
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Not so funny but fun for them. Here is a shot of our 2 yr old twin G'kids captured in our 160 and I think for twin 2 yr olds you need at least a 160.
 Scott Quote:
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Great picture!
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