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Hey there, just lookin for a little help, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!  Ok so anyways I have a 29 gallon reef with a Gorgeous stand and canopy, I use a Coralife lunar aqualight w dual 65W compacts, one 10,000k one actinic. Tanks been running for 3yrs w a Rena filstar xp1 canister filter. I have 3 clowns, a small yellow tang, a lawnmower blenny and lots of snails and crabs. I currently have about 14 different corals growing beautifully. However recently my Nitrates have been dangerously high, even after lots of water changes, and my RO water tests perfect. So i got for free an old all glass 55G aquarium with like 1/4 glass and its drilled in the back with 2 BIG 1&1/4 bulkheads. I plan on using that as a combination Sump/Refugium ran remotley into my basement for My 29g upstairs. I have looked at soo many designs on the net and Im not a 100% on what design to use being I want a refugium and sump in one. I do plan on using glass to make the baffles and bubble trap, and Im buying the biggest baddest skimmer I can afford and will fit. Might possibly add a small frag tank later in the basement using the same system if possible. So any recomendations?? figure I need an overflow w like 800gph and what kind of pump do I use considering the sump will be like 9ft under the display and prob 6ft over?????? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!     Protein skimmers? Overflows? pumps? I need HELP     Thanks

I would try to turn the 55gallon into the main tank and the 29gallon into the sump/refegium.

I would check out Melevsreef for a DIY sump design. http://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/glass/

U know I considered that but My 29 just fits perfect and the stand and Canopy are Beautiful! The 55 isnt as nice, thats why I want to turn it into a sump/refug.

I have a 55g sump on my 135/125g setup and the sump doesn't have an baffles in it now. I also don't have a refugium in it since part ofmy 125g frag tank is acting as a refugium.

Your going to need something to fill the bulkheads on the 55g unless the holes are high in the tank and no issue of overflowing the sump. My guess the 29g won't put much water into the 55g sump they it may not be a problem. When my 135g and/or 125g are turned off, the 55g sump bascially fills up to the top.

For the shopping list, I would first start looking on Craigslist for some good deals.

Good luck on the build.

 pitbull,

 I recently helped my buddy turn a 55g into a custom sump/refugium. Pretty simple to do. I'll try to run up to his place this week and take some photos of it to post on here. You should be able to buy caps to put on those bulkheads to close them off. Are you sure you're going to use glass for the baffles instead of acrylic?

You don't need an 800gph overflow for a 29g tank. I only have a 500gph overflow on my 75 and it works perfectly. Return pump is the most important thing to consider here. You will need a BIG pump to move water up 9+feet. Maybe a Mag-Drive 12. However much water you will be getting up to the tank from the sump will be how much will be coming through the overflow. Hang on the Back overflows are fairly cheap unless you want to tear the tank down to drill it.

One nice thing goin for ya will be that the sump doesn't have to be sitting directly under a tank. That will make it easier to set-up and maintain.

Right On! Pics would be appreciated.   I plan on using the bulkheads to get the water in and out, they are at the top and on the back on either end of the 55G. All said and done ill need like 16ft head. Saving up for a Reef Octopus extreme 200. maybe get a lil giant pump for the return.