Building a new sump

[jegel]

I'm building a new sump for my 80 gallon tank that will become a reef tank. Right now its a FOWLR. The sump will be a 20g 36" long tank. So far I will have a ETSS Reef Devil skimmer, 2 heaters, and 2 baffles. I still have about 18 out of 36 inches left to work with. Is there any other great things I can do with this space?

I thought about a Deep Sand Bed but this would be nothing compared to the main tanks (7" min) and would also be isolated from migrating critters. I also plan to propogate corals eventually but would rather have a seperate refugium for this. So far my only thought is to leave it open for a massive bubble reducing area.

[Minnreefer]

I would either keep it open for bad fish or put in some small rock and sand and grow some marco algea

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"If we weren't all crazy we would all go insane" Jimmy Buffett

[Doug1]

I agree with Jon, you can light it and throw some macro algae there or just use it as a place to store a collection of rock pieces you can attach frags to later on. Its also a good place to banish creatures that aren't "reef friendly" like snail murdering hermits and such

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I dont advocate holding marine creatures for ransom but......since you asked
Doug, plank owner
http://hellreef.homestead.com/index.html
www.thereeftank.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000001.html

[This message has been edited by Doug1 (edited 02-17-2001).]

[Pik]

How tall is the 36" 20 gallon sump? Wouldn't that be pretty low? like... 9" maybe?

[jegel]

Its about 13" tall, 12" deep, 36" long. I don't have it yet but have gone to the LFS and did some measurements.

Right now I have a 10 gallon as my sump with no baffles (lots of bubbles) an it's 12" tall, 11" deep and 20" long. So on the 20g tank most of the added volume comes from the length.

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm still undecided but I've got time.