I'm thinking about using a 10 gallon sump as a filter for a 75 gallon tank with a single male Red Tiger Motaguense cichlid. I don't have the tank, or the fish, but I figured I should plan everything out beforehand. But what kind of media and pump would I have to use? I was thinking about housing the heater inside the sump, keeping a few plants in there to keep nitrate levels,using a gallon of Bio-Balls, and a layer of filter floss to trap extra debris. Is that something I could do?
10 gallon sump?
- Thread starter boosh96
- Start date
Ok no one has commented on your post so I will throw in my 2 cents. I run a 220 Gallon tank with a 20 gallon long sump. For more room I elevated my bio balls so I could add more stuff to the sump. I posted a pic so you can see what I did. When my electricity shuts off my sump fills close to the top about 2 inches from it after the water drains down to the overflow. This was my first sump and I still run it now, but I need a bigger one for 220Gallons. When you first build your overflow and sump your kinda experimenting. What kind of media and pump would I have to use? 1--- MEDIA...everyone has different opinions.. And I hope the members come out and help... 
I run bio balls with gravel, carbon, Filters in mine... But there are a lot of choices. 2 PUMP...Depending on how many times you want your tank to cycle/GPH you need a pump and Oveflow/PVC pipe size to accommodate the cycle/GPH you want. The STICKYS at the top have a lot of info for pipe size and flow. My tank cycles 1 1/2 times per hour but I have 2 canister filters running with my sump. The more filtration and cycle time the better. With a 10 gallon sump you don.t have a lot of room for all the goodies you need in there. But thats my opinion. I know there is more... 
Sounds like a good plan!
Ruddy, where did you get the acrylic container that fits into your sump tank to house your bioballs?
Ruddy, where did you get the acrylic container that fits into your sump tank to house your bioballs?
Lol....Your going to laugh.... The 20 gallon long was found on the curb, yup garbage... And the Acrylic container was also found on the curb, It was a ballot box that I flipped up side down. The water runs through the envelope hole back to the sump....
i use a 10 gallon sump to filter my 55G but not the way you described, here's a pic
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View attachment 692035