Formula for Sump Size?

[Jon M]

When the pump is off, it will siphon water into the sump. Have you accounted for that? We all know how an overflow works, that isn't the problem here.

Are you saying it will back siphon with the pump off? How exactly would that happen? I'm not sure how but a back siphon effect is easily handled with the same anti back siphon pieces they use on aerators.

I can run a canister with it no problem. In the future I can possibly go bigger. The real pain is when I get this 125g setup up and running I'll be trading my 55g to my Dad since he needs bigger and snagging his 39 show tank. A 39 tall tank would be a nice sump for this unfortunately all the fish need to be swapped before I can obtain this tank, meaning this 125g has to have it's sump with it before I get that aquarium.

 

[juneblood3]

honestly dude just save yourself the hassle and get the rubbermaid and some sterilite shelves to fill with bio and mech. theyre cheap and easy to use.

 

[Jon M]

What shelf's are you referring to? I'm not positive I'll be able to get anything to big underneath the stand I'm building for my 125g. It has tons of room but I have a center brace for obvious reasons and that hinders something going inside.

 

[gt1009]

Just measure your opening and buy the biggest rubbermaid you can fit through there. The shelves they are refering to are those cheap plastic ones with the white frame and clear drawers. Put your bio media in the shelves and drill holes in the bottoms of each one for water flow.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

10 gallon is too small IMO. I have a eshopps 20 gallon on 90 gallon tank. The eshopps is rated a 125 gallon tank I think, but I wouldn't use it on anything bigger than my 90.

For a 125, I would find a cheap 29 gallon glass and DIY one. You can even use a tote like the other posters have said.

 

[Jon M]

Well keep in mind my tank is custom acrylic built from 3/4" pieces. Sure the outside measures 125g but realistically? 110g on the inside max? Not including the build in overflow and then adding substrate and all that. Factor that all in and your 29g drops down a bit. I'm not arguing the fact that bigger would be better I'm just analyzing all angles. With a decent canister I can see this tank easily filtrating plenty with the 10g sump and a canister. Of course I could be wrong which is why I'm getting opinions.

 

[Brian_Indiana]

Your point about internal and external measurements holds true with any tank. I say bigger is always better, b/c it will give you more room to add more mechanical and biological filtration.

I just don't think a 10 gallon has enough room for a bunch of scrubbies and a pump. I think my 20 gallon is crammed full and wish i could add to it.

I will defer to other members as I have never actually made my own w/d and several of them have.

 

[Jon M]

Well the scrubbies are definitely going to be jammed tight in this bad boy but the main chamber in the center is almost the whole sump. I have just enough on the first overflow for intake pipes and I left 5x5" on the outtake end for the pump. (dimensions of pump are AxB A&B=both less than 5" leaving extra space)

I just checked out Dollar General and there are a lot of containers for 10 bucks like a 106L one so I'll be looking into creating a bigger one in the future but with the center piece in my stand I don't see it being able to fit under there.

(and it goes without saying I'm not finished with the stand yet )

 

[nes999]

Honestly your "10gallon tank" wouldnt hold the over flow from when you lose power and you back siphon a few inches. Go on CL spend 50 bucks get a 55 and be done with it. if you decide to heed all the good advice given here do not complain when your sump fails. your remember your evaporation will happen from the sump also.

 

[Jon M]

if you decide to heed all the good advice given here do not complain when your sump fails. your remember your evaporation will happen from the sump also.

You me if I decide not to heed the advice? I don't complain when things don't go my way nes. I analyze the situation and fix the problem.

Now that I'm thinking about it I'm contemplating possibly putting a side door on my stand since I haven't put the sides on yet. That would make it easier to slide a tank in as opposed to coming in the front way with the center brace in the way.

Trust me, I would love to take advantage of a 55g for 50$ but I check CL everyday and that doesn't exist in my location right now. They do from time to time though so I can upgrade when those means become available.

As far as swapping sumps when I do this how difficult or not difficult would be such a sump swap? Just kill the sump outtake pump and throw a bucket under the tank out put tubes? Doesn't seem like it would be too much of a burden.

(NIce 900g btw, that's practically the size of my apartment )