How much does a sump help capacity?

[BichirBud]

If I use a sump for filtration on a 150 gallon tank, and the sump is a 60 gallon aquarium with about 40 gallons of water in it, how much does the extra capacity of the sump relieve the bioload?

In other words, the tank is stocked at 95% according to aqadvisor.

Is it practically speaking stocked at 85% with the added water?

 

[stingray keeper]

I wouldn't personally even add it to the total just because i consider the sump nothing but just a filter. Id say what could make it seem like your at 85% would simply be because of the benefit to having more mechanical and bio filtration to cut down on waste. Sumps are just the way to go and are extremely versatile and easy to maintain when properly set up.

 

[Jc1119]

Can't really speak for stocking % based on a calculator, but yes it will in fact have an impact on system volume/dilution.

Most species I keep don't fit the calculators and are more territory based, so no stocking levels wouldn't be able to be increased if I added a sump. That being said, I can go much longer between water changes with a sump.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[BichirBud]

Ok, thanks. I appreciate both sets of advice.
BB

 

[David R]

Increased volume will help dilute the waste, but the other side of the coin is that you'll need to change a larger volume of water to achieve the same % water change.