Sump build for 125

[Dieboldly]

I want to possibly build a sump for my 125 gallon. It already has the outlet in the tank. How big of a tank on the bottom do I need? I have a extra 20 gallon and 3 extra 10 gallons tanks laying around. My tank stand is somewhat small in width size. Any idea on what size I should try to get in the stand and how to set up the sump the best for bass?

 

[duanes]

A sump can be whatever you want, options are limitless, it can be a 20 gallon tank, or a 50. It can be a 50 gallon barrel, or some Wal Mart plastic boxes.
The most important part is, because your sump will usually contain stuff that needs maintenance, you will need to get your hands and arms in comfortably to do that maintenance.
When my stand doesn't give enough room, I offset the sump to the side, not directly below the tank. This makes for easy access to things ike media, pumps or heaters. It also allows for bio towers or tall fluidized bed reactors. When you have room, your options are unlimited by space.
Below is a 75 gallon sump off set, with a biotower.

another below, a 50gallon barrel sump, during a water change

a fluidized bed reactor, next to the 50 gal sump below

I have also used a pond, as a sump for my out door 50 gallon tank

 

[monkeybike]

I run a 40 Long on my 180 with plenty of room for overflow water when the pump turns off.

View attachment Sumpbehindwall.jpg

 

[Dieboldly]

A sump can be whatever you want, options are limitless, it can be a 20 gallon tank, or a 50. It can be a 50 gallon barrel, or some Wal Mart plastic boxes.
The most important part is, because your sump will usually contain stuff that needs maintenance, you will need to get your hands and arms in comfortably to do that maintenance.
When my stand doesn't give enough room, I offset the sump to the side, not directly below the tank. This makes for easy access to things ike media, pumps or heaters. It also allows for bio towers or tall fluidized bed reactors. When you have room, your options are unlimited by space.
Below is a 75 gallon sump off set, with a biotower.

another below, a 50gallon barrel sump, during a water change

a fluidized bed reactor, next to the 50 gal sump below

I have also used a pond, as a sump for my out door 50 gallon tank

Yea I don't have room for all that but it's a good idea.

 

[Dieboldly]

I run a 40 Long on my 180 with plenty of room for overflow water when the pump turns off.

View attachment 1212982

Is a sump truly needed if you have a canister filter?

 

[monkeybike]

Is a sump truly needed if you have a canister filter?

Depends, my sump contains all my heaters and I run a second display off of the same return pump. I also keep bags of bio media in it if I need to set up and cycle a tank quickly. My continuous drip system overflow resides there as well.

 

[ragin_cajun]

I think a sump for a 125 is toss up. For bigger tanks, it's the way to go. You have to compare how much it costs to build the sump, to how much it costs to just buy a big canister filter.

But if you want a drip system, you want all your equipment out of the display tank, a sump is the way to go even if it costs more.

The problem with a sump in a 125 is the size of the stand -- can you fit a good size sump tank inside your stand comfortably?

Here's a post that talks about all this..... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sump-help.675946/#post-7594900

 

[Dieboldly]

I think a sump for a 125 is toss up. For bigger tanks, it's the way to go. You have to compare how much it costs to build the sump, to how much it costs to just buy a big canister filter.

But if you want a drip system, you want all your equipment out of the display tank, a sump is the way to go even if it costs more.

The problem with a sump in a 125 is the size of the stand -- can you fit a good size sump tank inside your stand comfortably?

Here's a post that talks about all this..... http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/sump-help.675946/#post-7594900

Well the sump is out of the equation now for sure. I looked at my stand and I can't even fit a 20 gallon tank in it haha so I'll just buy another canister filter if I need to.