Sump size big enough?

[Mudslinger14]

I have a 10 gallon lying around....And I was just wondering if I could use this for a sump on my 125gallon (future) soft coral reef?

I used a sump calculator and it said I should have an 11.6 gallon sump...And I just thought this was close enough.

Also, if someone could give me a link to a good hob overflow for this size ?

 

[dgk9723]

just buy a used 20, 30 or 55g and your set but you still could do something with that like a rifridgium or wle, go aquatrader.com

 

[Juxtaroberto]

I've heard that in terms of the amount of media it can hold, you can use a 10g, but it's a bit risky in case of a power outage. I'd be worried about it overflowing in the case of a power outage (as all the extra water in the tank fell into the sump without a pump to keep putting it out). This wouldn't be a problem if the 10g only had a few inches of water in it, but unless it's a wet/dry with the bio-compartment separate and elevated from the 10g, it's going to be almost full of water as it is.

 

[nonstophoops]

I've heard that in terms of the amount of media it can hold, you can use a 10g, but it's a bit risky in case of a power outage. I'd be worried about it overflowing in the case of a power outage (as all the extra water in the tank fell into the sump without a pump to keep putting it out). This wouldn't be a problem if the 10g only had a few inches of water in it, but unless it's a wet/dry with the bio-compartment separate and elevated from the 10g, it's going to be almost full of water as it is.

+1 to this.

There really is no minimum sump size, but overflowing it will be a concern. You would probably have problems with a 10 gallon.

As far as sumps go, the bigger the better. They add to water volume, have space for a refugium, and all the stuff like heaters, skimmers, etc.

A good overflow box would be one that is rated for about a 1,000 gph or more. A matching return pump also factors into how much water the overflow moves. If you get a 1,200 gph, then get a mag drive 18 or equivalent. Less than 1,000 gph and you could proly get away with a mag 12 or equiv.

 

[FLESHY]

You are going to have to design your sump so that it CANT overflow in case of a powerouttage, that is standard procedure.

Just means it will add almost no volume to your tank.

 

[nonstophoops]

You are going to have to design your sump so that it CANT overflow in case of a powerouttage, that is standard procedure.

Just means it will add almost no volume to your tank.

And need to be freshwater topped off consistently so the pump doesn't run dry.

 

[jworth]

agreed. While planning for a power outage, you will see that a 10 gallon provides no protection from over flow. I would use a 30 gallon, minimum. This allows for 15 gallons or more in the tank and allowing a lot of room to fill in the event of a power outage.

The added space will give you more room to work in and set your equipment up.

 

[dlp40]

I set up a 10 gallon sump on my 75 gallon, it's sucks!!! Everything that has been said is true and a pain in the ***. I only set up the sump for my algae scrubber and now a week into it, I've used 10 gallons of ro/di top off water. so imagins what 50 more gallons of water is going to need every week. I almost flooded the house when i topped off the last time, it's very touchy some times. also in order to get the kind of flow from your return that you'll want, you'll need a bigger sump as well, if you use baffles that is. I did baffles and the most i can get out of my sump/return is about 350 gpm, not great if it was a true sump but it works great for the scrubber.

One last thing, petco as of thrusday this week, has a dollar a gallon sale going on. 10,20H,20l,29,40Breeder, and 55 gallons. Just a thought for you.

 

[nonstophoops]

I set up a 10 gallon sump on my 75 gallon, it's sucks!!! Everything that has been said is true and a pain in the ***. I only set up the sump for my algae scrubber and now a week into it, I've used 10 gallons of ro/di top off water. so imagins what 50 more gallons of water is going to need every week. I almost flooded the house when i topped off the last time, it's very touchy some times. also in order to get the kind of flow from your return that you'll want, you'll need a bigger sump as well, if you use baffles that is. I did baffles and the most i can get out of my sump/return is about 350 gpm, not great if it was a true sump but it works great for the scrubber.

One last thing, petco as of thrusday this week, has a dollar a gallon sale going on. 10,20H,20l,29,40Breeder, and 55 gallons. Just a thought for you.

The reason for this lack of flow is most likely because of the plumbing you have on both your overflow and return pump. The sump itself should not restrict flow and I doubt you have your baffles so close together that water doesn't flow over them freely. If you do desire more gph with the sump you currently have, look to using as much flexible hosing as possible. Also, try to minimize the horizontal run of piping and 90 degree angles because they limit flow.

As for Mudslinger planning his sump, you will have to top off the water pretty frequently no matter what.

The issue will not be overflowing your sump in a power outage most likely, but overflowing your tank if you make the return pump area too big. That is unless you have a drilled tank.

What happens is the power goes out, the overflow tubes flow until they remove all the water they can from the main tank and then they break and stop. When the power goes back on they do not start, but the pumps do. The pumps then pump all the water in the return pump area into the tank. They will run until they are dry, so there will now be significantly more water in your main tank than there was before.

So make sure you measure it both ways as far as water moving into and out of the sump if you are using a hang on overflow and your tank is not drilled.

 

[Mudslinger14]

Alright...Thanks everyone. I just bookmarked this page so I can come back here for help when I need it.

I'll get something bigger then...Maybe a 40b?