Sump size

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
T

Tigz

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 22, 2011
87
0
0
Doncaster UK
Hi all

I have a 204 US gallon tank, homing a large stock of large Cichlids and Catfish.
7ft x 2ft x 2ft.

I have built two 1.25" overflows, and I'm about to weld up my tank unit to hold everything.

Can someone please tell me what size sump I need 'to do the job' and to 'do it perfectly'?

My metalwork supplier is waiting for my drawings, so would really any suggestions.

Thanks in advance
 
Personally, I like to use 1/4 tank size for sump, and 8-10x per hour turnover.
 
Thats an interesting question, since there is different theories on this. Some people will use 5x/hr. turnover, because there is extra dwell time on the biomedia, therefor giving the BB more time to eat the ammonia and nitrites. I prefer to pass the same water over it two times in the same amount of time at 10x/hr. It comes down to personal preference. I think more flow would be overkill, if you weigh wattage use of the bigger pump vs. actual filtration benefit. Sump size is never overkill. The bigger, the better. It will just increase water volume, giving you more space for extra filtration, heaters, hospital area, etc. Increased water volume also gives you a more stable system.
 
Is a 500 litre sump over kill?
I have one, and the space for it to fit.
And lots of rocks etc that are in the way for the ID Sharks I have fostered...
 
You can never have a sump that's too big, you will be amazed what space will be taken up by all the stufF, like heaters and whatnot. I have a 100g sump on my big tank and wish it were 2 times the size, but i used what I had laying around.I have a little over 10x flow, but the way it's designed, I know water isn't pushing through all my media so I figure i have a good combo of both fast and slow flow through my bio
 
Nope, if you can fit it, use it. The only down side is if you use a sump that is roughly 50% (if my math is correct) of the tank volume, to do a 50% water change, you will have to drain 75% of the tank.
 
I was also looking for information on a drip system, as I have a capped water pipe in my living room that used to hook up to a back boiler.
When I lift the floor to support it this week I was planning of bringing it back above floor level and adding a waste pipe/valve through the outside wall for easy water changes.
Either a drip, or even just a on/off set up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom