100 gallon tank 20 gallon sump, enough? ?

Townbiz · 07/16/2016, 06:12 AM

Hi, I'm relatively new to the hobby. I have a 100gal FOWLR tank with a 20 gal sump. Is that enough water volume to successfully filter my tank, or naw?

laserjim · 07/16/2016, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Townbiz

Hi, I'm relatively new to the hobby. I have a 100gal FOWLR tank with a 20 gal sump. Is that enough water volume to successfully filter my tank, or naw?

Go with a 40, not sure where you are from , but petco has 40 g breeder on sale for 40 bucks

billdogg · 07/16/2016, 06:50 AM

As long as it does not overflow when the power goes out then yes, technically it's big enough. That being said, the larger the volume of your sump the more room for equipment like a skimmer, reactors, heaters, spare live rock, etc you will have, and the larger total volume will mean more stability in overall parameters.

I use a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for my 60g frag tank - it has all the live rock that provides the biological filtration for the system. For my 120DT I use a 40 breeder and think it could be larger (if I had room under the stand it would be).

hth

mcgyvr · 07/16/2016, 02:10 PM

IMO only a 20G is not worth the effort/benefit..
Go larger... 40B makes a great sump or bigger..
bigger the better.

dkeller_nc · 07/16/2016, 04:13 PM

What the others have said are valid points. But realize that a 20g is too small for a 100g tank for an entirely different reason. There's a certain amount of water that's "above" the drain slots in overflows in tanks. What level that rises to is a function of the number of drain slots, the number of overflows, and the return pump that you choose.

But with a reasonable return pump, it's highly likely that there will be enough water in the main display such that it will overflow a 20 gallon tank if the power goes out. Which it will.

So you really don't want to set up a tank system that means disaster for your home if the power blips off for an hour or so.

desjardini · 07/16/2016, 04:25 PM

Assuming the sump will only be filled about halfway up to begin with, 8-10 gallons coming back down during a power outage seems like a lot to me. For some reason I think I could make a 20 gallon sump work on this tank.

Joeb1983 · 07/16/2016, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcgyvr

IMO only a 20G is not worth the effort/benefit..
Go larger... 40B makes a great sump or bigger..
bigger the better.

Ditto.

Ron Reefman · 07/17/2016, 06:58 AM

A 20g sump is better than no sump. And after all, it's a fish only tank. At least you have a place to put things like a heater.

laserjim · 07/17/2016, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

A 20g sump is better than no sump. And after all, it's a fish only tank. At least you have a place to put things like a heater.

Not true if it overflows, from not being large enough.

mcgyvr · 07/17/2016, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserjim

Not true if it overflows, from not being large enough.

And that just means you didn't plan properly...
The potential amount of back flow should simply be accounted for and adjusted as needed for the sump size/space during initial setup.. Only back flowing a few gallons or so is entirely possible.

BigEZ77 · 07/17/2016, 11:57 AM

I think the general rule is 1/3 minimum of DT size.

cougareyes · 07/17/2016, 12:34 PM

A 20g has more water volume than the Eshopps rs-100 recommended for 75-125g, the same as the Trigger emerald 26.

Ron Reefman · 07/17/2016, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laserjim

Not true if it overflows, from not being large enough.

That would be because you did it wrong, not because the sump is too small.

scooter31707 · 07/18/2016, 07:36 AM

I would say at least a 30 gallon.

07/16/2016, 06:12 AM	#1
Townbiz Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 1	100 gallon tank 20 gallon sump, enough? ? Hi, I'm relatively new to the hobby. I have a 100gal FOWLR tank with a 20 gal sump. Is that enough water volume to successfully filter my tank, or naw?

07/16/2016, 06:50 AM	#3
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	As long as it does not overflow when the power goes out then yes, technically it's big enough. That being said, the larger the volume of your sump the more room for equipment like a skimmer, reactors, heaters, spare live rock, etc you will have, and the larger total volume will mean more stability in overall parameters. I use a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for my 60g frag tank - it has all the live rock that provides the biological filtration for the system. For my 120DT I use a 40 breeder and think it could be larger (if I had room under the stand it would be). hth __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

07/16/2016, 02:10 PM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	IMO only a 20G is not worth the effort/benefit.. Go larger... 40B makes a great sump or bigger.. bigger the better. __________________ Who me?

07/17/2016, 06:58 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	A 20g sump is better than no sump. And after all, it's a fish only tank. At least you have a place to put things like a heater. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

07/17/2016, 11:57 AM	#11
BigEZ77 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Ottawa ON Canada Posts: 797	I think the general rule is 1/3 minimum of DT size. __________________ Russell Banggai / Yellow Wrasse / Black Ice and Davinci Clowns / Flame Angel / Royal Gramma / Blue Chromis / LPS (dominated) / Monti's / Softies / BTA's Current Tank Info: 45G Rimless, Tunze 9004, Kessil A160WE, Gyre XF130, 50lbs rock, Reef Crystals, Phosguard in reactor, Matrix, Chemipure Blue and NP XL biopellets in sump

07/16/2016, 04:13 PM	#5
dkeller_nc Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Central NC Posts: 5,062	What the others have said are valid points. But realize that a 20g is too small for a 100g tank for an entirely different reason. There's a certain amount of water that's "above" the drain slots in overflows in tanks. What level that rises to is a function of the number of drain slots, the number of overflows, and the return pump that you choose. But with a reasonable return pump, it's highly likely that there will be enough water in the main display such that it will overflow a 20 gallon tank if the power goes out. Which it will. So you really don't want to set up a tank system that means disaster for your home if the power blips off for an hour or so.

07/16/2016, 04:25 PM	#6
desjardini Moved On Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 23	Assuming the sump will only be filled about halfway up to begin with, 8-10 gallons coming back down during a power outage seems like a lot to me. For some reason I think I could make a 20 gallon sump work on this tank.

07/17/2016, 12:34 PM	#12
cougareyes Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 713	A 20g has more water volume than the Eshopps rs-100 recommended for 75-125g, the same as the Trigger emerald 26.

07/18/2016, 07:36 AM	#14
scooter31707 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Virginia Posts: 4,971	I would say at least a 30 gallon.