Sump Volume in Relation to Display

huntinweim · 07/22/2008, 01:55 PM

I read somewhere that you should size your sump to be a volume 50% of your display (actual water in sump...not overflow capacity).

Which means if you have a 100g display your sump should have 50g of water in it.

What do you guys think? Thoughts/ideas/comments?

What determined your sump sizing...
-Space limitations
-tank design
-extra volume?

Hop · 07/22/2008, 02:06 PM

I'm sure that was said somewhere, but the reality is to go as big as you can fit or afford. It all adds to stability of the system and room for forgiveness

Bebo77 · 07/22/2008, 02:10 PM

i have seen some people's set ups where the sumps/ frag tanks more then double the display tank...

that said i have a 300g tank with a 125g sump... i could not have gone any bigger....

Whaledriver · 07/22/2008, 02:10 PM

The site has a sump calculator I think
The sump should be big enough to collect the water that returns to the sump when the pump is off.

useskaforevil · 07/22/2008, 02:21 PM

the bigger the better as far as sumps go. whaledriver is talking about how much of the sump shouldn't already be holding water.

dcmander · 07/22/2008, 02:34 PM

I've always heard 25%, but I agree the bigger the better. Really it should be as big as can fit under your tank or neatly in your fish room.

Furnman · 07/22/2008, 02:39 PM

This is a very good question. I see posters with 55 gallon tanks & 55 gallon sumps. I know a guy with 180 gallon that has a 30 gallon sump.

I would assume that sump size would be not only relative to our tanks sizes but also proportional to the bioload. An then of course there's the subject of refugiums. I hoping to tag along here to see what other posters say.

davocean · 07/22/2008, 02:42 PM

Agree w/ both Bebo and Hop.

reverendmaynard · 07/22/2008, 02:43 PM

As others have said...

There's no minimum or maximum. Any size sump is better than no sump, as long as it can hold the extra that drains when the pump is off. Bigger is better than smaller. If you can fit it and afford it, go with it.

Kaos · 07/22/2008, 02:59 PM

I'm in the big as possible group. If you think about it, what can a huge sump hurt (other then the wallet)? You have more room for equipment (atleast submerged equipment) and fuge. A large sump should also help to stabalize the whole system. The only downside to a big sump is that unless it's outside the stand you loose alot of space for other things under your tank (CA reactor, ballasts, controllers, food, cleaning supplies, etc).

snorvich · 07/22/2008, 03:01 PM

As large as possible.

seapug · 07/22/2008, 03:09 PM

Large as possible is good simply for increasing the total system volume and giving you plenty of room for equipment, fuge, etc., but it's not a necessity. Do to the constraints of my stand, my 90 gallon runs with a 12 gallon cube shaped sump that contains about 5 gallons of water when running. I have the water level set so when the return pump shuts off, the sump can hold the water that siphons to the sump. It makes the weekly water change much easier.

07/22/2008, 01:55 PM	#1
huntinweim Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 74	Sump Volume in Relation to Display I read somewhere that you should size your sump to be a volume 50% of your display (actual water in sump...not overflow capacity). Which means if you have a 100g display your sump should have 50g of water in it. What do you guys think? Thoughts/ideas/comments? What determined your sump sizing... -Space limitations -tank design -extra volume?

07/22/2008, 02:06 PM	#2
Hop Carpe Noctem!!! Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 8,548	I'm sure that was said somewhere, but the reality is to go as big as you can fit or afford. It all adds to stability of the system and room for forgiveness __________________ Hop Current Tank Info: 300-gallon in-wall system (mixed reef)

07/22/2008, 02:10 PM	#3
Bebo77 Premium Nonpaying Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Lost Posts: 14,377	i have seen some people's set ups where the sumps/ frag tanks more then double the display tank... that said i have a 300g tank with a 125g sump... i could not have gone any bigger.... __________________ Gabriel Current Tank Info: 300 Gal Envision Tank(98Lx30Wx26T) 120 Gal SoCalCreations Sump, Deltec TC2560, 2 LumenarcsMini 1 Reg on a light mover W Radiums 250& 400, Gallaxy ballasts, Red Dragon 10m3 return W/ 2 WavySeas, 2 6155 Tunze streams

07/22/2008, 02:21 PM	#5
useskaforevil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: kent, ohio Posts: 1,012	the bigger the better as far as sumps go. whaledriver is talking about how much of the sump shouldn't already be holding water. __________________ "and the delicate mechanism stripped its gears" Current Tank Info: 80gallon bowfront

07/22/2008, 02:34 PM	#6
dcmander Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 140	I've always heard 25%, but I agree the bigger the better. Really it should be as big as can fit under your tank or neatly in your fish room. __________________ 55g - 150lbs Fiji Live Rock, 90lbs Live Sand 1 Purple Tang 1 Yellow Coris Wrasse 2 Percula Clows 1 Tiger Pistol Shrimp 1 Coral Banded Shrimp 1 Purple Urchin WTB: Rimless Tank setup

07/22/2008, 02:10 PM	#4
Whaledriver Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 1,811	The site has a sump calculator I think The sump should be big enough to collect the water that returns to the sump when the pump is off.

07/22/2008, 02:39 PM	#7
Furnman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mass Posts: 106	sump size This is a very good question. I see posters with 55 gallon tanks & 55 gallon sumps. I know a guy with 180 gallon that has a 30 gallon sump. I would assume that sump size would be not only relative to our tanks sizes but also proportional to the bioload. An then of course there's the subject of refugiums. I hoping to tag along here to see what other posters say.

07/22/2008, 02:42 PM	#8
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	Agree w/ both Bebo and Hop. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

07/22/2008, 02:43 PM	#9
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	As others have said... There's no minimum or maximum. Any size sump is better than no sump, as long as it can hold the extra that drains when the pump is off. Bigger is better than smaller. If you can fit it and afford it, go with it. __________________ Think for yourself. Question authority. Current Tank Info: 125 gal AGA, setup on 1/1/06; 29 gal seahorse tank, setup 10/21/06

07/22/2008, 02:59 PM	#10
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	I'm in the big as possible group. If you think about it, what can a huge sump hurt (other then the wallet)? You have more room for equipment (atleast submerged equipment) and fuge. A large sump should also help to stabalize the whole system. The only downside to a big sump is that unless it's outside the stand you loose alot of space for other things under your tank (CA reactor, ballasts, controllers, food, cleaning supplies, etc). __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

07/22/2008, 03:01 PM	#11
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	As large as possible. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

07/22/2008, 03:09 PM	#12
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	Large as possible is good simply for increasing the total system volume and giving you plenty of room for equipment, fuge, etc., but it's not a necessity. Do to the constraints of my stand, my 90 gallon runs with a 12 gallon cube shaped sump that contains about 5 gallons of water when running. I have the water level set so when the return pump shuts off, the sump can hold the water that siphons to the sump. It makes the weekly water change much easier. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.