40 or 50 gallon sump tank an overkill for a 90 gallon tank?

AquaWave523 · 08/09/2009, 02:53 PM

Ok there are a few concerns here when choosing a sump tank. My concerns now is can the stand hold all that weight.

Its between a 40 breeder or a 50 gallon sump.

The 50 gallon is only 2 inches taller than the 40 breeder. Is it better to just get the 40? Is it too heavy? I was originally going w the 30 but I got a new stand that can house a tank that's 18 inches tall and have room for maintenance. Help! Lol I will get my tank tomorrow!

der_wille_zur_macht · 08/09/2009, 02:58 PM

Design for the 40, but use the 50 - if that makes sense. The extra two inches will give you extra space for draindown water. Don't worry about weight, the difference will be pretty small.

commonstranger · 08/09/2009, 03:02 PM

I agree get the biggest sump you can. It will pay off in the long run.

cdbias2 · 08/09/2009, 03:22 PM

Make sure you can access your skimmer for maintenance, and remove it without removing the sump.
This is one of the major design issues with sump heights.

ddinox64 · 08/09/2009, 03:48 PM

I have a 30 under mine which leaves room in the cabinet for other things which is nice like a chiller if I ever use one.

I guarantee you would wish you had those extra two inches of space when in there goofing around with things.

My 30 holds every bit of drain down from my 90g. I would've like a 40 but I'm the type that likes everything in the stand. If you don't think you'll ever need a chiller or other big equipment, go with the 40 and save the two inches for working room.

Another bummer is my skimmer sits too low to add a drain to the cup.

So, in other words. Design for maintenance.

DetectiveTofu · 08/09/2009, 03:50 PM

I vote for going with the largest sump you can fit in your stand

badwrasse · 08/09/2009, 06:29 PM

+1

cdbias2 · 08/10/2009, 02:01 PM

Largest sump you can fit and still maintain your equipment.

AquaWave523 · 08/10/2009, 02:19 PM

cdbias2 and ddinox64, how many powerheads do you have for your 90 gallon?

I was thinking of getting another power head that gives me 1200 gph and then that with the sump pump that pushes at least 600 gph...that's 1800 gph (20 times 90 gallons).

cdbias2 · 08/10/2009, 02:33 PM

I use 3 MJ 1200's on a wavemaker.
I could use more but the SPS still grow.

AquaWave523 · 08/11/2009, 08:37 AM

Ok....so after looking into getting the 50 gallon for the sump. I realized that the 50 has a middle brace which makes the decision easy. 40 gallons it is!

With the MSX 200, that's about 8-11" inches wide...since the tank is 36" long...how tall should it be? the required is 8-10" for performance.

08/09/2009, 02:53 PM	#1
AquaWave523 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 911	40 or 50 gallon sump tank an overkill for a 90 gallon tank? Ok there are a few concerns here when choosing a sump tank. My concerns now is can the stand hold all that weight. Its between a 40 breeder or a 50 gallon sump. The 50 gallon is only 2 inches taller than the 40 breeder. Is it better to just get the 40? Is it too heavy? I was originally going w the 30 but I got a new stand that can house a tank that's 18 inches tall and have room for maintenance. Help! Lol I will get my tank tomorrow!

08/09/2009, 02:58 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Design for the 40, but use the 50 - if that makes sense. The extra two inches will give you extra space for draindown water. Don't worry about weight, the difference will be pretty small. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

08/09/2009, 03:02 PM	#3
commonstranger Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Franklin, TN Posts: 1,331	I agree get the biggest sump you can. It will pay off in the long run. __________________ My drug dog is smarter than your honor student. I'll keep my Guns,Money and Freedom. You can keep the "Change". Current Tank Info: 125 tank and 125 sump

08/09/2009, 06:29 PM	#7
badwrasse Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: St. louis Posts: 1,203	+1 __________________ GOT CRABS? Current Tank Info: 90gal RR,rock wall in progress, MRC sump, reef octopus XP2000I skimmer, marineland pro lighting 2-150w MH 4-54w T5's, hydor wavemaker with 2 #4 controllable pumps, and QuietOne 4000HH return pump.

08/10/2009, 02:19 PM	#9
AquaWave523 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 911	cdbias2 and ddinox64, how many powerheads do you have for your 90 gallon? I was thinking of getting another power head that gives me 1200 gph and then that with the sump pump that pushes at least 600 gph...that's 1800 gph (20 times 90 gallons). __________________ "Take your time...going slow always works out best. There's no rush in this hobby" Yes that is a memo Current Tank Info: 175 gal Oceanic bowfront w/ 55 gal sump refugium, MSX 200 protein skimmer,Digital Aquatics Controller, Coralife Aqualight (three 250 watt Metal Halides, dual 96 watt cf, triple moon leds)

08/09/2009, 03:22 PM	#4
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Make sure you can access your skimmer for maintenance, and remove it without removing the sump. This is one of the major design issues with sump heights.

08/09/2009, 03:48 PM	#5
ddinox64 Moved On Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Ca. Posts: 1,327	I have a 30 under mine which leaves room in the cabinet for other things which is nice like a chiller if I ever use one. I guarantee you would wish you had those extra two inches of space when in there goofing around with things. My 30 holds every bit of drain down from my 90g. I would've like a 40 but I'm the type that likes everything in the stand. If you don't think you'll ever need a chiller or other big equipment, go with the 40 and save the two inches for working room. Another bummer is my skimmer sits too low to add a drain to the cup. So, in other words. Design for maintenance.

08/09/2009, 03:50 PM	#6
DetectiveTofu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,150	I vote for going with the largest sump you can fit in your stand

08/10/2009, 02:01 PM	#8
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Largest sump you can fit and still maintain your equipment.

08/10/2009, 02:33 PM	#10
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	I use 3 MJ 1200's on a wavemaker. I could use more but the SPS still grow.

08/11/2009, 08:37 AM	#11
AquaWave523 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 911	Ok....so after looking into getting the 50 gallon for the sump. I realized that the 50 has a middle brace which makes the decision easy. 40 gallons it is! With the MSX 200, that's about 8-11" inches wide...since the tank is 36" long...how tall should it be? the required is 8-10" for performance. __________________ "Take your time...going slow always works out best. There's no rush in this hobby" Yes that is a memo Current Tank Info: 175 gal Oceanic bowfront w/ 55 gal sump refugium, MSX 200 protein skimmer,Digital Aquatics Controller, Coralife Aqualight (three 250 watt Metal Halides, dual 96 watt cf, triple moon leds)