Sump question

[Anonymous]

Well, I finally obtinated a stand for my 100L. My original plan was to use my 55 gallon tank as a sump.

Now that I have the stand, I realize the only way I could get that thing in there is to disassemble the stand, or heat up the acrylic enough to bend it and squeeze it through one of the aperatures.

So now my new question: How big a sump do I need or want? How elaborate does it have to be? I assume all I need is an aquarium big enough to hold the water that drains out of the tank and then pumps to put it back, but the more volume, the easier top-off, etc, right?

 

[SnowManSnow]

well, the bigger your sump the more stuff (and bigger stuff) you can put down there. YOU COULD run just enough water into the sump to cover the intake of your return pump, but the more you can hold the more stable your tank will be.

It doesn't have to be elaborate. I started mine out as just an empty aquarium with the drain and a return. I since added a bubble trap, and am in the process of putting a skimmer down there. You could even add a fuge witha few partitions.

I wouldn't bend the acrylic if possible. Id just get he biggest one that fits.

b

 

[Anonymous]

Right.

It also needs to be large enough to house any skimmers, foam filters, carbon reactors, etc. etc.

I like a large sump for the capacity it adds to your system. The more volume your system has, the more stable it is.

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Bending the acrylic was a joke, but it might be worth taking the stand apart to get the 55 in there then (I don't know what the hell else to do with it. It is too scratched up to sell or use as a lizard tank.)

 

[Anonymous]

SM, put all the baffles and mods you think you may need in a sump in now, and then take the tank stand apart to fit the 55 in... bigger is definitely better... plus you will keep 7E happy by doing some diy on the stand! (plan for a fuge, even if you dont intend to have one- its a lot easier to do the setup now)

 

[Anonymous]

If you can get a 30L in there I think you would be fine.

 

[SAreefer]

my only 2cents worth here would be not to make the same mistake i made, I went with a large sump to house dsb/refug and for better water par. Now i dont have anymore space under my cabinet to fit a kalkstirrer, skimmer and CArx is cramped in there and it's a hell of alot of trouble to change anything or cleaning the skimmer.