Help my Pick My Sump: 20H, 20L, 29............

[VR28man]

Hey all,

Trying to piece together my future tank (55G), and am thinking about the sump.

I'm going to probably mod a petco aquarium (with the $1/gal sale going on now, and with nothing available comparably priced from craigslist).

I will be using an eheim compact pump (~700gph flow, 5.4" x 3.2" x 5.0") and something comparable to the Eshops X-120 skimmer (6.5x5 3/4 footprint, 9-11" water level).

I want to have a fuge of at least ~10g, whether or not I join the Triton Cult or not (honestly, my research and planning have made me very sympathetic to their overall method).

Candidates are:
20H 25" x 13.25" x 17.25"
20L: 30x13x13
29: 30x13x19

29G would be ideal, BUT my worry is that it'll be too high to access from my under the stand of my display tank. So I'm sort of thinking going with the 20L.

Thoughts?

 

[gotwins86]

I agree, 20L due to height under the stand. Just have to make sure you have enough room for the back flow when power is cut when deciding baffle height.

Might not get the 10 gal fuge you want, but can get close.

 

[tdileo]

20L. You will have a lot of room for a fuge as well as equipment and room to work.

 

[VR28man]

I agree, 20L due to height under the stand. Just have to make sure you have enough room for the back flow when power is cut when deciding baffle height.

Might not get the 10 gal fuge you want, but can get close.

Thanks to both of you!

However, I don't quite get the bolded. Will this relatively low-footprint stuff really take up more than half the sump??!! If so, maybe I need to find a more compact pump/skimmer.

Also, my stand will be about 36" high, meaning that if I get the 29 I'll still have at least 11" to work with. Not ideal, but maybe workable?

 

[Kadee]

Think about the need to pull out the skimmer with that 11" clearance. If you go with the smallest footprint and the smallest compartment, you will have to raise the skimmer to clear the baffle with very little wiggle room.

 

[gotwins86]

Thanks to both of you!

However, I don't quite get the bolded. Will this relatively low-footprint stuff really take up more than half the sump??!! If so, maybe I need to find a more compact pump/skimmer.

Also, my stand will be about 36" high, meaning that if I get the 29 I'll still have at least 11" to work with. Not ideal, but maybe workable?

You won't get to use the full height of the sump with the baffles and backflow. So set up running you probably only have around 15 gallons in the 20L sump.

Just thinking 30" sump. 6" or so for return pump section. 10" or so for skimmer/ drains. Leaves you about 14x13x10(if you have fuge at 10 inch height). That equals 7.9 gallons

Smaller compartments getting the fuge to 17x13x10 equals 9.6 gallons. All depends on what size you want each section.

 

[VR28man]

Think about the need to pull out the skimmer with that 11" clearance. If you go with the smallest footprint and the smallest compartment, you will have to raise the skimmer to clear the baffle with very little wiggle room.

Yup, that's what I was concerned about. Especially since most the mass produced PetPlace stands are 28-30" high (not that I'm getting one of those, just for reference. Even a custom stand should not be much taller, unless there's a reason). Add 16" of a skimmer height or so, and it seems you'd have to remove all the water to remove the skimmer.

That being said, many mass produced sumps (e.g. Eshops') are 16" high, so the difference is not that great. Very curious, and something to think about.

All that said, I'm still 95% convinced I'm going with a 20L

You won't get to use the full height of the sump with the baffles and backflow. So set up running you probably only have around 15 gallons in the 20L sump.

A ha. That's right, and that's where I'm going wrong.

 

[gurumasta]

Do you have the extra few inches in depth available to go to a 75? You will be happier long term IMO and be able to fit a larger sump to accomplish all that you want to..

 

[Jberge]

Yup, that's what I was concerned about. Especially since most the mass produced PetPlace stands are 28-30" high (not that I'm getting one of those, just for reference. Even a custom stand should not be much taller, unless there's a reason). Add 16" of a skimmer height or so, and it seems you'd have to remove all the water to remove the skimmer.

That being said, many mass produced sumps (e.g. Eshops') are 16" high, so the difference is not that great. Very curious, and something to think about.

All that said, I'm still 95% convinced I'm going with a 20L



A ha. That's right, and that's where I'm going wrong.

Did you end up deciding on one? I'm in the same situation right now with my 72g. I've had my wet/dry as a make shift sump for 8 months now and I've had enough of it. The $1/gal sale ends sat. I'm leaning towards a 20L although I wanted a 29g but that only leaves me 10" above it to work.

 

[VR28man]

Not yet. I don't have a reef yet, just establishing a 29g fowlr for the next few months until $$$ is sufficient for a reef.

that being said, I think you know what my preference is.

I would prefer the larger one, because i would like a decent size 'fuge. Though standard aquarium stands at PetPlace are 30" or so high, it's very common for custom ones to be higher - 40" or so- and I think that gives me enough space.

 

[Jberge]

Not yet. I don't have a reef yet, just establishing a 29g fowlr for the next few months until $$$ is sufficient for a reef.

that being said, I think you know what my preference is.

I would prefer the larger one, because i would like a decent size 'fuge. Though standard aquarium stands at PetPlace are 30" or so high, it's very common for custom ones to be higher - 40" or so- and I think that gives me enough space.

Gotcha. My stand is taller, around 38" I don't remember exactly but from the bottom to top trim piece I only have 28". I really wanted the 29 but I just ordered a kit off eBay for a 20L. My local glass shop quoted me $15 a pc for 1/4" baffles so I figured I'd go with an acrylic kit.