Is a 10gal sump big enough for a 46 gallon?

[dave171]

Hey all Im upgrading my 36gal bowfront to a 46 gal bowfront as I got it for free and really why not? I want to sump this one so I was thinking a 10 gal is that enough? I wasn't planning on running a protein skimmer as I never have in my tanks. Kinda new to sumps have had a little experience but not much. Can someone give me the run down also and basically what I'll need thanks!

 

[Virtualbasil]

I would do a 20 gal sump. Depends on what you want in the sump really?

 

[143MPCo]

Sumps in a nut shell give you the ability to add things like filtration (sock, filter-pads, pump/s etc.) along with an area for a skimmer, and if desired a refugium.
This doesn't mean you need all of these things in a sump to be successful but, you get the idea. The question of is 10-gallons sump enough has more to do with what you're looking to gain out of a sump and what you want to add to it. If you're not going to run a skimmer and just want basic filter filtration a 10-gallon should be fine but, when you start adding things into it like a skimmer, and socks with a holder, you'll soon see that you need more space.

 

[Virtualbasil]

Does it already have chambers in the back for filtration?

 

[ca2or]

I have always been a believer of 50%. Meaning your sump\fuge should be close to 50% of your display. With that being said the best tank I have ever seen that promoted the most growth and stability ran a sump and fuge setup that was twice as much volume as the display. It was an 80G display with an 80g sump, 40G DSB\xenia filter, and 40G refugium.

 

[dave171]

Does it already have chambers in the back for filtration?

Do you mean in the sump? If so I would have to make them. As it is just a standard 10 gal tank as of right now.

I have always been a believer of 50%. Meaning your sump\fuge should be close to 50% of your display. With that being said the best tank I have ever seen that promoted the most growth and stability ran a sump and fuge setup that was twice as much volume as the display. It was an 80G display with an 80g sump, 40G DSB\xenia filter, and 40G refugium.

Wow that's definitely what you call good filtration. I'm not gonna go that overboard just because it's not a big tank. But the reason why I wanted to do 10gal was the shape of the stand being a bowfront it's hard to fit a big tank under.

 

[ca2or]

Do you mean in the sump? If so I would have to make them. As it is just a standard 10 gal tank as of right now.


Wow that's definitely what you call good filtration. I'm not gonna go that overboard just because it's not a big tank. But the reason why I wanted to do 10gal was the shape of the stand being a bowfront it's hard to fit a big tank under.

Yeah, you don't see that very often. I do have another buddy that is doing something somewhat similar...30g display with 60g below for filtration. Bit more feasible at that point

 

[Harold Green]

Here's a point you may want to consider. Most systems will drain down some water when the power is off so the sump is usually designed to hold that amount of water by not being filled up fully at startup. So your 10g sump may be running with only five or six gallons of water in it normally. I'm not pushing anything but trigger systems makes a cube shaped sump that will fit in a 18x18 area. You might also be able to fit a twenty tall tank under the stand or build your own sump to the available space under the stand. If all you want is a refusium with a place for the return pump any large plastic container may be appropriate.