Over/under on sump to display size?

[mmorrison55]

What’s your opinion on sizing your sump to your display? I know the general rule is 25% of the display tank.

But does that size requirement go down if you utilize check valves in your plumbing set up?

Based on my dimensions of the tank I may have built, 60x24x20 (or 21) or 72x24x20, I will have a tank volume of ~ 120-150 gallons. Could I get away with a 30 gallon sump? I don’t plan on running a refugium ( plan to run an algae reactor instead), so all I need room for is a fleece roller, skimmer, and return.

I’ve been thinking of going with a deltec https://deltecdirectusa.com/products/deltec-marine-box-aquarium-sump-1 or royal exclusiv set up https://www.royalexclusiv.com/Dreamboxes/STEP-Vliesfleece-Dreambox:::58_135.html

The deltec vf5 marine box, has the benefit of a built in UV chamber,and they have responded that it holds about 30 gallons plus the ato reservoir. It includes their vf5000 fleece roller, but I would have to add the skimmer and return pump to complete the package.

The royal exclusiv looks like it might be a bit more compact and hold even less water, but it seems to have everything in it, fleece roller, return pump, and skimmer. Their website says it’s volume is 80 liters (~21 gallons)

But neither option may work, if they will not support my display tank size.

Thanks for any input.

Mike

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

sorry - misread the OP

 

[PharmrJohn]

There is no "general rule" for sump size, the bigger the better. I've seen several sumps that are even larger than the display tank. But some are just small enough to hold a skimmer and heater, any sump is better than no sump.

Yep, yep. I would add that the sump is a place the water can drain to if the return pump goes bad. Personally, mines gonna be big enough to handle that if something happens to both my return pumps.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Yep, yep. I would add that the sump is a place the water can drain to if the return pump goes bad. Personally, mines gonna be big enough to handle that if something happens to both my return pumps.

lol you got me before I edited.

 

[X-37B]

40 breeder no baffles is what I ran on my 120 48×24×24.
This is the same sump on my 80.
I prefer open sumps as they are easy to work in.

 

[PharmrJohn]

lol you got me before I edited.

I win! I win!

 

[PharmrJohn]

40 breeder no baffles is what I ran on my 120 48×24×24.
This is the same sump on my 80.
I prefer open sumps as they are easy to work in.

Hey Dude.....I misread as well! I could have SWORN that this was a thread on what the advantages of a sump was!!!!

And look. I quoted the wrong post. It's 97 degrees here. That's my excuse.

 

[mmorrison55]

Yep, yep. I would add that the sump is a place the water can drain to if the return pump goes bad. Personally, mines gonna be big enough to handle that if something happens to both my return pumps.

That’s where I was getting the 25% rule, but was more asking if I could get away with something in the 20% size ratio if I were sure to utilize check valves to ensure as little as possible water goes into the sump when power is lost.

 

[Jmp998]

Do not rely on check valves to prevent sump overflow. They will eventually get something that prevents a perfect seal-micro feather duster, wandering baby snail, just some piece of floating algae, whatever. Even a small imperfection in the seal will let water slowly drain through. Sure it may work okay for a water change or something, but when your pump fails, electricity goes out, whatever and the water has an hour to slowly trickle down, it will. If you do try to use check valves, make sure they are serviceable-and do it often.

That said, the amount of water that drains into your sump when power is off will be dependent on your plumbing in the tank-how far below waterline the returns are, do they have siphon breaks, etc.

 

[Jmp998]

40 breeder no baffles is what I ran on my 120 48×24×24.
This is the same sump on my 80.
I prefer open sumps as they are easy to work in.

Simpler is better-or at least more flexible when you decide to try something different like a new skimmer, algae scrubber, whatever. Also a simple setup like that has more reserve capacity since the water throughout is at a low level-not like most of the fancy custom sumps with a few compartments that are already full most of the way to the top when the sump is running normally.

 

[alxjrz]

Out of all the years building and tearing down my setups, buying sumps of all sizes and materials... it's come down to this, I hate salt creep! I hate even tighter spaces and I really hate electronics close or near my sump. Couple of interesting youtube videos and r2r posts I have run accross was to purchase a sump small enough to place an area under the tank for electronics / topoff. Makes sence becuase it's all housed under the tank... it's cool but not rad enough for me. WWC has a great video on how important the mechanical filteration cycles of the main display tanks needs to have. That's my thing! all my tanks from the start had HIGH flow from the return to the overflow holes to push water down them pipes man!, I always factored backflow of the main display. max cycles = more feeding = cleaner water = win... hope my info helps a little. Cheers I am not going to tell you what you should get but if you persuasion, check out my build