Tank volume with sump?

[Piece of reef]

Hey guys, so just doing more research before i start the tank up and started to wonder if i have to include sump water volume in my dt volume to calculate what heaters or how much chemicals to add etc

So my dt is 300 litre/ 80 gallons

And i have 2 200w heaters

Should i be adding the water in sump to the 300l/ 80 gallons

 

[Ludders]

yes you should include total water volume when calculating anything. Have you bought heaters yet?

 

[Piece of reef]

yes you should include total water volume when calculating anything. Have you bought heaters yet?

I bought the tank used and it came with heaps of accessories

It has 2 aquaone 200w heaters
Was planning on buying a controller though to control temps

 

[Ludders]

You're right to get a controller. The built in thermostats on aquarium heaters are not the best way to control the temperature.
Go for a titanium heater, they are much more reliable.

 

[Piece of reef]

You're right to get a controller. The built in thermostats on aquarium heaters are not the best way to control the temperature.
Go for a titanium heater, they are much more reliable.

Yeh definately looking at getting new heaters
I might use these one untill after i finish my cycle, then get new ones when i add something worth keeping warm lol
Then just keep these as back up
Thanks ludders

 

[Ludders]

yeah they are fine for now to get you up and running

 

[Waters]

I don't know how accurate it is, but I always just include the DT, assuming that the live rock and the extra sump volume cancel each other out. For example, a 100 gallon tank with live rock is not holding 100 gallons of water.

 

[Piece of reef]

I don't know how accurate it is, but I always just include the DT, assuming that the live rock and the extra sump volume cancel each other out. For example, a 100 gallon tank with live rock is not holding 100 gallons of water.

Thats true aswell, but i think ill know exactly how much water the tank takes in the filling up stage, which would already have the rocks etc in it so ill just have to make sure i keep track of how much i fill up

 

[Jib]

Thats true aswell, but i think ill know exactly how much water the tank takes in the filling up stage, which would already have the rocks etc in it so ill just have to make sure i keep track of how much i fill up

this is the way to do it. Just pay attention when filling up that way you have a good idea what actual water volume is. You’ll be happy you did when you have to start dosing something.

 

[Billdogg]

I don't know how accurate it is, but I always just include the DT, assuming that the live rock and the extra sump volume cancel each other out. For example, a 100 gallon tank with live rock is not holding 100 gallons of water.

I do the same. My DT is a standard 120, the sump a 40b with a "refugium" area filled with extra LR. I figure the rock in the DT displaces 15g or so, and with the sump only half full and 1/3 of that with LR, that it pretty much cancels it all out. I do my calculations using 120g as a starting point.