10 gallon sump 85 gallon

[weldrick208658]

I need advice, I’m setting up a new 85 gallon, probably and eel and some lion fish and the only tank that can fit under the stand is a 10 gallon can I use that as a sump or do I buy a new stand with a bigger sump.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Personally I would feel much better with a bigger sump. 10 gallon is too small for both water and equipment

 

[argiBK]

The problem will be how you mitigate drainage if you turn off the return pump (say for a water change), or, should the return pump fail.

The top few inches of 85 gallons draining into a 10 gallon sump to me means a lot of water on the floor.

You’re better off running a larger sump externally (maybe in another cabinet) or getting a properly sized cabinet to run that sump, it’ll afford you a lot more space to run adequately sized equipment as well.