40 breeder sump enough for a 125 gallon?

[Davy Jones]

Having a custom tank made, 48x30x20. Works out to about 125 gallons without sand/rock. Have a deal on a 40 breeder sump and I'm wondering if this is enough? Mostly for back flow when the power is off.

On a side note, how does one build and plumb a separate refugium?

 

[vertigo01]

I would think that a 40B is perfect.
I have a 150 gal, my sump is only 40 gals and I have about 5-6 inches to top of sump when everything is shut off.

I have no experience with a refugium so can't help you there.

 

[Shep]

To be honest there is no real minimum size needed. A sump just adds some extra water volume and a place to put all the equipment, so if it does that you are good to go.

 

[Davy Jones]

To be honest there is no real minimum size needed. A sump just adds some extra water volume and a place to put all the equipment, so if it does that you are good to go.

Equipment wise im not concerned. I am concerned that in having the sump, and running a ghost overflow, that there is enough volume left in the sump for when the power shuts off and the plumbing drains into the sump. as far as i can tell i will need about 13 gallons of space available for the sump to not overflow. If my math is right, i should have 17 gallons of available space during normal operation

 

[Sycoticrealm]

Sump for equipment mostly skimmers and filter media any size is fine if it can house those things.
I've seen 29g and 55g use as sumps for 125g 6ft tanks if you got the width for a 40b then do it.

 

[Davy Jones]

Sump for equipment mostly skimmers and filter media any size is fine if it can house those things.
I've seen 29g and 55g use as sumps for 125g 6ft tanks if you got the width for a 40b then do it.

Custom 125, 48x30x20.. so i dont have the 6 foot or even 5 foot. Or i would do 75 for a sump lol

 

[Sycoticrealm]

Then a 40b prefect!

 

[rocsec1]

I have a 40 for my 120.i would like something larger but the 40 is fine.

 

[Hitman]

That will work great for you. I’m using a 40B for my refugium. I have 9-1/2” of water in it which leaves me shy of 8” before it would overflow. This was on my 240 gallon tank befor I upgraded to a 55 gallon refugium. I had the power go out on day and I was scared that it would overflow but the water stopped about 4” from the top. You know a standard 55 gallon tank is 48x12x18 so it could fit under your tank as well if you have the room.
Here’s a pic of my 40B when it was under my 240

 

[Davy Jones]

That will work great for you. I’m using a 40B for my refugium. I have 9-1/2” of water in it which leaves me shy of 8” before it would overflow. This was on my 240 gallon tank befor I upgraded to a 55 gallon refugium. I had the power go out on day and I was scared that it would overflow but the water stopped about 4” from the top. You know a standard 55 gallon tank is 48x12x18 so it could fit under your tank as well if you have the room.
Here’s a pic of my 40B when it was under my 240

I am guessing on a 48" tank, the stand will be 48" to match. So inside the stand will be less than that. Likely 45" or so of space after thickness of materials used of course.

 

[Fin]

What was my 40B sump under my 140 - 48 x 24 x 30. Worked out fine.

 

[reefwiser]

One can never have a big enough sump. The more water volume the better. My new tank will have as big as sump as the display and more if I hook another Rubbermaid cattle trough to it.

 

[rblair]

I have a 40 breeder sump on my 180. When I turn off the pump it fills to about 4 inches form the top. I think it will depend a lot on how your sump is built and how high the water level is in the pump chamber it also. I keep mine pretty low so I if for some reason the overflow would stop, the pump would run out of water before it would over fill then tank.