Big tank small sump question

[Donsreef]

I'm helping a friend build his new setup. 72x30x24 (220) gallon and he wants to use a 40 gallon breeder for his. I feel he's setting up for failure down the road. He's also going bear bottom.
Looking for your feedback on this planned setup?

 

[hijinks7]

small sump is fine but its always better to go bigger. His biggest issue might be space for the skimmer if he's gonna run a skimmer and not an external one. I do agree though to go bigger. I'd shoot for something like a 80-120g

 

[EW_Fish]

Friend had a 300g with a 40b sump. Never had issues. Just really limits you to what you can do. Why doesn't he go bigger?

 

[Donsreef]

small sump is fine but its always better to go bigger. His biggest issue might be space for the skimmer if he's gonna run a skimmer and not an external one. I do agree though to go bigger. I'd shoot for something like a 80-120g

So you're saying a 40gallon breeder tank with 9" water level big skimmer plus baffles and running vectra pump will be okay on a 220 gallon tank.

 

[rainmaker]

I use a 40 breeder on a 180 with no problems but I also use a large external skimmer never had a overflow but if I had more room under tank I might go bigger sump

 

[lolgranny]

It would definitely work. What kind of drains is he going to have? He doesn’t need a lot of turnover anyways as long as he’s matching what the skimmer needs he’s fine. The dt should have other slouches for flow then just the return pump.

Get a external one

 

[rainmaker]

I use center chamber of the 40 sump to grow cheato an a large external skimmer

 

[Blue Tang Clan]

The issue he might have is if the power goes out. Normal backfill from a 220 would overflow the spare room in a 40g pretty fast and flood the floor.