DIY sump size recommendation.

[Gellisjr1]

I am planing on buying a large aquarium this summer. I want a 220 gallon tank. I want to use a standard glass aquarium and DIY sump kit for custom fitting of selected equipment. I want a tank large enough to handle water expansion when the pumps are off. Will a 40 breeder be large enough?

 

[Elira_6301]

How much space do you have under your tank? Bigger the better!

 

[BeanAnimal]

That is hard to tell without ore details about the equipment, the overflow, etc. Where is the sump going -- under the tank, in the basement, etc.

I would use the largest sump that I could, given any situation. A 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tank if possible.

 

[Troylee]

That’s all gonna depend on the overflow and how low the weir is in the tank.

 

[Troylee]

For instance a 8x2x2 tank holds 10gallons of water per inch in the tank. So if you had a 40gal breeder running at half capacity you can’t have the weir lower than 2 Inches from the water line or you’re gonna flood! To do the math it’s simple..
LxWxH /231 this gives you the exact gallons of the tank. Take that number and divide it by your height and that tells you how many gallons per inch of water inside the tank. Then you can measure down once you have a drilled tank with overflow and know exactly how much water will drain back when the pumps are off.

 

[boots1331]

For instance a 8x2x2 tank holds 10gallons of water per inch in the tank. So if you had a 40gal breeder running at half capacity you can’t have the weir lower than 2 Inches from the water line or you’re gonna flood! To do the math it’s simple..
LxWxH /231 this gives you the exact gallons of the tank. Take that number and divide it by your height and that tells you how many gallons per inch of water inside the tank. Then you can measure down once you have a drilled tank with overflow and know exactly how much water will drain back when the pumps are off.

Im also working on a sump build for a 225. I have a 75 gallon tank. Are these measurments right for water drain back? (I just used 1 to calculate 1 inch of water loss)

Tank:
84x24x1/231 = 8.73gal per inch of tank

Sump:
48x18x1/231= 3.74gal per inch of tank

8.73/3.74=2.334 each inch of tank loss increases 2.333 inches in sump.

Thanks!

 

[Troylee]

Im also working on a sump build for a 225. I have a 75 gallon tank. Are these measurments right for water drain back? (I just used 1 to calculate 1 inch of water loss)

Tank:
84x24x1/231 = 8.73gal per inch of tank

Sump:
48x18x1/231= 3.74gal per inch of tank

8.73/3.74=2.334 each inch of tank loss increases 2.333 inches in sump.

Thanks!

That seems correct… I’ve never done it that way but it makes sense lol..