Is my sump large enough?

Biokabe

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Oct 21, 2016
Messages
1,423
Reaction score
2,052
Location
Tacoma, WA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I recently inherited a 50g tank (48" x 13" x 19")that had been used as a freshwater tank. It came with a 10g sump, completely unused - my relative never set it up, was just gathering dust in the attic. I'm not new to saltwater or reefing, but I am new to sumps - my 9-year-old BioCube has never had a sump - and I'm not sure that 10g is really large enough for a reef tank. My current plan is to use the sump for housing the skimmer, heater and any reactors that I may end up using, and then plumb the sump into a secondary small tank that will be a refugium. So my questions are:

1) Is my plan overkill - do I need that second tank, or is the 10g sump enough on its own?
2) Is my plan realistic, or am I better off selling that sump and replacing it with something larger? If so, how large should I aim for?
 

beaslbob

2500 Club Member
View Badges
Joined
May 11, 2009
Messages
4,086
Reaction score
960
Location
huntsville, al
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Bigger is better.

But as long as you have it adjusted so you get no floods, it should work.

As long as your skimmer and stuff fits that is.

You could always add a 20-30g storage container between the tank and sump for a refugium also.

my .02
 

Mr. Bill

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Dec 3, 2013
Messages
298
Reaction score
345
Location
Head of the Chesapeake, North East, Maryland
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I would go larger only because what if the power goes out and pump shuts down. The overflow will flow down to the sump and over flow the sump

Bigger is better.

But as long as you have it adjusted so you get no floods, it should work.

As long as your skimmer and stuff fits that is.

You could always add a 20-30g storage container between the tank and sump for a refugium also.

my .02

Agreed, as long as your equipment fits, any size container will work. However, bigger is better, so while your still in the planning stage, I'd suggest getting the largest tank that will fit in your cabinet. You'll thank yourself later when you decide you need to make changes. Always easier to add dividers to the existing sump than to plumb in a second one.
 

nervousmonkey

LPS Lover, SPS Enabler
View Badges
Joined
Jun 10, 2015
Messages
1,315
Reaction score
1,334
Location
Atlanta, GA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Agreed with everyone. I am definitely not a proponent of a blanket to always get the biggest thing one can get, but in this case, I would say that the advice fits your situation. For the most part, I think that a 10 gallon sump is definitely big enough for a 50 gallon tank; the ratio of tank to sump is fine, and there are systems with much bigger ratios of tanks to sumps.
That said, I agree that having a larger sump would be beneficial, or as @beaslbob said, adding a 20-30 gallon tub or container in between the tank and sump would provide an awesome refugium, would keep the 10 gallon from overflowing, help filter your water, provides a place for filtration by live rock, xport plates/cubes, etc.; essentially that fixes a lot of problems, including power going out and causing an overflow.
With a large healthy refugium, all you really need is a skimmer as far as filtration goes, at least IMO.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 65 37.1%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 59 33.7%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 14.3%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 26 14.9%
  • Other.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
Back
Top