I know I shouldn't rush.

[irahmatulla]

Ok guys, been a long time since I posted. Broke my 90g in a move, and have sort of been stagnating in a 60 cube since. Just bought a used RR 120g. :thumbs: Bought a Danner 9.5 return and am new to the plumbing aspect of reefing. Must replace bulkheads (should be here tomorrow) Sump is what I have a question about. I have a 100g rated HOB skimmer. Aside from additional volume does the SIZE of a sump really matter? I was planning on partitioning a 29 to have about 7 inches for skimmer and return, and using the other 70% as a fuge. Possible a small trickle area for medium. Do I need a huge sump? I know I need to worry about backflow, (overflow cut off and return will be just below surface level.) but will it pose any long term issues to use something smaller?

 

[tchristman]

The larger the sump...the larger total volume of the system which equals more stability in my opinion. As long as the sump can handle the flow down from a power outage it is enough to survive but is it enough to thrive? My two cents.

 

[rdnelson]

Organ water volume the only benefit to a sump I can see is what you put in it. Therefore you could do most anything. But having room for more rock, matrix, refugium, etc is a huge plus in my book.

 

[jimmystephens]

Not trying to hijack but just to learn... what is the correct size sump per aquarium gallons?? If there is one. Like 1lb of live rock per gallon etc.. id there a gallon in the dt to the sump volume?

 

[dakota9]

20% to 40% of you DT size is where most all sumps fall

I've seen 25% to 35% being optimum

JimmyStephens;826790 wrote: Not trying to hijack but just to learn... what is the correct size sump per aquarium gallons?? If there is one. Like 1lb of live rock per gallon etc.. id there a gallon in the dt to the sump volume?

 

[traylor23]

I wouldn't want to go any less than 1/4 of my display size (i.e. I have a 135g cube, so I wouldn't want to go any less than 34 gallons. I have two 29g's under the hood, so I'm around 50g of total water volume. That's just my preference though. I don't suppose there's a finite answer. As long as it holds your desired equipment/refugium/etc and doesn't cause problems with your dt (i.e. microbubbles/debris), you're golden!

 

[irahmatulla]

alright! that solves me many painstaking questions and makes it much simpler/cheaper to do. Everything is going to have unions and more than likely flex line making upgrading it eventually easy. My LFS is trying to sell me on a 75g, which I can understand for volume and area. However when it comes to availability and cost, I already have one! Next question, someone mentioned bubbles and debris. I was going to make an acrylic box to put my return pump in, that will be below the sump water level. This should help a lil bit with debris, but where do the bubbles come from? I was planning on soaking my pvc for the return for a day or two to help get a nice slime coat on it, but if the pump is submerged enough that it is not sucking in surface air, there should ideally have no bubbles right?

 

[traylor23]

Not necessarily. Most overflow standpipes utilize air to allow water to flow to the sump. This creates bubbles (visit melevsreef.com for some sump ideas). Microbubbles can also come from your protein skimmer. A good baffle system can solve this problem, but dialing it in can be cumbersome if you want to use a high-flow pump.

 

[heathlindner25]

Bubbles are usually from a skimmer.

 

[rdnelson]

heathlindner25;826805 wrote: Bubbles are usually from a skimmer.

Or falling water. .

 

[irahmatulla]

Ok, slightly off topic but maybe not. Pump delivered today, bulkheads are in hand. Really want to get this project a little further. However....it is sprinkling outside and I am afraid of silicone not adhering/curing properly due to outside moisture. I can do the sump in the garage, but no one here to help me move the 5 foot beast into the garage. Has anyone ever tried to reseal a tank in the rain? :bash2: I have plenty to do otherwise, (build stand and sump) but I wanted to get the re-seal underway so I can leak test it tomorrow night and set it up Saturday. This is sooooo Savannah weather. Doesn't rain when the crops need it, but when you got work to do....better kick your shoes back off. Can I get away with it or is it ill advised? (using GE II 100 percent silicon):feedback:

 

[snowmansnow]

heres my take on a sump, and what I do with mine.

its a place to house equipment. IMO fuges are a risky proposition, and trickle filters are a thing of the past...

partition it so that you can get a real skimmer, put some bubble traps, leave an area for probes and rock on .

b

Edit:

IRahmatulla;827378 wrote: Ok, slightly off topic but maybe not. Pump delivered today, bulkheads are in hand. Really want to get this project a little further. However....it is sprinkling outside and I am afraid of silicone not adhering/curing properly due to outside moisture. I can do the sump in the garage, but no one here to help me move the 5 foot beast into the garage. Has anyone ever tried to reseal a tank in the rain? :bash2: I have plenty to do otherwise, (build stand and sump) but I wanted to get the re-seal underway so I can leak test it tomorrow night and set it up Saturday. This is sooooo Savannah weather. Doesn't rain when the crops need it, but when you got work to do....better kick your shoes back off. Can I get away with it or is it ill advised? (using GE II 100 percent silicon):feedback:

i would wait... as much as i would hate to

 

[frantz]

Another thing to consider with sump volume is the amount of water that will go into the sump if the power fails, and the amount of water that will get pumped into the tank if the drain gets clogged.

 

[davidinga]

TChristman;826749 wrote: The larger the sump...the larger total volume of the system which equals more stability in my opinion. As long as the sump can handle the flow down from a power outage it is enough to survive but is it enough to thrive? My two cents.

This. I'm a big fan of larger sumps. On a 120gal I would try to pick up a used 75 gallon to use as a sump.

 

[ichthyoid]

I'm doing a 75 under my 120.

To be fair it's a lot more complex than that, but I hope to end up close to a 1:1 display to fuge+sump capacity.

Snowman, why do think fuge's can be risky?

 

[rdnelson]

ichthyoid;828567 wrote:

Snowman, why do think fuge's can be risky?

Wondering this as well. Seems anything in this hobby can be risky if not done properly.