I havent used a sump before and am not dont know everything about them. Im curious what size would the sump have to be for a 110g aquarium? would a 30g sump be too small?
sump size vs tank size
- Thread starter gordonw
- Start date
Blah, combined two thoughts into one lol. Should read *I have not used a sump before and do not know too much about them*
For saltwater tanks, generally speaking, should be 1/3 of the display tank. Freshwater doesn't matter as much. For freshwater I have used them as small as 10% to the current size of 35%.
Since you have posted this in the FW section, I am assuming that is it's application. You want it large enough you aren't having to top off daily (there are ways around that), as well as large enough for filtration of the water. If it can handle water volume of 5x the main tank size it should work, (ex: Display tank of 100gallons=500gph flow) most commercial ones only handle 300-600 gph on average but can goes as high as 1200.
Since you have posted this in the FW section, I am assuming that is it's application. You want it large enough you aren't having to top off daily (there are ways around that), as well as large enough for filtration of the water. If it can handle water volume of 5x the main tank size it should work, (ex: Display tank of 100gallons=500gph flow) most commercial ones only handle 300-600 gph on average but can goes as high as 1200.
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
I use a 50g tall under my 135g at about 1000gph currently, but it will eventually be about 1400gph when I install my new pump...
Here is a few pictures for ya.
BTW this is on a fresh/semi brackish aquarium...
Here is a few pictures for ya.
BTW this is on a fresh/semi brackish aquarium...
uhhh... is that a pool filter i see in that pic?
love the mini-island refuge, btw. :headbang2:
ExPeNsIvE HoBbY
Formerly ExPeNsIvE AdDiCtIoN on MFK
Lol yes it is a pool filter haha. No media in it tho, just for the pump until I get a higher flow pump
CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
My smallest FW sump is 5 gallon sump system with a 5 gallon auto-fill made by Tom Rapids called a PS4 I have on my 244 Mbuna tank. I bought the PS4 system on sale 2 years ago for $165 but now that cost $290.
This is where I learned the lesson that when it comes to FW sumps they are only as good as the media that water passes through, not the volume amount of water which is directly proportional to amount that will overflow onto the floor should a malfunction occur. In essence this small 600 GPH sump does every bit as good a job maintaining my tank top-off level and fair job filtering (compared to my FX5) as my larger 20 gallon sumps. More water only means larger water changes and bigger spills.
This is where I learned the lesson that when it comes to FW sumps they are only as good as the media that water passes through, not the volume amount of water which is directly proportional to amount that will overflow onto the floor should a malfunction occur. In essence this small 600 GPH sump does every bit as good a job maintaining my tank top-off level and fair job filtering (compared to my FX5) as my larger 20 gallon sumps. More water only means larger water changes and bigger spills.
Volume plays an important part in a sump regardless of what tank it is on FW or SW. The easiest way to think about it is diluting something. It's the same idea that bigger tanks are easier to take of. More water volume means more dilution. In freshwater setups the media you use seems to be more of a key player than in saltwater. Saltwater has the advantage of live rock, where freshwater almost always needs some kind of filter media to allow the nitrogen cycle to take place.