best/minimum sump size for new reef tank

Saltydoc246 · 11/12/2017, 03:16 PM

I'm planning to build a reef tank, 30" tall, 30" deep, and 60" (5 ft) long. I've heard bigger is better for sump size for optimal filtration and water chemistry stability. Any suggestions? Is 30" height too ambitious from a reef tank maintenance perspective?
Thank you!
Peter

billdogg · 11/12/2017, 03:40 PM

Something in the 75g range would be fine. If the sump is too tall it makes getting into it for maintenance difficult (skimmer cleaning, etc)

mcgyvr · 11/12/2017, 04:28 PM

While "bigger is better" can apply one of the whole points to a sump is to have a place to run all the equipment you want out of sight..
So decide what you want in the sump (skimmer, fuge,reactors,etc..) and make sure its large enough for that..

More water = larger changes are required to mess with parameters but IMO when you already have a good amount of water make the sump just large enough to house the equipment you need..

Saltydoc246 · 11/12/2017, 05:52 PM

Thank you good advice

sde1500 · 11/12/2017, 07:29 PM

Also needs to be large enough to handle the amount of water siphoned by the return when power goes out. Or you flood.

rocsec1 · 11/12/2017, 08:36 PM

Bigger can be better but make sure you leave enough room to get into there to do the maintance, more water is better, takes longer for things to go bad, but more water means more money needed.

SycoCell · 11/13/2017, 06:22 AM

Make sure it's big enough to house all of your equipment - and future equipment. I like the quality of my RS-200, but it's not nearly big enough for my 120g and unfortunately, I can't take it out of my stand with the system up and running..

Ron Reefman · 11/13/2017, 07:06 AM

Are you saying the reef tank is 6' x30"x30", or is that the sump?

I had a 6'x24"x24" 180b tank and I grew to dislike the 24" tall. My current tank is 5'x24"x20" and I like the shorter tank MUCH better.

If you were talking sump size, how big is the tank???? Sumps are best done as big as you can get. Usually that is 50% to 90% of the tank size and still fits in the stand.

My 125g came with a 45g sump and I'm currently building a bigger one to use all the space in the stand and it will be 70g and include a refugium.

RobZilla04 · 11/13/2017, 07:15 AM

IMO get the larges sump you can fit. First it will add water volume. Second you'll have plenty of space if you decide to add equipment in the future.

11/12/2017, 03:16 PM	#1
Saltydoc246 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 2	best/minimum sump size for new reef tank I'm planning to build a reef tank, 30" tall, 30" deep, and 60" (5 ft) long. I've heard bigger is better for sump size for optimal filtration and water chemistry stability. Any suggestions? Is 30" height too ambitious from a reef tank maintenance perspective? Thank you! Peter

11/12/2017, 03:40 PM	#2
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	Something in the 75g range would be fine. If the sump is too tall it makes getting into it for maintenance difficult (skimmer cleaning, etc) __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

11/12/2017, 04:28 PM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	While "bigger is better" can apply one of the whole points to a sump is to have a place to run all the equipment you want out of sight.. So decide what you want in the sump (skimmer, fuge,reactors,etc..) and make sure its large enough for that.. More water = larger changes are required to mess with parameters but IMO when you already have a good amount of water make the sump just large enough to house the equipment you need.. __________________ Who me?

11/12/2017, 07:29 PM	#5
sde1500 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Glocester, RI Posts: 3,336	Also needs to be large enough to handle the amount of water siphoned by the return when power goes out. Or you flood. __________________ My build thread: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2548422 Current Tank Info: 65 gallon mixed reef, Eshopps sump and HOB overflow, RO-110int skimmer, Reefbreeder 32" photons V1.

11/13/2017, 06:22 AM	#7
SycoCell Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 187	Make sure it's big enough to house all of your equipment - and future equipment. I like the quality of my RS-200, but it's not nearly big enough for my 120g and unfortunately, I can't take it out of my stand with the system up and running.. __________________ 125g long DT, RS-200 Sump, Reef Octo 150 Skimmer, Full apex automation PS, I'm a newb so take my suggestions with a grain of reef salt

11/12/2017, 05:52 PM	#4
Saltydoc246 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Camarillo, CA Posts: 2	Thank you good advice

11/12/2017, 08:36 PM	#6
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	Bigger can be better but make sure you leave enough room to get into there to do the maintance, more water is better, takes longer for things to go bad, but more water means more money needed.

11/13/2017, 07:06 AM	#8
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Are you saying the reef tank is 6' x30"x30", or is that the sump? I had a 6'x24"x24" 180b tank and I grew to dislike the 24" tall. My current tank is 5'x24"x20" and I like the shorter tank MUCH better. If you were talking sump size, how big is the tank???? Sumps are best done as big as you can get. Usually that is 50% to 90% of the tank size and still fits in the stand. My 125g came with a 45g sump and I'm currently building a bigger one to use all the space in the stand and it will be 70g and include a refugium. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

11/13/2017, 07:15 AM	#9
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	IMO get the larges sump you can fit. First it will add water volume. Second you'll have plenty of space if you decide to add equipment in the future. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef