Sump Designs- Ideas

[Fish Dad]

Sump Help- let me see your sumps
I have 55 gallon tank I’m going to be setting up.
Looking for suggestions on sump design. Who's got pictures?
I have thought about buying a 20 gallon long but thinking it too shallow and will have issues
So think about a 30 gallon to get 16” depth.

[dano]

I have 2 sumps and there both different. One is in a tub, 17"x26" by 12" deep. The return pump and skimmer are on one side. I have about 4" of live rock on about 1/2 of it. the various algae grows and clings to the liverock. for lighting i am using a 45 watt 6500k photographers bulb in a cheep hardware store reflector. This is on a 50gal breeder with a 3" substrate over a screened egg crate to make a low oxegen zone. Its simple an works.
The other one is a 55gal under a 90gal tank. I have 12 layers of fiberglass screen (for a low oxegen zone) covering the bottom,with a 1/2" of substrate over that. I have a "critter home" under the return pump. Its a box with 1/4" mesh screen pieces, various size lengths and diameters of plastic tubing and pvc. there are 2, 1/4" mesh dividers about 3" apart filled to the top with ruble to keep the algae away from the pump and spread out the return flow. Lighting is a 150 watt,14k mh. This one has been set up for 1 day.

If you have all the zones it will work.

[Fish Dad]

Wow that second sump sounds crazy


I'm looking at using a 20 or 30 gallon

[bluwc]

Originally Posted by Fish Dad

Wow that second sump sounds crazy


I'm looking at using a 20 or 30 gallon

You can come look at my 20g, im only about 15mins from you. I'd change it a little bit though....but would give you an idea

[binford4000]

I have a power point I made for someone around somewhere if you want it I'll send it to you.PM me an e-mail and I'll send it out

[Fish Dad]

I'm ready to get this thing started, if I go with 20 long I can keep current stand. If I go with 30, I need more Height so I will Build a new stand.
20 long would be perfect but still afraid not enough depth? 12" total (some of the skimmer asking for 8- 9.5")

20 Reg doesn't l leave me enough room for all the compartments.

[larryandlaura]

You definitely want room for a power outage for the overflow volume. They always say the bigger the better. So are you going with the 30?

[bluwc]

The key to not overflowing the sump is to make sure it isn't full so that wen you lose power the overflow doesn't overfill you tank. I don't have a problem when I lose power, I think I left the water level about 3-4" from the top so I don't get overflow.

[Fish Dad]

So is there anything out there to calculate how much water.

I will draw something up and post it see what everyone thinks....

[Heidi]

This is my sump. 3 chamber 1: fuge macro algea, rock chunks, sand, crabs. 2: skimmer also where I put a filter sock with carbon when I want extra mechanical filtration. 3: return pump, thermometer prob, 2 heaters. I run a very basic "noobee" system with no bells and whistles yet. Hope this helps feel free to ask for more details if they would help you.
Heidi