100 gallon tank 20 gallon sump, enough? ?
- Thread starter Townbiz
- Start date
laserjim
Another Day In Paradise
Go with a 40, not sure where you are from , but petco has 40 g breeder on sale for 40 bucks
billdogg
Well-known member
As long as it does not overflow when the power goes out then yes, technically it's big enough. That being said, the larger the volume of your sump the more room for equipment like a skimmer, reactors, heaters, spare live rock, etc you will have, and the larger total volume will mean more stability in overall parameters.
I use a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for my 60g frag tank - it has all the live rock that provides the biological filtration for the system. For my 120DT I use a 40 breeder and think it could be larger (if I had room under the stand it would be).
hth
I use a 100g Rubbermaid stock tank for my 60g frag tank - it has all the live rock that provides the biological filtration for the system. For my 120DT I use a 40 breeder and think it could be larger (if I had room under the stand it would be).
hth
dkeller_nc
New member
What the others have said are valid points. But realize that a 20g is too small for a 100g tank for an entirely different reason. There's a certain amount of water that's "above" the drain slots in overflows in tanks. What level that rises to is a function of the number of drain slots, the number of overflows, and the return pump that you choose.
But with a reasonable return pump, it's highly likely that there will be enough water in the main display such that it will overflow a 20 gallon tank if the power goes out. Which it will.
So you really don't want to set up a tank system that means disaster for your home if the power blips off for an hour or so.
But with a reasonable return pump, it's highly likely that there will be enough water in the main display such that it will overflow a 20 gallon tank if the power goes out. Which it will.
So you really don't want to set up a tank system that means disaster for your home if the power blips off for an hour or so.
desjardini
In Memoriam
Assuming the sump will only be filled about halfway up to begin with, 8-10 gallons coming back down during a power outage seems like a lot to me. For some reason I think I could make a 20 gallon sump work on this tank.
Joeb1983
Member
Ditto. :thumbsup:
Ron Reefman
Active member
A 20g sump is better than no sump. And after all, it's a fish only tank. At least you have a place to put things like a heater.
laserjim
Another Day In Paradise
Not true if it overflows, from not being large enough.
mcgyvr
New member
And that just means you didn't plan properly...
The potential amount of back flow should simply be accounted for and adjusted as needed for the sump size/space during initial setup.. Only back flowing a few gallons or so is entirely possible.
cougareyes
New member
A 20g has more water volume than the Eshopps rs-100 recommended for 75-125g, the same as the Trigger emerald 26.
Ron Reefman
Active member
That would be because you did it wrong, not because the sump is too small.:uzi:
scooter31707
New member
I would say at least a 30 gallon.
