Do I need to include?

[Billy1205]

Hi, just a quick question, when I purchasing equipment for my 120 gallon marine tank, do I need to include the volume of the sump (50gallon)?

For example, when I choosing a skimmer should the skimmer handle more than 170 gallon or 120 gallon only?

Sorry for asking such a stupid question.

 

[Flippers4pups]

No stupid questions, skimmer would be total water volume. Circulation pumps (power heads and such) Total Dt volume.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Total water volume = Dt + sump + anything else attached to these. Hope this helps.

Return pumps are rated by head pressure (strait up/ vertical with no elbows, 45's, 90's, tees, etc...) and by water volume into Dt. Is also determined by the amount your overflow/ bulkheads can handle.

Heaters - total water volume

 

[Sk8r]

Buying a skimmer: go for 2x the total water volume.

 

[pyithar]

Buying a skimmer: go for 2x the total water volume.

this. in your case, get a skimmer rated for 340 gallons.

 

[cloak]

Being that the sump will probably only be filled about halfway up and the rocks, sand, and equipment will displace some water as well, I would just get a skimmer rated somewhere between 200-250 gallons and call it a day. (twice the size of the DT)