sump advice

[thatguy]

I am planning on putting a 10g under my 55 to use as a sump. I will be using a mag9 for my return and a Red Sea Berlin Turbo Classic driven by a mag7. The issue is the 2 pumps and skimmer take up most of the space in the 10g.

My main use for the sump is to get water to my skimmer. I will also use it as a place to drip kalk and add top-off.

Is it ok if I just put a few small pieces of rock and a strawberry basket filled with macro in there? I am working under the idea that something is better than nothing.

I would prefer to have the tank drilled to get the skimmer out of the tank. So, if someone would be willing to drill a small hole in the tank let me know. It cost $8 bucks so I wouldn't be concerned if it breaks, it could even be practice before you try it on yours.

 

[sirreal63]

You need something bigger than a 10 gallon, I have a 20 gallon you can have if you want. It isn't pretty but it will work better than a 10 gallon.

 

[MayoBoy]

Don't forget that you're going to have to add baffles, etc. to calm the water so your 10 gallon is probably way undersized. Go for the 20 or even larger if you can fit it.

 

[thatguy]

In my stand I only have 10" to work with (front to back). The 10g is the only tank that is small enough to fit in the stand.

If I could get it drilled then I would have more space to work with.

Getting water to my skimmer is all I really care about. That should only require a single baffle.


Here is a rough idea of what I'm planning:

 

[levon15]

If you run that mag9 at full open that much water could be difficult to run through a 10gal.

Your adding a great deal of pumps for a medium sized setup.

 

[MayoBoy]

If you only need the sump for the skimmer, why not go down to an Eheim 1250? You'll get around 100-150 GPH at 4' which will give you plenty of turnover for your skimmer.