sump and pump help

[sandpiper3]

hello everyone I have a 75 gallon im setting up does anyone think a 20 gallon long sump is big enough and what gph should the overflow and return should be?

 

[rfurst]

What are you hoping to accomplish with your sump? Hard to know what size is appropriate without knowing what you want to do with it?

 

[thegrun]

You want somewhere between 5 and 10 times your display tank for flow through your sump, so look for a pump that can deliver between 350 and 750 GPH after head pressure loss. Within your tank it will depend upon what type of tank you are going to keep to determine the total flow you want to have usually accomplished by adding in tank powerheads. In general for a fish only tank 20 times the DT for total flow (return pump plus powerheads, for soft corals 30 times the DT and for SPS a minimum of 40 times the DT.

 

[danil]

20g should be OK for regular stuff. For return pump you want to flow about 5x the sump volume or equal to the skimmer throughput whichever is greater. If you're planning connect some reactors to this pump you should count for that too. You can also use DC pump with variable speed controller. It will give you flexibility and such pump usually run quieter. For in tank flow use power heads.
GL!

 

[danil]

You want somewhere between 5 and 10 times your display tank for flow through your sump, so look for a pump that can deliver between 350 and 750 GPH after head pressure loss. Within your tank it will depend upon what type of tank you are going to keep to determine the total flow you want to have usually accomplished by adding in tank powerheads. In general for a fish only tank 20 times the DT for total flow (return pump plus powerheads, for soft corals 30 times the DT and for SPS a minimum of 40 times the DT.

Why do you want such a strong flow through your sump? I know old books have those numbers but they also recommend close loops etc. We have our power heads for in tank flow anyway.

 

[thegrun]

Why do you want such a strong flow through your sump? I know old books have those numbers but they also recommend close loops etc. We have our power heads for in tank flow anyway.

Depending upon the relative size of your sump you want enough flow to prevent detritus from building up.

 

[SeedlessOne]

Here is a DIY sump I built a few years back, made from a 20g. This was used on a 90g with a Eheim 1260 pump.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90UNxBk_N2E