Sump size, rule of thumb? (1 Viewer)

[bdubb]

Still have a lot of research to go before buying, but I am beginning to look more towards putting a square tank in a corner. Tank size would be about 100 gallons, or something close to 30x30x24 with a stand that would allow the tank bottom to sit at about the standard bar height. However since I am still very new to all of this I am not sure how much room I will need to house equipment in the stand. I assume a 30wx30dx40h stand would be hard to fit all the equipment into. Is there a general rule of thumb for the size of a sump based on the size of the display tank? Such as there are rules for live rock and live sand versus tank volume.

In terms of equipment I am about as far as knowing the needs of a sump and a skimmer, but thats about it at the moment. Still have a lot of learning to go...

 

[padanky]

As big as possible, bigger the better.

 

[fishcraze_1]

why not put a corner tank.

 

[krjackso]

welcome to the crazy world of reefing. lots of folks here to get some good advice from, so start researching before you buy. My advice is to always buy the best you can afford at the moment or you will end up buying 2 or 3 down the road. Research, read, investigate, and then come with very specific questions, as it will be easier to answer. In shirt though, yes go as big as you can on the sump. Space limitations are never fun but are always a reality. The most important things to spend your money on in the beginning is quality lights and skimmer IMHO. good luck.

 

[Diesel]

The best purchase I did is before I became reef crazy is.................become a member of MARSH, can't go wrong on that!

 

[bdubb]

Thank you everyone. I was looking to go with a larger tank, but due to some recent furniture purchases I will need to use another wall/corner in the same room to keep things looking as I would like them in my living room. Measuring just now, I would like to keep my stand within 34" wide, 30" deep, 43" high (can go slightly larger but these measurement will tuck the stand into the corner without sticking out past walls. Understanding it will likely be a custom tank and stand (yet to look for this size) the tank would be around 90+ gallons.

fishcraze - I looked into the bow front corner tanks but have read about difficulty with finding lights and I also see the stand to have even less room to fit equipment. I looked a little today at the pentagon shaped tanks and will give those more consideration before buying. Right now my interest rests mostly with a rimless square tank or a custom sized rectanglular tank. Then have the light(s) hang down from the ceiling or have two arms from the stand come up and hold the light above the tank.

 

[trb]

For a sump, you need it to be big enough to hold all the equipment you want to hide, and a bit bigger if you want to integrate a refugium. For a 30x30 tank, unless you get a custom acrylic sump, you would only be able to fit a standard 24x12 glass tank in it, like a regular 20 gal, but you could possibly link two together. Might even be able to fit a 20L or 29 gal in there since they are only 30" long, if you have an open back and surface mounted door on the stand.

I have two 29 gal tanks at the bottom of my stand, one as a non reef safe display and the other as a refugium/ filter sock, skimmer area that is higher up and flows into the second tank. Of course if you want to limit the rocks in the main tank, you can fill the sump with rocks. Most people go with about 1 to 1-1/2 lb of rock per gallon.

 

[fishcraze_1]

Ill post a pic of my 92 corner.

There are many options.

MH, T 5 and led.

No different than any other

Several people have these tanks on here

If not try reef central

Ill try to post a pic of mine tomorrow

 

[reefling]

I had a 92 corner bow. the strait sides are 36" i think. it is hard to light and you only get about the same display for corals a 3' tank would provide. as for the sump, i just baffle bare aquariums for mine, mostly 40g breeders. you could probably use a 29g.

note:the corner bow front will look amazing, but they are very inefficient.

 

[gabe_j]

as far as sumps go the bigger the better personally i like to stick to around 40-50% of my display size. so for a 100 gallon tank either a 40 or 50 gallon sump. that should if planned right give you enough room for a oversized skimmer, 2 heaters (independently controlled), a decent sized refugium and a return section. you should plan for an auto top off or atleast leave yourself room to add one down the road. and a smaller area for reactors at the minimum a carbon reactor.

on my tank i've got a 40 breeder display with a 20 long sump. i plan on swapping that out for a standard 20 and then a smaller 5-10 gallon refugium. as it stands i've got a bm nac-6a skimmer, 250 watt heater, brs carbon reactor, about 2 gallon bags full of cheato, and a sicce 5.0 return pump. all in a 20 with a 15-20lbs chunk of live rock i didn't want in my display. and for lights fo with leds for the win a full spectrum custom build would be awesome...(i make them)