Newbie here, what size Sump for a 55 gallon tank

stern

Member
Hey still learning before I start spending, can I use a 10 gallon tank for the Sump on a 55 gallon tank? I see there are kit on ebay but not sure if the 10 gallon would work for a 55 gallon tank.
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Would it work? Yes but a 20 would be better. It would give you more overall water volume and give u more room if u want other accessories. Skimmer, ect
 

stern

Member
Im going for a 55 long, yes I would definitely want a skimmer, so 20 gallon sump is what I will look for, thanks Jay0705....
 

flower

Well-Known Member
Hey still learning before I start spending, can I use a 10 gallon tank for the Sump on a 55 gallon tank? I see there are kit on ebay but not sure if the 10 gallon would work for a 55 gallon tank.
Hi, Welcome to the site!

It would be a good idea, and very easy to divide up the tank so you can have a small refugium section as well, you can put macroalgae in it, and keep your tank's water quality pristine.
 

jay0705

Well-Known Member
Hi, Welcome to the site!

It would be a good idea, and very easy to divide up the tank so you can have a small refugium section as well, you can put macroalgae in it, and keep your tank's water quality pristine.
To clarify u mean in the sump? Lol
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
There are many alternatives to using an aquarium or pre build tank for a sump.

For instance, plastic storage containers from wallmart/building supply places and the like. A large(r) container for a refugium with a smaller container for the actual sump area. I used a $5 15-20g container on my 55g with the long dimension for and aft in the stand. So it poked out the back of the stand. I could then run the drain straight down to the refugium.

You and also put the smaller container in the larger to serve the function of baffles.

One thing I did that worked out really really good was to cram in 1/4 square plastic grid (lighting diffuser/egg crate) about 3" from the back glass. And added cheapie 2 tube shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. The area between the back glass and egg crate formed a lit refugium where macros and pods thrived. And the fish grazed on the macros that poked through. Nitrates dropped to 0 in three weeks and phosphates followed a couple of months later.

If you do use an external sump be sure to adjust for power out, power return, and drain blockage. I forgot the latter. The idea is to adjust sump level so that when a drain is blocked the sump runs dry before the display floods.

my .02
 

flower

Well-Known Member
To clarify u mean in the sump? Lol
LOL...As for what I said... Yes, you can use a glass pane to create a small chamber that is shorter then the rest of the sump, the water from the display would flow to it before overflowing to the rest of the sump where your skimmer is located. There are lots of different designs for sumps with a refugium chamber.
 

honu808

Member
also remember that a 20 gal sump will not yield 20 gal of extra water volume, when you add baffles and skimmer etc. it robs you of that added space/volume. Go as large as you can, anything is better than nothing.
 

stern

Member
There are many alternatives to using an aquarium or pre build tank for a sump.

For instance, plastic storage containers from wallmart/building supply places and the like. A large(r) container for a refugium with a smaller container for the actual sump area. I used a $5 15-20g container on my 55g with the long dimension for and aft in the stand. So it poked out the back of the stand. I could then run the drain straight down to the refugium.

You and also put the smaller container in the larger to serve the function of baffles.

One thing I did that worked out really really good was to cram in 1/4 square plastic grid (lighting diffuser/egg crate) about 3" from the back glass. And added cheapie 2 tube shop lights behind the tank pointing forward. The area between the back glass and egg crate formed a lit refugium where macros and pods thrived. And the fish grazed on the macros that poked through. Nitrates dropped to 0 in three weeks and phosphates followed a couple of months later.

If you do use an external sump be sure to adjust for power out, power return, and drain blockage. I forgot the latter. The idea is to adjust sump level so that when a drain is blocked the sump runs dry before the display floods.

my .02
Thanks for all the replies everyone and thanks for the creative idea beaslbob, I guess the container dimensions would have to be the same as a 20 gallon if I purchase a 20 kit?
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Thanks for all the replies everyone and thanks for the creative idea beaslbob, I guess the container dimensions would have to be the same as a 20 gallon if I purchase a 20 kit?
Not necessarily.
The largest container of any dimension that will work is fine.
When you diy you're not tied to dimensions of 20g tanks.
So here's your chance to be creative. LOL

my .02
 
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stern

Member
Okay cool sound like a plan. once I buy a cabinet Ill take the internal measurements before going container shopping..LOLOL what would be the best thing to use for divider walls
 

beaslbob

Well-Known Member
Okay cool sound like a plan. once I buy a cabinet Ill take the internal measurements before going container shopping..LOLOL what would be the best thing to use for divider walls
With storage containers you will not be able to "glue" in dividers/baffles.

I would have that large container on one side of the stand and a smaller container on the other sidr for the sump. The larger refugium can run at a constant height just a little down from the top. It would drain to the small container which is where the water level with change due to evaporation, start up, stopping etc.
Alternatively, you could just place the small container in the larger with the pump in that container. Water would go up the to top of the smaller container, spill over into the smaller. Which forms the same effect as dividers/baffles

my .02
 
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