what is the min size of sump?

[shoelevy]

hi peeps.

how can a person know what is the minimum size of sump tank to use?

is there any rule to use to calculate the minimum size?

[jesperlam]

What i know is that the sump must be at least half the size of the main tank so as to maximise the filtration of the water. Anyone can confirm?

[rickykoh8888]

The sump vol muz be min 75% of main tank to be effective .

[blueheaven]

actually, you are both half correct

the optimal size is to be the same as your main tank or even bigger (look at RC people using huge rubbermaid tubs and you'll know what i mean)

[minsmarine]

I believe it's used as water holder. However wonder what is the really defination of SUMP ? Objective other than holding water.

[blueheaven]

it acts as a resevoir of water so as to dilute harmful chemicals in the bulk water

people have also modified this to become refugiums, hospital holding tank, equipment holders and a place to dose additives

[minsmarine]

Tks, any more to add ?

[jesperlam]

To "summarise", its to do all dirty jobs at the sump.

[terryansimon]

a sump can be any size but for it to work effectively, it must be at least 75% the size of the main tank...or at least the same size of the tank. check out muar_chee's sump.

or you can check out lightningstrike's sump as well. hehz. that. miniature sump.

[shoelevy]

right

thank you

thinking of upgrading from 2 canisters to a sump but was unsure of size to get.

now i know

thanks

[lightningstrike]

a sump can be any size but for it to work effectively, it must be at least 75% the size of the main tank...or at least the same size of the tank. check out muar_chee's sump.

or you can check out lightningstrike's sump as well. hehz. that. miniature sump.

wah liew, i space constraint due to cabinet size mah....... now my miniature sump juz house my H&S my return and all the tee off's to CR, FR, KR, etc...... DSB is in the main tank and hv given up on macroalgae.

[shoelevy]

i would also like to know what filter media should i put in the sump

the sump i' m interested in has 3 comp[artments

[terryansimon]

hmm. the only filter media I have are wools that I change fortnightly. and a DSB ###### nutrient exporting zone in another compartment. and the return compartment houses my skimmer and return pump and pump for UV. (=

[shoelevy]

oh cool

just one question, what's DSB?

just to confirm, the 1st compartment of your sump has wool, 2nd has things like carbon, phosphate remover and nitrate removers and last one has reutnr pumps and skimmer right?

[d00d]

DSB == Deep Sand Bed

It consist of a layer or couple layers of sand of different grain size. About 4-6" in depth and would thus create an anaerobic layer at the bottom inch or two (depends on your DSB depth) to harbour bacteria that would convert nitrates to nitrogen gas. Hope that helps.

Sump design vary from setup to setup. It depends on what your purpose is for the sump. But what you stated is briefly what most people do. But your skimmer should be placed in the first compartment where the water enters first to suck in all the yummy stuff to skim hehe!

[shoelevy]

oh cool

the sand of different size can be bought as a packet or u haf to get sevearl packets of diffrents sizes and mix them?

[blueheaven]

Just do it like mine

Grade #1 at one side and Grade #0 at another side :lol:

[shoelevy]

paiseh leh...but i really can't see wat u mean by 0 on one side and 1 on another side from the picture.

aniwae....this is to breed anaerobic bact right?