10 gallon sump for 55g tank?

I had it on my other thread but it was at the bottom and wasnt sure if anyone could see it. if not, then what do you guys recommend?

 

welll....that might be a lil to small...maybe a 20L tank would be good....but a 10g is way to small to put all ur toys in and wouldnt be good enough filtration

 

yeah its about the only tank you can fit in the stand.. If you really want to get fancy, you can get two, raise one about 2 inches higher than the other one, drill it and make yourself a nice fuge.. I did something very similar in my 30 gallon build thread..

 

whats a fuge? and u had 2 20 g tanks? please explain i am interested i have a huge stand with doors

 

It would work but it would be a tight fit for all of the neccessary equipment. I use a 10 for my 29 gallon. Got a filter sock, coralife 65 super skimmer, heater, phosphate reactor and my return pump all in there. If you have room get a bigger tank to use for your sump, but it can be done with a 10.

 

A 10 will work if you only want a sump that has a skimmer area and a return, but your best option is to get a 20L which will allow you to incorporate a refugium as well which has enormous extra benefits.

 

You can make a 10 gal work.... how are your filtering your 55 gal now??

I am guessing you have HOB or cannister or something. If that is the case, I would research refugiums. Basically, you put a slow flow of water through the 10 gal and return to the DT. In the 10 gal you put a daylight CFL bulb and get some chaeto macroalgae and grow macroalgae in the tank. Essentially, the macroalgae eats nitrates out of the water and provide filtration. You could also put a deep sand bed in the 10 gal... 4-5 inches of sand and the bacteria in the sand will eat nitrates as well. You could toss your heater in there if you want to get something out of your tank.

Make sense??

M

 

+1 on 20L tank. You would have much more room to add a fuge, skimmer, reactors (carbon and phosphate) and all pumps you may need. Also heaters, etc. Better to get a larger sump now even if you are not planning anything complicated. Better to have room to grow. Also you will increase your total water volume which is always a good thing. And of course a small current light to help macro algaes grow to help with phospate and nitrate control (as well as any heavy metals that may get in system water).
I personally have a 20L under my 40 gallon and a 40B under my 90 gallon. Also gives me room to move excess live stock under cabinets if needed (and grow frags). My 2 cents.
Steve

 

Thanks for all the advice guys, looks like imma go with a 20 G L, I still am a little confused on what a refugium is... anyone know of a thread or a somewhat literal explanation of what one is and its purpose for my tank? Thanks again

 

Its a place where you can add a deep sand bed and macro algae. They are used as a natural way of exporting nitrates. Usually a separate tank, but they do have hang on back ones.