Sump planning

[target]

Hi All,

I am getting ready to start a new tank, a 180g, and wanted to get thoughts on my sump design. For the sump I bought a 48x18x20 tank. The chambers from left to right are the drain/skimmer (9.6g), return (9.75g), fuge (13.25g), and ATO reservoir (10g). Total used: 32.6, not counting the ATO. Total available in the sump, not counting ATO would be 53.8g, leaving me with 21.2g of overflow space in the event of a shut down. I've not had a tank this big before. Does that seem like enough room? or would it be better to get a seperate tank for the ATO and use the additional 10g in the sump?

[straightrazorguy]

You can easily calculate the volume you need to accommodate in case of power failure by calculating the volume of water above your return nozzle, the volume in all overflow boxes, etc. Err on the side of caution, ie. allow more volume than you think you need. Nobody likes water on the floor...

[WarDog]

If the drawing is to scale, then i would personally make the return section smaller and increase the size of the fuge.

[target]

Originally Posted by WarDog

If the drawing is to scale, then i would personally make the return section smaller and increase the size of the fuge.

It is to scale. If I make the fuge bigger, I would lose emergency overflow space unless I made the fuge not as deep. Why a bigger fuge?

[smokinreefer]

i agree. bigger fuge, smaller return.

not sure what the purpose for your fuge is; either to grow algaes or pods, but either way bigger fuge means grow more algae and pods.

personally id remove the ATO section from the sump and have a seperate ATO container. unless you are doing that because you have no other space for it.

[Ryan]

I like a larger return section simply for the dead space for emergency overflow if the power goes out.

IMO a fuge is a waste of space. You can achieve better results using a reactor. About the best thing it does is house pods but not sure how many would make it through a return pump.