sump size

[mitchelWB]

So I am planning to rebuild my sump on my 58. I've been here before, but this time, I'm doing it for keeps.

Right now, I've got a 15 gallon tank with no baffles and it's kind of a mess. It was built for me using eggcrate, bioballs and lave rocks. I've since cleaned it up quite a bit from there, but now it's time to do it right. I'm buying a new tank to build the sump from, putting it togeher, then doing the swap.

Here's the question:

Inside stand I have room for a 20L. I have 34" of inside length, and the 20L would use 30" of that. Leaving me not room for anything else in the stand. This also means that I definitely have to use a submersible pump (which is what I already have) I'm not even sure if I went with the 15 that I'd have room for an external though, so that may be a moot point.

Would you go for more sump space and no cabinet space to put things or go for a slightly smaller sump and leave the room for stuff under the tank (for example, a collection container for the skimmer cup). Tradeoff being then I have less room in the sump for anything I want to do there as well.

I'm leaning towards the 15 myself, just wanted to see if anyone here strongly disagreed with me.

[Sara7814]

i will say....and this is just what i have come to hear from others....

bigger is better.. the more gallons you can fit the better.. so thats what i am keeping in mind when figuring out my sump

[mitchelWB]

You are right Sara.. more volume is better.. but in this case, I'm talking about a 15 or 20 gallon tank modified into a sump on a 58 gallon tank. The sump will only be about 3/4 full, so we're only talking about a ~3.75 gallon difference depending on which one I go with. Or only about 5% of my total volume.

I guess I'm trying to figure out which I would rather have, more space in the sump, or more space next to the sump, but still under the stand where I can hide things. This tank is in my living room, so neatness counts. That's why I'm leaning towards the 15g

[Geoff]

i prefer Velocity pumps so i would say more room next to the sump since these are external pumps. if you prefer internal pumps than there is really no reason to have room around the sump, use the space for extra sump volume.

G~