Peeps, do I REALLY need a sump for my tank? I have a 55 gallon tank, with an aquaclear 110 filter, and I will be using 700gph worth of powerheads on this tank. Should I have a refugium with a plant, or do I have to have a sump? I have heard that sumps are pretty much for convenience. I want to do corals, and I have the proper lighting, but no sump. I guess I could make one for cheap if I had to? But again, do you have to have one? Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!
HELP! Do I HAVE to have a sump?
- Thread starter JaredSD
- Start date
Craig Lambert
Premium Member
You don't have to have a sump. I have one because I prefer the look of a tank without all of the extra stuff in it...ie heaters, HOB skimmer, HOB refugium, multiple ph's etc. I also prefer to use a skimmer that is oversized for the tank, which generally means in-sump vs. HOB.
trippyl
New member
you dont have to have one, many marine tanks exist without one. But there is something to be said for having an area of your system that produces food for the rest of the system, as well as increases total water volume.
I think one of the best things about having a sump is it gives you a great place to put things such as skimmers, top off, etc etc etc. When I first built my setup, I had the skimmer on the display, and no topoff. But very quickly I realized that the skimmer was noisy and could just as easily work from the sump where I wouldn't hear it. I also found that i was topping off the tank almost daily and there wasn't enough calcium. I added a drip for kalk to the sump, and that keeps the levels consistant.
My next tank might have two sumps, and those sumps will be in a seperate room so that I can have space to work, and still not hear it.
I think one of the best things about having a sump is it gives you a great place to put things such as skimmers, top off, etc etc etc. When I first built my setup, I had the skimmer on the display, and no topoff. But very quickly I realized that the skimmer was noisy and could just as easily work from the sump where I wouldn't hear it. I also found that i was topping off the tank almost daily and there wasn't enough calcium. I added a drip for kalk to the sump, and that keeps the levels consistant.
My next tank might have two sumps, and those sumps will be in a seperate room so that I can have space to work, and still not hear it.
