newbe sump question

[ducati1212]

So have my 29 all set up with 2 fish, 50 lbs live rock, sand, HOB skimmer, SEIO 820 power head. Its running great except a little hair algae bloom that I cant get ahandle on but nothing major. I'm actually starting to get a clue as to what I am doing and in 6 weeks I have only killed one snail. He took one for the team.

So what is a sump.? How do they work, do I need one. Can you buy premade sumps.? do they sit in the tank or out of it. I see them mentioned all the time but never really looked into them until now.

 

[Shooter7]

You're a little behind the curve now, considering you're already set up. A sump is a place that you can put things so they don't clutter up your tank....like your skimmer, heater, possibly filtration or something to run carbon in. You can also create a refugium in them and place macroalgae like chaetomorpha to help with nutrient export. And overall, they add more water to your total volume, thus helping with stability of the system. But since you already have your tank set up and have HOB equipment, that's why I said you were a little behind for starting a sump. Not impossible, it could be done, just not as conveniently at this point for you. Would involve either draining the tank and getting holes drilled for drains, or using a hang on overflow to direct water to the sump. There is some risk of flooding with those, though.

 

[MCary]

The word sump is loosely difinded as the lowest part of a reservoir. The lowest part of your basement is a sump. Usually designed to trap water so it can be pumped out, lowest part of the oil pan is the sump. In an aquarium the sump is a reservoir created to go below the main tank. It would be the lowest part of the overall system. In actuallity, the last chamber is the sump.

The sump goes below the tank. Water is gravity fed from the main tank to the sump where it is pumped back to the top in a continuous loop. Just like the oil pan of your car. This can be done either by drilling holes in the tank or siphoning over the back.

Because the way sumps are designed, the only place the water level will change is the last chamber of the sump. By marking the sump and refilling to the mark or using an auto topoff system you can maintain stable salinity levels and salt creep from lowering and raising the tank level. That is just two of many good reasons to have one.

Yes they can be premade and purchased commercially. A $10 10 gallon tank can be used, even a plastic container.

Mike

 

[ducati1212]

Well I started with this 30 Gal tank while my basement is remodeled I am going to put a 130 + Gal tank there when its complete. So my questions is more for the next tank rather than this one. This little tank is fine for where it is and my expeirance level

 

[woodstock '69]

Re: newbe sump question

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8150381#post8150381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ducati1212
So have my 29 all set up with 2 fish, 50 lbs live rock, sand, HOB skimmer, SEIO 820 power head. Its running great except a little hair algae bloom that I cant get ahandle on but nothing major. I'm actually starting to get a clue as to what I am doing and in 6 weeks I have only killed one snail. He took one for the team.

So what is a sump.? How do they work, do I need one. Can you buy premade sumps.? do they sit in the tank or out of it. I see them mentioned all the time but never really looked into them until now.

A sump is an external tank (could be a rubbermaid container or most anything that holds water and is non toxic) that is used in conjunction with your main display tank.

It usually goes below your main tank, and the 2 are plumbed together. The sump has x gallons of tank water in it just like the main display. You use different types of mechanisims (mostly gravity and pipes) to move water from the main tank to the sump and then have a pump in the sump to pump the water back to the tank.

You can then put things in the sump (out of eyeshot cause it us usually hidden in your tank cabinet) and make your display look nicer. Heaters, protien skimmers, more lr, chemical filtration stuff, filter socks etc.

You can also grow macroalgae in the sump without it being eaten by the fish before it gets a chance to grow. Most important is that it allows you to increase your overall water volume which is generally considered a big plus in the reef bus.

You don't necessarily need one (depending on your whole setup and your future wishes) but they are generally considered a welcome addition.

You can buy premade ones, you can have them custom fabricated, and you can buy a $20 rubbermaid container and diy the rest. Kind up to you. Commercial sumps can be expensive but ofter worth it if you got the bread.

Michael

 

[Shooter7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8150584#post8150584 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ducati1212
Well I started with this 30 Gal tank while my basement is remodeled I am going to put a 130 + Gal tank there when its complete. So my questions is more for the next tank rather than this one. This little tank is fine for where it is and my expeirance level

Well good, then! You're off to a good start. Here are a couple of places you can look at some good sump explanations and designs:

http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

HTH