Sump Info Please

[mrjames]

ello all! hapy new year!!
right been larning about sumps these past 2 weeks and alot look different from the last!! some are different sizes to the above tank, others are plain with no different compartments and some look very complicated! please can someone in detail explain the in and out and pro's and cons of a sump.

also what is the maximum size tank that you wouldnt need a sump??

when talking about filteration people have said that live sand live rock and a skimmer are enough, but ive read other threads that people have included a filter...? i thought a normal filter in a marine tank acts more of a "nitrate factory" than a water cleaner and does alot more harm than good....? be great if some could anser all these and im sorry to pick all your brains so much!!

have a good 1 all!!!

mrjames

 

[rhysiboy]

right some of what i say maybe complete BS but ill give it a go.

Pros of sump
Hardly any epuiptment needed in tank
More Water = more room for error 'the solution to polution is dilution'
can have a refugium to grow natural food resources
can have a coral fragmentation section
can have place for injured fish to recover without any disturbance
can run on a lighting timer opposite to keep ph stable 24/7

Cons of a sump
expensive
possibility of flooding
needs holes to be drilled in the tank which can cause the glass to smash or crack

okay thats abiout alls i can think of atm for pros and cons (people please add)

right i think that as soon as you start to get out of nano tanks (30 gallons +) a sump is beneficial due to the required skimmer that can take up a fair bit of room in the tnak with pumps and tubes.

Also with filteration it depends on you filter media for example sponge , filter floss, ceramic rings and aanything along those lines will trap dirt and debris then the debris starts rotting and causes nitrate / nitrite build up. This can be sorted out by stringent cleaning or replacing the media evfery week. There are other types of filter media such as rowaphos which reduces/ gets rid of phosphates in the water.
Another point is that most people who use filters either mod them to be a refugium, run rowaphos in it or fill it with live rock rubble

hope i helped a little bit

 

[JamieH]

right some of what i say maybe complete BS but ill give it a go.

Pros of sump
Hardly any epuiptment needed in tank
More Water = more room for error 'the solution to polution is dilution'
can have a refugium to grow natural food resources
can have a coral fragmentation section
can have place for injured fish to recover without any disturbance
can run on a lighting timer opposite to keep ph stable 24/7

Cons of a sump
expensive
possibility of flooding
needs holes to be drilled in the tank which can cause the glass to smash or crack

okay thats abiout alls i can think of atm for pros and cons (people please add)

right i think that as soon as you start to get out of nano tanks (30 gallons +) a sump is beneficial due to the required skimmer that can take up a fair bit of room in the tnak with pumps and tubes.

Also with filteration it depends on you filter media for example sponge , filter floss, ceramic rings and aanything along those lines will trap dirt and debris then the debris starts rotting and causes nitrate / nitrite build up. This can be sorted out by stringent cleaning or replacing the media evfery week. There are other types of filter media such as rowaphos which reduces/ gets rid of phosphates in the water.
Another point is that most people who use filters either mod them to be a refugium, run rowaphos in it or fill it with live rock rubble

hope i helped a little bit

agreed... it's best to think of a sump as somwhere to put all your equipment... it can be as complicated or simple as you wish to make it

 

[SkiFletch]

Agreed, sump design is flexible and really depends on what you want to acomplish with it