Sump On The Back Of My Tank?

[kniesh]

Hi, I've just bought a second hand 500 litre tank that has a sump already built in right along the back of it? Does anyone have experience with this kind, all my google searches just bring up the ones underneath. I have a feeling I may need a bit of advice on setting it up when it arrives at the weekend as I have no experience with sumps as it is.
 
I will be transferring over my current stock from my 55 gallon but that doesn't have a sump.

 

[Chad]

I used an hang on sump for a number of years. The only problem I had with it was it's size. It's just too small to do all that much with. I eventually got a larger sump. 
I say if you have room for a larger one that's the way to go, but if you don't then it's useful to have one than not. 
 
The HOB sumps I've dealt with are easy. You simply hang them on and turn on the pump. It sucks water into it. I actually recommend filling it first just for ease. 

 

[kniesh]

I thought hang on back sumps were something you attached? This is actually part of the tank, just about a 10" glass compartment (s) right down the back

 

[Chad]

Here is on similar to the one I used. As you can see it simply hangs on the back of the tank. The pump pulls water through the sump and back into the tank. I'm not sure if the one you ordered is different or not, a photo or link to your model would help. 

 

[kniesh]

yep, mine is different, it is actually part of the tank, the back 10 inches of the tank are sectioned off by a glass right the way along the 4ft length. This is then in 3 sections just as a normal sump would be. It has holes drilled in then for pipework.
 
Essentially it is just a normal sump but behind a fake back wall in the tank, if that makes sense. I can't get pics at the min as I am going back to pick it up on Saturday

 

[Chad]

So it's like an all in one tank. Sort of like the picture below. I realize it's different but is that the idea?
What it sounds like is it's really just part of the tank. 

 

[kniesh]

yep, exact same principle as that pic, just on a larger scale obv.

 

[Chad]

I'm guessing not much to set up. I had one all-in-one tank and it was a very simple matter. I think you will find the same. 

 

[Brilly91]

These are simple to set up. Theres a pump in one end drawing water through the sump area through a weir style section, exact same principle as a sump under the tank, except theres no pipes running out of the tank

 

[kniesh]

Thanks for the help

 

[Chad]

Yup, the only differences that usually exist is what you put in each area. Mine started with filter media then went to bioballs then ended in the pump. They all end in the pump as that's how the water gets pulled through. 
I ended up not using the bioballs as it was a reef tank and grew cheatomorpha algae in the middle.

 

[DerpPH]

Does it already have a skimmer? Tanks like that are a bit hard to squeeze in skimmers

 

[kniesh]

Yeah there's a skimmer with it, although I'm not sure its a very good one at the moment the only fish going in are 2 Warty Frogfish, and a Dwarf Fuzzy Lion. In terms of corals at the minute it is only a small Acan and a few Mushrooms. I will be adding more though once the fish are stocked properly. I also currently run a hang on skimmer on my tank so if needs be I can still add that one for a short period, even though it defeats the object of the sump.
 
So, in my sump I plan ion having the ski,,er section, leading to a refigium, then maybe section for heater etc, then the return. Am I missing anything important there?

 

[DerpPH]

What lighting fixture do you use?

 

[kniesh]

It is coming with a metal halide lighting system, not overly sure on the specifics, but at some point I will likely update that to an LED system