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Sump Questions
- Thread starter caribbean_lovers
- Start date
A sump is another container connected tou you tank by plumbing. It is a place of equipment and dosing chemicals. Do you need one? Depends on what you are trying to do. On a tank less than 55 gallons I would say no. The equipment you need can be the HOT (Hang on tank) type. You could still use a sump if you wanted to. For larger I would say yes. The equipment needed is bigger and does not usually come in the HOT style. There are many other uses or ideas for a sump. What you are planning will help to decide if yyou need one. Also, their are things to consider for the tank itself. For instance are you going to have it drilled or are you going to use an overflow.
Wazzel":3qnxpknz said:Do you need one? There are many other uses or ideas for a sump. What you are planning will help to decide if yyou need one. Also, their are things to consider for the tank itself. For instance are you going to have it drilled or are you going to use an overflow.
We are getting ready to setup a 75gal that will have corals in it. We will be using a canister filter on it. So this will mean we need a sump, right? If so, how big and how do you set it up?
Here is what I woudl suggest doing.
1. get the tank "reef ready". All this means is the tank will be drilled and have a prefilter installed. It will cost a little bit more that a bare tank, but if you stick with the hobbie it is well worth the investment.
2. The sump will need to fit under the stand so a 20 long should work out well.
3. Skip the canister filter and go with 1 to 2 pounds per gallon of live rock, a good skimmer and lots of circulation roughly 20x the tank volum turnover per hour. Canister filters are OK, but unless you stay on top of keeping them up they cause more harm than good.
TO set it up take the drain from the tank and pipe it to the sump on one side, place the equipment, heater, skimmer etc in the middle and have a return pump on the other side. I would suggest getting the sump drilled for a external return pump. This is just the basics. I do not want to give specifics because it will varry from setup to set up.
Do a little bit more research before you spend any more money. Take it from someone who spent enough for two system, but only has one.
1. get the tank "reef ready". All this means is the tank will be drilled and have a prefilter installed. It will cost a little bit more that a bare tank, but if you stick with the hobbie it is well worth the investment.
2. The sump will need to fit under the stand so a 20 long should work out well.
3. Skip the canister filter and go with 1 to 2 pounds per gallon of live rock, a good skimmer and lots of circulation roughly 20x the tank volum turnover per hour. Canister filters are OK, but unless you stay on top of keeping them up they cause more harm than good.
TO set it up take the drain from the tank and pipe it to the sump on one side, place the equipment, heater, skimmer etc in the middle and have a return pump on the other side. I would suggest getting the sump drilled for a external return pump. This is just the basics. I do not want to give specifics because it will varry from setup to set up.
Do a little bit more research before you spend any more money. Take it from someone who spent enough for two system, but only has one.
Wazzel's final suggestion is Very important. Do some research. Use this forum but also read some books and articles. Talk with other local reefkeepers.
There are many ways to set-up and run reef tanks. Different methods work for different applications, etc. But the basics are still the basics. As Wazzel said, you can waste a lot of money before you find out what works for you or your can spend some time and do the research so you'll understand what's going to happen.
Finding this site and asking is a Great 1st step! Hang in there and you'll find it's a terrific hobby.
There are many ways to set-up and run reef tanks. Different methods work for different applications, etc. But the basics are still the basics. As Wazzel said, you can waste a lot of money before you find out what works for you or your can spend some time and do the research so you'll understand what's going to happen.
Finding this site and asking is a Great 1st step! Hang in there and you'll find it's a terrific hobby.
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