What Is A Sump ?

As you may know, Im still quiet a saltwater beginner and im starting on a 30g reef next year. Im trying to research a little more on setting up a reef aquarium with corals etc.. and was wondering what a sump is ? What does it do ? why is it necessary ?

 

There is a good 3reef article on sumps, check it out:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/all-about-sumps-filters-fuges-79852.html

 

Wow! long post, ill try my best reading it Thanks alot

 

Conor

a sump is a tank or in some cases a large plasic tub
that is plumbed to your main tank
most are sat in the cabinet under the main tank but they could be located remotely

a sump is a place where you can
locate a skimmer so you dont have to have one hung on your tank
locate heater thermostate
run a couple of reactors carbon and GFO
provides an extra qty of water - always good
a sump that also incorporates a fuge or refugium has lots of additional benefits
a sump provides an excellent location to perform mechanical filtration if you want that
with a filter sock on end of overflow pipe to trap waste

you can grow macro in fuge to help with Nitrates
you can have DSB there for same purpose
it provides a safe haven for pods etc to increase their numbers

Steve

 

Please correct me if im wrong
Water is overflowed from the main tank to the sump where it is filtered inside the sump by skimmers etc... and then pumped back into the tank using a return pump.The reason for the sump is too save room in the aquarium for decor etc.. rather than having the filtration system inside the aquarium which takes up alot of space.
If that makes any sense ? :-/

 

thats a very reasonable summary IMO Conor
there are additional benefits as covered in the article /thread Matt linked
for you


Steve

 

wow! thanks steve, a Sump makes alot of sense now

 

It also adds more water volume for better stability.

 

Make sure you give Steve some karma.. He's running low.

 

If you don't start out with one you'll wish you did very quickly. It may seem like alot more $ but it really isn't alot. In no time you'll be turning that 30 into a sump and putting a 90 or more for you DT anyway.