AquaRank.com

FishProfiles.com Message Forums

faq | etiquette | register | my account | search | mailbox
# FishProfiles.com Message Forums
L# Marine Aquaria
 L# General Marine
  L# Sumps?
 New Topic
SubscribeSumps?
CRclownfishy21
-----
Fingerling
Posts: 43
Kudos: 24
Votes: 0
Registered: 01-May-2004
female
I'm having trouble finding out what exactley a sump is and how to use one in english. Is there a simple explanation? Any advice appreciated, thanks!
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:41Profile PM Edit Report 
amilner
******
-----
Big Fish
Posts: 429
Kudos: 654
Votes: 0
Registered: 05-Jul-2004
male uk
A sump is a reservoir (another 'tank') of water that is additional to your main tank. It can be above or below your display tank and has a variety of purposes.
1) Adds additional water capacity to your system = very helpful to maintain water quality.
2) Provides space for most/all equipment = more space in main tank and 'eliminates' unsitely appearance etc.
3) Provides an opportunity for increased/ better filtration vacilities = wet/dry trickles, protein skimmers, nitrite and calcium reactors etc.
4) Allows for very little 'hands in display tank' work = fish are less stressed and decor isn't disturbed etc.

Hope this helps.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:41Profile PM Edit Report 
CRclownfishy21
-----
Fingerling
Posts: 43
Kudos: 24
Votes: 0
Registered: 01-May-2004
female
for a 75 gallon tank how big a sump do you need? Then how do you hook it up to the tank?
Thanks
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:41Profile PM Edit Report 
Azizza
******
----------
Mega Fish
Posts: 1134
Kudos: 713
Votes: 0
Registered: 09-Mar-2003
male usa
I use a 30 Gallon Long tank as my sump. Originally I used a 20 Long but I upgraded after a short time.

If your tank is not already driller you will need to get an overflow box. These come in various flavors but the most reliable seem to be the simple ones with the U tube.


Here is how it works It is actually two boxes connected by a U tube. The box inside the tank has "teeth around the top that regulate the speed the water enters. The water is then carried through the U tube into the box outside of the tank. This box has a fitting in the bottom that connects a hose to drain into the sump.
Now in your sump you have a return pump. The idea behind this is simply to get the water back into the tank. It uses a smaller tube than the overflow normally and forces the water back up and through some sort of Nozzle back into the tank.

If the power goes out the Overflow box only drains to the level of the teeth and then stops The siphon is kept active so when water starts flowing back into the overflow box the cycle is never broken. The return pump should be fitted with a Ball Valve to keep the water from draining back through it in the event of a power outage though. These are about 25 bucks at most hardware stores.
Post InfoPosted 26-Jan-2006 11:41Profile PM Edit Report 
New Topic
Jump to: 

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies