Difference between an overhead filter and a sump
- Thread starter gordoncheers
- Start date
If similarly constructed, and of similar size, there is no big difference between the two, except for the fact that in one the water reservoir is overhead of the main tank, whereas in the other it is underneath. The term "sump" simply means reservoir. Most commonly, the term sump is used for reservoirs below the main tank, and this is usually because it is much easier to place the reservoir underneath, on the floor, whereas you will need to make some sort of elevated stand for an overhead filter, and if it is large it can be quite cumbersome.
In an overhead filter, you need to pump water up to elevate it to the reservoir, and it can flow down to the main tank by gravity if desired. In an underneath sump, water can flow to the sump by gravity if desired, but must be pumped back up to the main tank.
In an overhead filter, you need to pump water up to elevate it to the reservoir, and it can flow down to the main tank by gravity if desired. In an underneath sump, water can flow to the sump by gravity if desired, but must be pumped back up to the main tank.
In an overhead filter the fish sit in the sump section. From a practical perspective this is much better as you can thru put a lot more flow with less energy and less chance of overflowing (better efficiency) and more oxygenation to the fish.
If you want to get fancy, add a rise & fall section to the overhead filter. So it periodically fills then dumps like a wave tank. This ensures all the media gets wet (utilised), stops media channelling, pushes all old air out and sucks in fresh. Plus the fish love the waves.
If you want to get fancy, add a rise & fall section to the overhead filter. So it periodically fills then dumps like a wave tank. This ensures all the media gets wet (utilised), stops media channelling, pushes all old air out and sucks in fresh. Plus the fish love the waves.
Overhead filter is simpler in design and operation than a sump system, but highly visible and ugly. HOB is essentially a miniature overhead filter, but quieter, easier to hide and super efficient. The only limitation is capacity. So to maximize capacity, I run 3 HOBs in my 125g and 2 HOBs in my 75g.
They both do the same thing.
One is above, so water is pumped up to it.
The sump is below, so water enters by gravity, and is pumped back up to the tank.
Its just a mater of how water gets from point A to point B.
One is above, so water is pumped up to it.
The sump is below, so water enters by gravity, and is pumped back up to the tank.
Its just a mater of how water gets from point A to point B.
The huge design simplicity in overhead filter is that you don’t need to drill hole in glass to hard plumb or hang overflow box to drain tank. Hard plumbing is a complex task and overflow box, while simple, is Leak vulnerable.
