Sump or not

[The Galactic fish]

Hey guys.

I am doing a new set up in a new pet shop.

The fish room is in its own section.

I am wondering if I should do a big sump for all the tanks?

Should I do sponge filters in each tank ?

Please let me know what's best and why.

Thanks a mil.

 

[tlindsey]

Hey guys.

I am doing a new set up in a new pet shop.

The fish room is in its own section.

I am wondering if I should do a big sump for all the tanks?

Should I do sponge filters in each tank ?

Please let me know what's best and why.

Thanks a mil.

Personally I like the sump idea but you would have to construct the return and in line with shut off valves in case of a outbreak .

 

[duanes]

I love sumps, but.....
In a pet store you are going to be bringing in wild fish, fish from divergent breeders, suppliers. If only one bag of one shipment contains a parasite, that parasite could end up in all your tanks, and be a major overhaul to get rid of.
Unless you can isolate all new shipments in tanks for a quarantine period and have each of those tanks self sustaining until the proper time.
or you could have a clear well type tank shocked by overhanging intense UV before water would be returning to all others.

 

[BIG-G]

For multiple tanks in a LFS type setting I wouldn't do a sump for the reason duanes mentioned.
I think it would be better and more energy efficient to do a central air system and use sponges with some HOB or canisters for the tanks that need more mechanical filtration.

 

[alecrromine]

with a sump and all the tanks ran together it would increase the chance of a sickness spreading to all of the tanks. I would do sponge filters with a big air line that ran along all of them and air tubing plumbed into the main line to give air to the sponges, or possibly under gravel filters, but the sponges would be better

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

While I'm a huge advocate for sumps, I agree with what others have said. It's best to keep the tanks on separate systems for illness purposes, and this will be best achieved with a variety of sponges, HOB's and canisters.

 

[Homer Siped]

My lfs has a centralized sump setup for their racks of tanks, they are always medicating majority of their fish. Im assuming they don't have shutoffs to each tank

 

[J. H.]

My lfs has a centralized sump setup for their racks of tanks, they are always medicating majority of their fish. Im assuming they don't have shutoffs to each tank

They wouldn't be able to medicate if it was all one system.
I personally think the best system would be two sump systems, hard water and soft, with shutoff valves for each tank UV in the sump, and an air manifold so any tank can be pulled off the system and run on either sponge, or if mechanical is needed, box filters, without to much work. Such a system would be very easier to plumb for 'automatic' WC just by adding a couple of valves, could be sectioned off for QT, would have massive stability, and pretty easy to maintain, as there is only one set of foam pads to clean.

 

[BIG-G]

I personally think the best system would be two sump systems, hard water and soft, with shutoff valves for each tank UV in the sump, and an air manifold so any tank can be pulled off the system and run on either sponge, or if mechanical is needed, box filters, without to much work. Such a system would be very easier to plumb for 'automatic' WC just by adding a couple of valves, could be sectioned off for QT, would have massive stability, and pretty easy to maintain, as there is only one set of foam pads to clean.

While I do agree with this, there would be to much of an opportunity for a mistake to be made, especially in a store setting with different employees. Fish being accidentally dosed or a valve left on and medication making it into the system. Just the potential of a flooded floor would scare me!
If this is a one man operation it could work. I would be very apprehensive to trust a few people to take care of a system like this.

 

[The Galactic fish]

Thanks a mill all.

I've decided against the sump system.

I will have tanks for new shipments to make sure all fish eat and swim well, but I started thinking about it as I watched my betta, fish need different chemistry in the water for eg, Malawi need a higher pH than a discus and this will not work with a sump set up as the kh, pH, oxygen levels etc would all be the same.
.again thank you for the replies. As soon as the fish room is up and running I'll post some photos and also place a video on the web.