Sump Questions? Compartment Size, Plants...Fish?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
J

James0816

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Oct 1, 2007
65
0
0
Va
Been doing alot of reading on sumps and how to build them as well as looking at a ton of pics. This ultimately lead to yet more questions:

1) Is there any thought process to the size of the compartments that are in the sump? I.e. Intake, filtration, return sections?

2) Plants. I have seen many sumps with plants in them. I presume this is for added filtration plus nitrate removal. Is this a bad thing if your display tanks are planted as well? Knowing of course that it is not necessary to have plants in a sump, just curious as to any benefits it would offer?

3) Fish. This I found verrrrry interesting. I saw several pics of sumps where people had a planted section and in this section was one or two fish? Why? Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of a sump after all?
 
1) Average is to divide into 3 areas. Depending on design, 1/4 pre-filter, 1/2 bio media, 1/4 return pump.

Having a refugium would change it around to 1/8 pre-filter, 1/4 bio-media, 1/2 refugium, 1/8 pump return.

2) You presume correctly

W/D sumps take to many nutrients from the water with a planted tank. You start having to try and balance ferts. & water chemistry & algae.

3) People sometimes use that area as a temporary grow out for fish too small to enter the main tank. And usually only a couple small fish.

Sometimes it is also used as a quarantine area for a fish that got beat up or fins nipped. But never for sick fish unless you have the above problems and are treating the whole tank.

Otherwise your your right it would be defeating the purpose of the refugium.

Dr Joe

.
 
You are right they are a good part of the filtering system. they are only put in the sump if they don't suit the decore of the tank or the fish eat them. It takes a bit to set up a sump this way but worth it if you want to give it a go.
:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom