Sump???

[thekingcobra]

heres a dumb question because I am sump dumb.
Knowing absolutely nothing about sumps none the less having one for a freshwater tank setup...can I do the following?
I have a 55 gal with 2 aquaclear 300 filters. Can I run a sump off this tank of one or more of the following tanks I own (1 x 30 gal or 2 x 10 gal) to not only help with the filtration aspect...but give myself more water volume?
I would like to somehow link 2 or more tanks so that I can distribute my fish out between them more evenly. Is this possible?
Also, how does the water flow from the main tank to the sump and then return? Can a sump be a planted tank?
My questions probably are all right out of it but I have to ask even though I have been keeping fish for a few years like I said I am sump dumb.

 

[Dr Joe]

heres a dumb question because I am sump dumb.
Knowing absolutely nothing about sumps none the less having one for a freshwater tank setup...can I do the following?
1) I have a 55 gal with 2 aquaclear 300 filters. Can I run a sump off this tank of one or more of the following tanks I own (1 x 30 gal or 2 x 10 gal) to not only help with the filtration aspect...but give myself more water volume?

2) I would like to somehow link 2 or more tanks so that I can distribute my fish out between them more evenly. Is this possible?

3) Also, how does the water flow from the main tank to the sump and then return?

4) Can a sump be a planted tank?

My questions probably are all right out of it but I have to ask even though I have been keeping fish for a few years like I said I am sump dumb.

1) Yes, you can add volume and filtration this way.

2) Now your talking about multiple tanks on one filter, that's a different stories. I can be done, just takes a little more work.

3) Sumps use a over-flow to move water to it and a pump to return water to the tank.

4) Yes, part of it (40%-70%).

Try doing a search here and in the filtration section after reading the stickies.

CHOMPERS has an article on filtering multiple tanks.

After you narrow your choices down better, ask any more specific questions you have.

Dr Joe

.

 

[TEL]

Yes you can set it up for a number of tanks that is the good thing about sumps and there are 2 ways of getting the water from the tank buy drilling the tank near the top and using a bulkhead fittings to plumb it or a overflow box I like to have mine drilled because if the power goes out i know it will always start flowing again where some people have had problems with there overflow boxes restarting automaticly.You can plant up a sump if you want the benifits of a planted tank with out planting the main tank it will just take alot more work to set it up .