There comes a time in every man's live when he has to ask...

[Goldfish]

...What is a sump? What do they do, what are they for? I hear them talked about all over the place...

*shrugs*

 

[Guest]

A sump is a filtration system that is NOT in the tank. Water is usually gravity fed to a tank below the main tank, where it goes through various filtration and is pumped back up to the tank. There are many varieties, but most use filter pads, bioballs and other media. It also gives you the ability to have your heater and other unsightly things out of the tank and in the sump.

 

[Goldfish]

Ahhh clever... But how does the water get back into the tank?

 

[Guest]

A water pump in the sump driving it up a tube into an inlet.

 

[Nicholo]

This is a great starter guide to sumps --> http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.htm

 

[Goldfish]

That's great, thanks!

 

[JerseyJay]

And more here:

How does a sump work???
http://www.melevsreef.com/what_sump.html

An Abundance of Sumps
http://melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

 

[Tony7683]

Aye, great stuff, but only a tank of over 75 gallons really warrants one IMO. The popular extra tank sump method is space-intensive, and it takes a large stand to house your sump and then everything else, lol. Buddy of mine made a hell of a mess trying to make it work when it lost syphon

Good though, once established and seeded

Tony