clueless about sumps

[shoelevy]

hi people, i'm new to this idea of sumps but am considering getting one since many use and recommend it.

i'd like to know wat to put in a sump esp wat media to use for breeding good bact and the diff between a 4 and 3 compartment sump.

thanks!

PS:the sump is for a reef not FOWLR tank.does that makes a difference?

[typrobin]

basically, most of us here utilise sump like a storeroom...to store all the stuffs like skimmer, FR, refugium and watever not...it is also used as a mechanical filteration where u put the sponge to take away huge particle dirt...other than that it creates a bigger water reservior which means your whole tank setup will be more tolerant to chemical changes...

whether 2 or 3 or 4 compartments depends largely on wat do u want to put in it...in my opinion, make it as large as possible with less compartments so that most of the things can be dumped inside...and it creates a larger water reservoir as well...

as for kind of filteration media, i recommend only sponge...no bio ball as it will become a nitrate factory as discussed before...but it all depends on your preference, some swear that bio balls are the best but other say NO to bio balls...i follow suit and utilise the most prefered method...without bio ball...

try to have more LRs and a DSB in your main tank and leave your sump as empty as possible so that u can put more equipments in it...as u mentioned,u want to have a reef tank, so bio ball should not be used..the reason being bio balls tend to break down the DOC into ammonia into nitrite and nitrate very very fast, thus the nitrate factory theory...but DOC is also toxic to most fishes and corals so to curb this, a mighty skimmer should be used...

[jesperlam]

To add on...its best that you can have ur sump at least the same size as ur main tank or bigger.

[shoelevy]

roger on the no bio balls...won't put them

i'm actually eyeing a 5footer with an internal overflow compartment...alot of lfs put bioballs in them so since i'm not putting bioballs, what shold i put in this compartment then?

i've also seen a lot of lfs display tanks and for their sumps, they usually put coral chips in the middle compartment and cotton in the first and equipments in the last.

i understand the 1st and last compartment but i'd like to hear your comments on putting coral chips in the middle compartment.

some say good some say bad so i'd really like to hear some good advice from the oldies here

[blueheaven]

say no to coral chips too

It depends on what you wanna use the sump for

1) Refugium

2) Chemical dosing area

3) Water reservoir

4) Hospital tank

5) Pod culture

There's many things you can do and it all depends on you

[shoelevy]

i don't really understand the concept of refugium.

can someone explain?

i guess my sump is for 2,3 and 5 ba

[shoelevy]

in order for people to gif me the best advice they can

i've decided to attach a photo of the sump i'm eyeing for.

[Kaf]

No space for refugium? or you gonna put it in the last compartment?

Skimmer and Ph in middle?

[blueheaven]

This can't be one with a sandbed

[shoelevy]

No space for refugium? or you gonna put it in the last compartment?

Skimmer and Ph in middle?

no problem with refugium in the last compartment rite?

[Kaf]

You can't have DSB for your refugium even if you put it in the last compartment just like what blueheaven mention.

[shoelevy]

hm

ok

then is this sump suitable for a fish only tank?

seriously, i'd like to know wat diffrence is there for a sump meant for fish only and reef tank

[blueheaven]

dun think got people separate the differences

a sump is a sump no matter how you use it

[shoelevy]

hm

ok

i guess this sump with coral chips in the centre is ok for a fish only tank since fishes can tahan the nitrates?