I'm confused about sumps.....

[freh2o]

I'm very confused about sumps. I don't have a salt water tank yet but I'm thinking of getting one and I was just doing research on the topic.

So my question is: what is the difference between a quarantine tank, a sump, and the regular tank? (Okay I know what the regular tank is but how do they really compare? Are they really just extra tanks?)

Please help! Thanks so much.

 

[wayne]

A sump is another tank that is plumbed into the main display where you can keep all your equipment out of sight. Thus the only thing you see inyour display is the place the water goes out, and the plumbing to get it in - heaters, skimmers and so on are invisible

A quarantine in an entirely separate system where new fish for at least a month go to make sure they aren't carrying disease. Most disease are near impossible to cure in a main display as the meds are so toxic to non fish lifeforms

 

[1979camaro]

furthermore, to add a little to your confusion (but hopefully prevent you from having some when you see this terminology elsewhere) some sumps are also refugiums...where as a regular sump is just a tank, equipment, and some water, a refugium is designed to allow for algae growth, pods, and other things which might be eaten in the display.

 

[lordroad]

If I had a larger tank (even 20 gallons), I'd certainly incorporate a fuge. The added water volume alone contributes a lot to stability, and the good macro algae/live rock and other goodies does wonders, especially if you're keeping a pristine, aesthetically aquascaped display tank. People have also planted mangrove plants in fuges... it is said they really cut down on nitrates.

The cool part is there is some cheap DIY ways of doing this too... I know Bowdy (another member) has made several sumps out of cheap and easy material.

 

[jammerz]

since I've added my sump.refugium I've seen amazingly good changes

 

[KahluaZzZ]

Oh and if you plan to have a sump..plan to have a pierced tank !
So much trouble to make a reliable DIY overflow box ( well..in my case )
This is the box that drains the water to the sump.

 

[1979camaro]

or you could buy a HOB overflow if you aren't a cheap SOB like Kahluazzz

but yah, a drilled tank is definitely the better option

 

[KahluaZzZ]

lol hey aren't you the one who told me that hob overflow weren't efficient ?

 

[1979camaro]

sure, not as good as drilled...but better than a DIY