To sump or no sump?

[Rudy00]

Also if you could elabourate on your system and set up that'd be a great help!

[yellowtang]

Rudy On your poll you ask What is a sump?
In that poll you should instead of what is a sump?....
ask.......NO I don't use a sump.........at all.
as S/W keeper I know what a sump is as well
as many of us.........Just that some of us
have opted not to use a sump .
Hope it makes sense........
as you are asking wether we use sumps or not.
cheers

[Rudy00]

Rudy On your poll you ask What is a sump?
In that poll you should instead of what is a sump?....
ask.......NO I don't use a sump.........at all.
as S/W keeper I know what a sump is as well
as many of us.........Just that some of us
have opted not to use a sump .
Hope it makes sense........
as you are asking wether we use sumps or not.
cheers

ahh that was intended to be a useless vote option basically, its gone now, what size is your tank?  i'm torn between doing some plumbing for a sump and its construction or not

what do you use for water movment? any closed loop systems or just power heads within the tank? or both?

[Julie]

No sump as I am very low tech and likely will stay that way when I convert to the 55.  I use 2x600gph on my 20 and will be getting another pump for the 55.
A sump is good for equipment and macroalgae, kind of a hospital tank too I guess.

[yellowtang]

Presently keeping a 50g tank. 36x16x20.
But have no sump at all.........
My next tank set up will have a sump for sure.....70g or 90g.
what I use for movement is 3 power heads,and skimmer.
But I still find that better water movement would
benefit my stock.......
thats when I wish I had a sump.

[gvv]

Sump is NO-NO for hospital tank!
Your QT should be separate tank without much in it (No LR, sand, etc). Everything alive will be lost in case of copper based medicine used there.

I'm also very low-tech. I have SC skimmer, which somebody will call "nothing at all" for 90G (plus sump volume), and MAG9.5 for return line. Yes I put heater, which mainly does not work as MH lamp heating during the day, and macroalgae their. That's all. It just give me additional volume and place where I can attach top-up water line (also very low-tech - just a bucket with airtube and valve, so I can regulate to the desired dripping rate). Also this is a place where pods are multiplying besides LR in main tank.

The main problem here I see in drilling the tank. I got my tanks already drilled, so no issue, just add some pipes and that's all. Otherwise, you have somebody to drill your tank, which is doable in case you just bought the tank, but very difficult if you already have something there.

YT: for better water movement sump is not particularly good, as you don't want very high flow going though the sump/refuge. You should have closed loop.

Regards

[Rudy00]

I had plans to drill it myself, shouldnt be too complicated

as for flow i'll use a closed loop system and some maxijet powerheads which i think i'll modify to increase they're flow

still working out the sump plans

[Julie]

I should have explained more clearly, not hospital tank for fish and meds, but stung corals etc......
Anything that needs to be out of the limelight for a bit.

[gvv]

Julie: Sorry, didn't get it

Rudy: if the drilling glass is not complicated to you... You are a really handyman! Personally I'm scared when it coming to cutting glass, drilling - even more.

Th sump plans could be different depending on the sump size (just what can you put there).
Here is a link to some info:
http://aquariacanada.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5581&highlight=sump

Also check Duplexium (sump/refugium/benthic chamber) design at this site: http://www.reefvideos.com/

Regards

[Rudy00]

i've been doing some serious research over a while and figured it was about time i get my hands into some salt water

as for drilling , go easy, use lots of water and the fastest speed possible on the tool ( drill or dremmel) and you should be ok

many at reefcentral have done it successfully
i'm not sure if i'll get a round diamond pieces which some claim is much easier or use a dremmel and do it with a little more character (ie no so neat looking but it gets the job done)

i'm still at a loss for how to construct my sump parts wise the general lay out i have down