Why do I want a sump?

[brian.badge]

I have never had a saltwater aquarium, before now, but ran a sump and wet dry filter on my cichlid tank years ago. My tank is 75 gallons and full of water rock sand and cuc. I have a brand new feed octopuss 1000 hob skimmer.

My tank is drilled, but I do not have a sump that will slide in my stand. It has a center brace so the old 29 gallon I have just wont fit.

I am wondering what benefit, besides water volume a sump would have? I am also wondering how much cost will go into one and if there are ways to reduce it. Basically cost benefit analysis on adding a sump to a running tank.

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

1. Benefits:
   1. Extra Water Volume helping tank be more stable
   2. Place to hide items like:
      1. Heater
      2. Skimmer
      3. UV Sterilizer (if wanted - I don't find them necessary)
      4. ATO system
      5. etc
   3. Place to add a refugium/ATS/Cheato reactor
   4. Efficient Mechanical Filtration
   5. Customize-able to your needs

1. Drawbacks:
   1. Another potential failure point (leaks)
   2. Need a return pump to push the water back up into the tank

 

[eggplantparrot]

i don't like to see heaters and whatnot sticking into the display, that alone is good enough of a reason for me lol

 

[ReefKeeper09]

A sump makes it easier to add any additional equipment needed for the tank and hide it from view. Instead of having to do Hang on back stuff. Of course, as mentioned it adds additional water volume. Also helps oxygenate the water.

As far as trying to reduce cost, you can make your own sump using acrylic panels and an old aquarium that fits in the stand. All depends on your handiness.

 

[Peace River]

If you haven’t read it already, you may find this R2R article helpful: SUMPS: The Rundown. Good luck!

 

[BadFish619]

Js hit all the points. Makes life so much easier

 

[Aardvark1134]

A sump is a place to hide the stuff you don't want showing in your tank but still need. If you are fine with 5-6 different things hanging off the back and heaters and stuff showing in your tank then you don't need one. Basically a reef tank needs so much equipment it's hard to have one not look like trash unless you have a sump or an in tank walled off area like an AIO.

 

[WVNed]

I have to put my sump into the stand through the top before you set the tank.

 

[BestMomEver]

IMO, the equipment needed to run a larger tank (skimmer, rectors, etc) need more space and can be unsightly hanging in/on the tank. If you have a 150g tank, you can’t very well hang a skimmer on the back of the tank. At least not one that’s adequate for that size. It’s also really the only way for mechanical filtration (socks) unless you run a canister filter.

 

[Aardvark1134]

You can get huge skimmers without a sump. They are amazingly ugly but they exist.
HOBs go up to about 200 gallons and externally plumbed ones can go up to over 1000 gallons. Both would be super ugly with no sump but technically could be done

 

[a4edwin]

I run a 36 bow front now with an eshopp skimmer small aquafuge and 2 kessil A160we’s. I going to upgrade later on this year i after I get over some health issiues. But I’ll never run a tank with anything hanging on the back. It looks horrible and maintenance sucks it’s so much easier with everything under the tank.