Sump question

Discussion in 'Beginner Discussions' started by darryn, Oct 4, 2009.

  1. darryn

    darryn

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    Hi all.
    I have a 3ft tank (+- 100L) that is currently filtered with an Aquaclear 20 HOB filter (378L per hour).
    I want to increase my filtration. You can't have too much filtration, right?
    I am considering building a sump.
    Is a sump viable for this size tank?
     
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  3. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    possibly, if you really want to sump it
     
  4. Gebhardt

    Gebhardt

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    Hi

    I know i am not a prof in aquariums but i must say i run sumps on about all my tanks. even the breeding tanks of 3 ft. (2 tanks on one sump)
    I feel that they keep the nitrites lower and easier to work with.

    but that is personal.
     
  5. Gilbertr14

    Gilbertr14 Phenacogrammus

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    I just put a Fluval canister on mine.
     
  6. veegal

    veegal

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    There's nothing wrong with putting a sump on a tank that size but you could also look at getting a good canister filter instead.
     
  7. Zafgak

    Zafgak Old fart

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    Darryn - I am a great believer in Sumps so I say go for it - A 1 or 2 foot sump with 3 compartments will do fine...
     
  8. Gebhardt

    Gebhardt

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    I think canister filter are cheaper if you compare the amount of water.
    But a canister filter push a lot more water than a sump.
    I think a sump works better because of the speed of water. i saw that a sump works better on slow (less water) per hour.

    I had a friend who nitrates where very high in a sump and when he scaled down the speed to about 1.5 of total water per hour, it drop to about zero.
     
  9. Cory

    Cory

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    A sump is cool.
    1. it increases your water volume so small changes in water chemistry will not be noticed as much as in just the tank alone.
    2. when u have evapouration out of the tank it is only noticed in the sump. So the water level in ur display tank stays constant.

    One disadvantage of using a sump is noise but it can be controlled and kept to a minimum.

    :)
     
  10. Dolphin

    Dolphin

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    Darryn, sumps are great provided they're designed and built properly...

    There's several factors to consider with a sump, these are only some:
    - flooding
    - noise, from a badly designed overflow
    - fish/snails getting into the overflow
    - water flowing "past" the media thus resulting in limited filtration capacity
    - "surface" filtration, ie not getting all the gung on the bottom into the filter - so you'll need good circulation in the main tank

    IMO, rather consider a good cannister or even one of the better internal "bio" filters which I find to be very effective...
     
  11. Wimpie

    Wimpie

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    + 2

    A sump also provides a larger variety of filter media that you can use and a larger volume than a canister filter :bigsmile:

    How will you feed the water to the sump though? Overflow?
     
  12. Gebhardt

    Gebhardt

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    Over flow seem to work best for me. It takes all floating stuff.
     
  13. neilh

    neilh

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    How else is the water going to get to the sump?

    For a "small" tank like a 3ft, i'd stick to a canister. Maybe get a big ie >1000lph
     
  14. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    for a standard 3ft i'd also go canister or internal even for more filtration before i do a major overhaul for a sump, but its your preferance

    you can get water to the sump via a pump as well, but at the risk of the out pump being stronger than the in pump, and it basically pumping out and draining your tank...
     
  15. neilh

    neilh

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    But then its not an overflow is it :p
     
  16. Bufamotis

    Bufamotis

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    Nope, then its a whatchamakallit
     
  17. Whipme

    Whipme Microsword

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    I'd say a sump is overkill. There's a lot of engineering to be done and extra things to consider. You'd be best off with a good canister filter or an extra internal or hang-on filter. They're cheaper, and you can put in your own choice of filter media if you like.
     
  18. Wimpie

    Wimpie

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    It all just comes down to personal preferences...
     
  19. Donny

    Donny

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    seen some people use there sumps as grow out tanks
     
  20. Kuhli Loach

    Kuhli Loach

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    Donny - now that is something that I have not thought of – interesting – has anybody on the forum done that – please explain if you don’t mind.
     
  21. Wimpie

    Wimpie

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    My waterflow is way too strong for any fish to live in my sumps
     

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