Why have a sump?

[ericgreg]

I have a 55 with mostly softies, zoas, and mushrooms for corals, and 6 small fish and one coral banded shrimp. As far as equipment goes, I have an Aqua C Remora hob skimmer, a couple of Koralias for circulation, and a hob filter where I keep bags of charcoal and phosban.

I'd like to add a sump, but not really sure of their importance? The only reason I can come up with would be to hide the hanging equipment. I am willing to do that for only that reason, but would like to understand other reasons for them.

My tank is not plumbed, so I'd have to incorporate some type of overflow to get the water to and from the sump. Any suggestions? Are overflow methods safe? Am I certain to have a spill using an overflow? What do I need to keep in my sump? Critters? Rock?

[Fat Tony]

Sumps have their benefits. A place to put HOT equipment is one of them, but there are several others.

Larger volume of water. It helps maintaining temperature and other important levels easier.

Has a chamber to help you maintain water levels more effectively and accurately, which in turn helps stabilize your tank parameters.

As for equipment, make sure you get a quality U-Tube style overflow box, they are far safer than the weir style boxes. (see Lifereef or Eshoppes) and a good return pump. I recommend Eheim as they are quiet, efficient and dependable.

All you have to do is ask and I would certainly be willing to help you set it up once you are ready.

[fchidsey]

Greg has authored three good reasons to have a sump.
He breaks down the importance of a sump to pros and cons to drilled tanks and other advantages to sumps.
Everything you want to know about sumps - Part I
Everything you want to know about sumps - Part II
Everything you want to know about sumps - Part III

[ericgreg]

Okay... I'm asking. Before I start, I need some re-assurance on the question re the overflow. At some point in time, is something going to happen, and I'm going to get a spill? What causes it?

Second, Chuck has a 30, I believe, that is set up as a sump with the separators. I was thinking I would just buy that, if he'll let it got for cheap.

I'll start looking at the pumps, and overflows. Of the two listed, do you have a number 1? Or, are they both the same?

[fchidsey]

Personally I have not had a tank with an HOB overflow box in some time. they have come up with some new designes that look like they may work better that the old u tube style.

with the u-tube style hob overflow box I have had issues with the tubes not keeping up with the return of the pump from the sump, I have had issues with the power going out and losing the syphen, and I have had issues with air trapped in the u-tube.

all that being said the I can not speak about the new designes they look like thay handle a lot more flow and have fixed many of the above mentioned issued with hob overflow boxes.

I hope that helps.

[ericgreg]

For a 55-gal, what size sump is ideal? A 10? A 20? I have access to a 30, but is that overkill?

[fchidsey]

the articles that I have read say the bigger the better.

[ericgreg]

Yep. I just read those 3 articles you linked for me, and I am only inhibited by the space under the tank where the sump will live.

[Fat Tony]

the 30 would be best. I also recommend that you build your own that way you get exactly what you want.

I recommend the UTube overflow boxes (the Eshoppes work fine, but are not as robust as the Lifereefs). The key to having 0 issues with the HOB overflow box is to get the proper flow ratio through them and to check it for bubbles building up in the tube from time to time. I only had one instance where a bubble built up in the tube on my old 55, got the bubble out and the problem was solved. If you get a 600gph overflow box, you want to make sure that your pump at the resulting head pressure equals to between 50 and 60% of the gph rating. SO, with that said, a 600 gph overflow would be a perfect match with say an Eheim 1250.

[Loverotties]

+1.

[ericgreg]

Tony, did you arbitrarily pick the 600 gph number for an example of the overflow box? Or, is that one you would suggest?

[Fat Tony]

It's the one I suggest for a 55 gallon.