Is a sump required?

saltymainerd · 07/30/2007, 01:41 AM

Hello!
Well I recently bought a 100g tall aquarium and realized its going to cost WAY too much to get going to have what i want so I decided to use my current freshwater 55g and convert it to saltwater. I bought an xp3 for filtration and was wondering if I could get by without using a sump box (or refugium) as long as I have a good enough protein skimmer and the xp3? At least for now. I have read a lot about sumps but am still confused as to if they are required or not. I plan on a fish/reef tank with coral.
Thanks in advance.

DEEC77 · 07/30/2007, 05:44 AM

You don't have to have one but it does make things (maintance wise) a little easier

~Dee~

rkelman · 07/30/2007, 05:47 AM

I would not use a sump for the 55 but slowly gather equipment to get the 100g working and use the 55 as a sump..

zeemonstar · 07/30/2007, 09:19 AM

only thing is if you don't get a sump be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to cleaning your tank. also having a refugium helps to increase your pod population. i think if your going to have a sump though, you should wait until you set up your 100g first

steri · 07/30/2007, 09:40 AM

Well, I don't have a sump on my 75 and my 75 is a reef. I don't have any problems with my tank but, I would agree with Zee, I do feel like I do a little more work. I run canister filters on my 75. I run LR in my canister filters, and I do have a HOB refugium that I made out of an old Penguin filter. Having that combined with LR in the main tank, and a Protein Skimmer seems to make my tank run very well, but that is just what I do.

So, my answer would be No, you don't have to have a sump to have a successful reef tank, but I would imagine it would make life a little easier, and give you more options.

Hope that helps.

Reefbox · 07/30/2007, 09:49 AM

You definetely do not need a sump. The only purpose my 10 g sump serves on my 125 g is to hold my heater, float valve 4 auto top off and protein skimmer. Nothing else in the sump. Bare bottom with high flow so nothing settles down in there.

A sump can be a good safe haven for pods and critters to live and reproduce.

07/30/2007, 01:41 AM	#1
saltymainerd Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1	Is a sump required? Hello! Well I recently bought a 100g tall aquarium and realized its going to cost WAY too much to get going to have what i want so I decided to use my current freshwater 55g and convert it to saltwater. I bought an xp3 for filtration and was wondering if I could get by without using a sump box (or refugium) as long as I have a good enough protein skimmer and the xp3? At least for now. I have read a lot about sumps but am still confused as to if they are required or not. I plan on a fish/reef tank with coral. Thanks in advance.

07/30/2007, 09:19 AM	#4
zeemonstar Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: bloomingdale, il Posts: 26	only thing is if you don't get a sump be prepared to dedicate a lot of time to cleaning your tank. also having a refugium helps to increase your pod population. i think if your going to have a sump though, you should wait until you set up your 100g first __________________ sharkbait oh ah ah Current Tank Info: 150 gallon sump tank, other smaller tanks

07/30/2007, 09:40 AM	#5
steri Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Aurora, IL. Posts: 2,361	Well, I don't have a sump on my 75 and my 75 is a reef. I don't have any problems with my tank but, I would agree with Zee, I do feel like I do a little more work. I run canister filters on my 75. I run LR in my canister filters, and I do have a HOB refugium that I made out of an old Penguin filter. Having that combined with LR in the main tank, and a Protein Skimmer seems to make my tank run very well, but that is just what I do. So, my answer would be No, you don't have to have a sump to have a successful reef tank, but I would imagine it would make life a little easier, and give you more options. Hope that helps. __________________ 220g: French Angel, Emperor Angel, Passer Anger, Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Snowflake Moray Eel, Lunar Wrasse Current Tank Info: 220 with T5HO lighting. ETSS skimmer.

07/30/2007, 09:49 AM	#6
Reefbox Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,045	You definetely do not need a sump. The only purpose my 10 g sump serves on my 125 g is to hold my heater, float valve 4 auto top off and protein skimmer. Nothing else in the sump. Bare bottom with high flow so nothing settles down in there. A sump can be a good safe haven for pods and critters to live and reproduce. __________________ Jason

07/30/2007, 05:44 AM	#2
DEEC77 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 447	You don't have to have one but it does make things (maintance wise) a little easier ~Dee~

07/30/2007, 05:47 AM	#3
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	I would not use a sump for the 55 but slowly gather equipment to get the 100g working and use the 55 as a sump..