sump - fuge...same thing??

cato · 01/31/2006, 01:24 PM

I know...typical noob question. What's the difference between a sump and a fuge besides the spelling?

mg426 · 01/31/2006, 01:37 PM

A sump sits under the tank,hence the name sump. Now use can use a sump as a fuge if you want. I would say that it is more of a (do I have the room sort of thing) You can surely use a sump as a fuge if you want. Just make for sure after its all said and done that you check the reserve of your sump/refugium for the inevitable power failure thats sure to happen at some point.

stevebydac · 01/31/2006, 01:58 PM

A sump is basically a container of water. Water is pumped up to the tank from it, and then returns down to the sump in a cycle. The bigger the sump, the more stable your aquarium parameters are (ex. it takes a lot longer for water temps to rise from 75 to 85 degrees in a 200g system than a 5g system). You can also sit your protein skimmer or other components in it.

A "fuge" is a refugium. It can be part of a sump, or separate. In it grows usually macroalgae under bright lighting to help lower your nitrate levels. Because no predators of any kind are in the fuge, it becomes a hangout and breeding ground for all sorts of tiny critters that came from the main tank. These can be kept there or fed/placed in the main tank.

That's a quick summary, by no means all-telling.

01/31/2006, 01:24 PM	#1
cato New England Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CT Posts: 5,450	sump - fuge...same thing?? I know...typical noob question. What's the difference between a sump and a fuge besides the spelling? __________________ -Cato I swear it's an illness... Current Tank Info: On Hiatus

01/31/2006, 01:37 PM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	A sump sits under the tank,hence the name sump. Now use can use a sump as a fuge if you want. I would say that it is more of a (do I have the room sort of thing) You can surely use a sump as a fuge if you want. Just make for sure after its all said and done that you check the reserve of your sump/refugium for the inevitable power failure thats sure to happen at some point. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

01/31/2006, 01:58 PM	#3
stevebydac Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Rhode Island, USA Posts: 410	A sump is basically a container of water. Water is pumped up to the tank from it, and then returns down to the sump in a cycle. The bigger the sump, the more stable your aquarium parameters are (ex. it takes a lot longer for water temps to rise from 75 to 85 degrees in a 200g system than a 5g system). You can also sit your protein skimmer or other components in it. A "fuge" is a refugium. It can be part of a sump, or separate. In it grows usually macroalgae under bright lighting to help lower your nitrate levels. Because no predators of any kind are in the fuge, it becomes a hangout and breeding ground for all sorts of tiny critters that came from the main tank. These can be kept there or fed/placed in the main tank. That's a quick summary, by no means all-telling.