sump or not

[mfcfan]

hi folks
iam planning on buying a new tank in the next couple of months and was just wondering if i should go with a sump or not,iv'e had my setup i have now for about 5 years it has no sump and actully the thought kinda scares me :eek: i really don't know anything about them at all but it seems most people here have 1,would you say it was a must have or an individual preference.i must do some more research on the subject but any info would welcome

[Gillybaby]

Our first system was a 4ft sumpless tank which was running for a year and it seemed like everything we did was appended with "I wish we had a sump for that". Having a sump with our 6fter is the best decision we made.

Everything can get hidden in the sump, as well as providing that all important extra filtration, be it liverock, dsb or mud. A must have imho.

[Pinkfish]

As Gilly mentions above plus the fact that it increases the total volume of water in your system see the sump as a giant filter. You can add baffles to the sump to create compartments and controlling the flow of the water.

Mike

[callum_parsons]

yeah i would defo go with a sump i wish i had a cabinet that would fit one as i would have one with out thinking twice.
there are so many benefits of a sump

[MR Teee]

Yep definately get one as they are invaluable IMO. You could use your existing tank as the sump when you get yer new one. It's not that difficult to understand how it works, but when I got my first tank and an overflow box I really struggled to understand it. Once you see it working though it's quite a "doh" moment.

Oh that would be my advice, get the tank drilled and plumb it up, although overflowboxes work, they do have more potential for a flood, and require regular maintenance IME.

[Cudders]

Yes ditto that. That's why I'm going for drilling the tank this time.

Sumps are a must !

Cudders

[Tom2006]

Yep, BIG thumbs up for sumps, wouldn't be without mine, once you get over the thoughts about overflow fears. ;) :D