Sumps

[Tangman]

After reading a load of threads on other forums and on here about people who dont have a sump, its got me thinking why dont they have a sump as to me its not a marine tank without a sump. A freshwater tank does not have sumps and i think a lot of folk follow on from freshwater to marine thinking its the same to keep. Who has not got a sump and why, is it the cost or is it the space or is it you have never had one before and dont know how they work. Please discuss and tell us what your thoughts are and why you did not have a sump. Twiggy

[andylowe04]

As you said, I started off with goldfish then trops. Started without a sump but decided I had to get one due to the amount of unsightly kit spoiling my display...

IMO they are a must but then again have seen several successful tanks without them!

[Gizmo]

Had three systems with sumps previously. Had all kinds of problems with evap due to the aggrevation of the sump inlet. Then there's the noise. In a small office even the best plumbing will leave quite a lot of noise. So now gone for a nano, but it still has the compartments at the back so I guess you could still argue I'm running a sump of sorts.

[Tangman]

Had three systems with sumps previously. Had all kinds of problems with evap due to the aggrevation of the sump inlet. Then there's the noise. In a small office even the best plumbing will leave quite a lot of noise. So now gone for a nano, but it still has the compartments at the back so I guess you could still argue I'm running a sump of sorts.

A fully optimised sump should be quiet and the only noise you should hear is the faint hum of the return pump, plus the skimmer if running one. Twiggy

[michael.]

yeah my sump is silent, i have the skimmer pump, the return pump, a maxi-jet 400 controlling my reactor, a maxijet 1200 pushing water around the sump and a maxi-jet 600 in there controlling a nitrate filter and its still silent.

[Gizmo]

Mmm, had three attempts and never got it quiet enough for me. So that and the electric usage of having so much kit running prompted a downsize to a simple nano.

[michael.]

one of my friends has a trigon 350 and its sumpless, and the tank is beautiful, but he has lots of kit hanging on it which isnt attrcative imo, but hell your right you dont need one, however contradicting myself haha, im with eric, i think a sump makes it a marine tank.

[RCB]

The system I have here has 3 large concealed rear chambers, like an overgrown nano tank, so all my equipment , cheato bed, dsb, etc can be housed in here meaning I have no need for an external sump. Saves a lot of hassle and expense of pipng, fittings, return pumps ,etc and absolutely no panic from the chance of an accidental overflow, flood from loose pipe, panic in a power cut ,etc.....
Saying this I know where you're coming from Eric and had sumps on many set ups in the past and gave me more options for equipment , filtration like tower trickle systems, etc.....

[cl0wn]

have a perc 90, was one of the conditions of keeping a tank after this happened







do miss having a sump and reckon the next tank i'll get will have a sump.

[owlbassboy]

d&d nano all the way i just love my all in one setups, but i suppose in a way my rear chambers are my sump.