Sump It Up

[Seafeather]

Hello Everyone!

It's been 2 years of being into the hobby with a whole bunch of ups and downs, but one thing I still haven't really been able to get a solid grasp/stance/opinion on is sumps.

I know they're used as a replacement for typical filtration (like cannister filters/HOBs), but I don't know enough about them in general to really decide if I want to stick with what I know and can easily do (cannisters) or should I jump in head first and hate myself in the process, but enjoy the later benefits of making my own sump.

Does anyone have a step-by-step (like you're telling a 6yo) process of building a sump including what you'd need to do to the tank it's attached to? Do I really have to cut a hole with a specialized saw in the tank?! What are the pros and cons of this? It honestly just seems like it's a dump tank that everyone has and kind of sort of maybe leans into the whole GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) thing that I see reefers fall into. I don't have a ton of cash so can't just go buy a new tool or new part whenever I want so I have to make do with what I have, nor can I really justify buying something to use only once or twice (like when am I EVER going to use a hole saw outside of this hobby? I'm a WFH treasury assistant lol)

So please, help me with links or your own words or literally whatever you think would help. The benefits, the DIYs, the cons, everything~ If you want to rant about it, I'll read every word because I am almost completely in the dark on these.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

A sump is not used in replacement of a canister or hob. A sump is a separate tank that hides your equipment and provides additional water volume. A sump is not a filter in itself.

Some sumps have nothing just rock rubble, my own sump has a heater and skimmer and thats it, some other sumps have a roller fleece, some put uv's in their sump, some sumps have refugiums.... its a place to hide stuff, so you can put whatever you want into your sump, there is no right or wrong about it IMO.

 

[BryanM]

Yeah, its really more about a hiding place for whatever you want to use.

My sump contains: Filter socks x2, a Large algae turf scrubber, my heaters, ATO, and all of my controllers and dosing pumps.... All of which would be unsightly if in the display.

Many sumps contain protein skimmers and rollermats.

 

[Seafeather]

See? Shows what i know about it

If its not a different kind of filter, then why do people have 2 to 3 different sections of it cordoned off with filter media in it? Is that just to provide more "area" for beneficial bacteria?

 

[Michael Hughes]

To agree with what others have said, a sump is a place to put equipment and to increase system water volume. My sump is a very simple DIY modification of one I got with a tank on FB Marketplace. Here's the left half:

I added a spot to put some filter floss and left room for a skimmer if I decide to add one later. Otherwise I have my heaters in there, ATO, a bag of carbon, a bag of rubble, and some extra sponge filters so I have them ready to go if I ever need to set up a temporary tank.

I recently DIYed a refugium for macroalgae and pod production. I have a small pump in the sump that feeds it and it gravity drains back into the sump. (Only added macroalgae a week or so ago.)

 

[Seafeather]

To agree with what others have said, a sump is a place to put equipment and to increase system water volume. My sump is a very simple DIY modification of one I got with a tank on FB Marketplace. Here's the left half:

I added a spot to put some filter floss and left room for a skimmer if I decide to add one later. Otherwise I have my heaters in there, ATO, a bag of carbon, a bag of rubble, and some extra sponge filters so I have them ready to go if I ever need to set up a temporary tank.

I recently DIYed a refugium for macroalgae and pod production. I have a small pump in the sump that feeds it and it gravity drains back into the sump. (Only added macroalgae a week or so ago.)

Cleanest looking sump I've ever seen! lol But thank you all for your replies. It makes a bit more sense why people have sumps now that I'm thinking about it. It's just a Wizard of Oz curtain.
Does everyone's sumps connect directly to their main tank via porthole/tubing? Or is it possible to do more of a cannister filter tubing situation with it, no holes?