A very stupid question.

[atomicjade]

I am definitely a total noob... but can someone please explain to me what exactly a sump tank is, how it works, and why you'd have one? :11:

[Algenco]

no such thing as a dumb question.

A sump is a smaller tank used as a filter and to increase the amount of water in the system, primarily used in Salt water setups

Anytime you can't find answers to your questions, feel free to ask

[korith]

Always ask questions, it's the only way to learn and avoid making mistakes.

Just adding onto what algenco said, people usually hide their sump tank in the stand below their main tank. Also the sump is a great place to put the heater and other things. Helps keep the actual tank visually more appealing since extra things are hidden away in the sump.

[Crispy]

another tidbit 'bout sumps is they usually run a wet/dry or trickle filter. Usually on the reef setups, but just as useful for freshwater. They get to be a pretty big filtration system usually.

[atomicjade]

Wow, that's all pretty cool... are they difficult to set up? And does that increase the useful gallons of the tank, say increasing the ability to add more fish than if you didn't have one?

[Crispy]

Wow, that's all pretty cool... are they difficult to set up? And does that increase the useful gallons of the tank, say increasing the ability to add more fish than if you didn't have one?

They can definitely handle the biggest bioload.

[Deleted User]

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. :ssmile:

Welcome to the hobby. thumbs2:

[atomicjade]

I wonder who hought of these.. they sound extremely useful! Out of the fish I've been researching, one of the ones I liked alot were blue acaras, but I was a little put off because of the amount of bioload they produced, something like this would essentially make it a lot easier, correct?

[Crispy]

I wonder who hought of these.. they sound extremely useful! Out of the fish I've been researching, one of the ones I liked alot were blue acaras, but I was a little put off because of the amount of bioload they produced, something like this would essentially make it a lot easier, correct?

acaras are smaller cichlids... I don't see them having the bioloads of say oscars or jaguars. You could have your acaras with normal filtration. I would like to have one of these wet/dry filters also... I've read some DIY threads, but don't have the cash or courage to attempt to build one yet.