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Diving Deep Advanced Aquarium Discussion
Sump Systems - The Titans of Filtration
Volume I What are sumps & what benefits do they provide?
What is a sump, and how does it work?
A sump is essentially a container that is lower than, and which receives drainage from the aquarium. This is done in a continuous cycle, where the aquarium constantly overfills so that it is forced to drain through the drain pipe down into the sump, and is then pumped back up to the aquarium thus starting the cycle over again. (See Diagram Below)
What benefits come with sump filtration?
A sump is much more than just a container of water below the aquarium, and having a sump system has some great benefits:
Increased Water Volume
Increasing the water volume of your aquarium by adding a sump is a great way to make your system more stable. For example, if you were to accidently add too much food to your twenty gallon aquarium, it would have less negative impact on the aquarium if you had a sump containing an extra five gallons of water; diluting it by roughly 20%. Even the amount of waste your fish produce becomes diluted by the extra water in the system.
Maintaining a Stable Water Level
As water evaporates from a typical aquarium setup, the level of water in the aquarium will drop, requiring you to refill the aquarium in order to keep it at roughly the same height. This can leave water marks around glass near the top of the aquarium, which is unsightly and hard to remove.
The water level in an aquarium with a sump system will never fall below the height of the drain pipe, ensuring the aquarium always looks full. Instead, the water level in the sump will change; needing to be topped up. This is usually easier, as the bucket of water will not need to be lifted to the height of the aquarium in order to dump it; it can be dumped directly into the sump. Systems can also be outfitted with automatic top-off systems to replenish evaporated water.
Removing Surface Film
Aquariums often have a thin oily film on the surface of the water; out of reach of your filter's intake. This film is not very attractive, cuts down on vital gas exchanges, and can actually diminish the amount of light that your aquarium receives from the light fixture. Light is not only important for viewing your fish; it is also vital for plants and corals to survive.
As water rises up and over the edge of the overflow box or drain pipe, the surface is extracted, removing any film and filtering it out. Because this process is continuous, it eliminates the buildup of surface films all together.
Keeps Equipment Out of Sight
A sump will also provide an area to conceal equipment that would otherwise clutter the aquarium. Items like heaters, thermometers, UV sterilizers etc. can be placed in the sump to free up space in and around the aquarium. In most cases, this also makes the equipment easier to access and maintain.
Easier Water Changes
Being closer to the floor, a sump makes adding and removing water from water changes much easier, requiring less lifting. Some sumps can even be plumbed to a building's drain lines, allowing you to remove water by turning a valve rather then having to siphon it out. Maintaining your aquarium becomes faster and easier.
Excellent Aeration
Aeration of the water allows for gas exchange, replenishing the oxygen in the aquarium. Many filters provide aeration by agitating the surface of the water. Sump filters not only disturb the surface by turning it over, they aerate the water as it tumbles down the drain pipe into the sump. The water is also aerated while it trickles through the wet/dry portion of the filter (if one is used). With three forms of aeration, it is hard to exceed the level of gas exchange that sump filtration provides.
Customization of Filtration
Like most filters, sumps can make use of all three types of filtration: Biological, Mechanical, and Chemical. Unlike most filters, sump filters are highly customizable with plenty of room for additional filter bags/pads or equipment like phosphate reactors and UV sterilizers. If the aquarium were to have an outbreak of algae, a media bag of phosphate remover can easily be placed in the sump to help combat the problem. This can become difficult with other filters that may not have adequate room for their general media, as well as the media you use to fight a specific problem. Sumps also come in many shapes and sizes, and can be custom built for more specific requirements. For example, some saltwater aquariums incorporate refugiums (controlled area where algae and microorganisms can reproduce). Rather then having one hang on the back of the aquarium, the sump can have a chamber built in for this purpose.
Superior Biological Filtration
Sump systems are most widely known for being superior biological filters with use of wet/dry filtration. This is most commonly done by trickling the water through a tower of bio-balls (media made of plastic with great surface area) to establish bacteria that aids in the breakdown of wastes into less harmful chemicals. The beneficial bacteria are aerobic, meaning that they require oxygen in order to survive. Most conventional filters can only host a limited amount of bacteria because of the limited surface area of the media, and oxygen in the water. The trickle system allows for more media and plenty of exposure to air, creating ideal conditions for the bacteria to flourish.
What sump is right for you?
Some may find that they want all the benefits of these filters, but are still not confident they can manage the complicated plumbing. Keep in mind that sump systems may look complex and intimidating, but all these systems still work off the same basic principals.
There are manufacturers that make all-in-one sump systems for those hobbyists who want the benefits without all of the intricate plumbing. These systems are simple, less costly, and still do a much better job then any hang-on type filter. The only potential drawback is that most of these smaller systems are geared towards saltwater aquariums, meaning that if you have a freshwater aquarium, you may end up with a few parts that will not end up using (such as a built in protein skimmer like the one that comes with the Tom Pro Series PS3). If you have an aquarium less then 75 gallons in size, an all-in-one system may be best.
Full blown sumps that are plumbed directly to the aquarium do require some extra planning and labor. If you do not feel that you can handle installing this type of system yourself, your local aquarium specialists will be able to walk you through the steps, or in some cases can be hired to design and install the system for you. Custom systems tend to be larger, more efficient and can be tailored directly to your specific needs. In most situations the aquarium will need to have a drain hole, and return hole drilled into it. This can be avoided if you purchase a pre-drilled or "reef ready" aquarium. For large aquariums, going this route is usually the best choice.
With an understanding of how sumps actually work, and the great benefits they provide over other types of filtration, it is easy to see why they are considered to be the titans of filtration and are most often the filtration of choice for public display aquariums, retail store fish rooms, and dedicated hobbyist aquariums.
