How do I start an aquarium sump?

Answer 1

"A sump is nothing more than an extra water containment area usually set up underneath an aquarium where you can place equipment, provide the aquarium with various types of water filtration, add top-off water to the tank and perform other maintenance tasks."
The OLD way is to get your tank drilled in the bottom, but in most cases NOW, aquarium companys use tempered glass ONLY ON THE BOTTOM and it can't be drilled.
Get your tank drilled on the back top and attach an overflow box and piping to go to your sump.
The larger the sump the better (I have a 30 gal sump for my 75 gal reef tank.)
This site explaines what they are and how to make them.
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/diysumpsoverflowboxes/DIY_Sump_Overflow_Box_Setup_Plans.htm.
Sumps don't usually have sand, rocks, mud or anything else in them except a return pump a heater and maybe a Skimmer.
Refugeums however, usually have all that in them and lights on when your tank lights are off.

Answer 2

Two answers,and no-one knows what a sump is. The critical factor with a sump is how to avoid flooding in case of a pump or power failure. This usually involves filling the sump through an overflow system. Which in turn,involves drilling a hole in the bottom of the main tank. Since tempered glass tanks can't be drilled this requires using a soft Glass tank(one with really thick glass) or using a hang on the side over flow system. For reliability's sake the best solution is a drilled tank. After the plumbing problems are solved, just set up the sump and cycle it normally.Some sumps are heavily planted and lighted on an opposite cycle as the main tank. (Lights on at night,off in daylight.) Some sumps have mud or clay substrates for de-nitrating.There are a lot of possibilities.------Good luck,keep us informed,it should be an interesting experiment!-----PeeTee

Answer 3

get some fishes .