The purpose of adding a sump is to provide efficient, effective and safe filtration of a fish tank.
‘But isn’t that what all filters are designed to do?’ I hear you ask. Yes absolutely, with varying degrees of effectiveness dependent on choosing the right one for your tank. Adding a sump steps your fish tank up another level, and is particularly useful for mid sized to larger tanks and with a host of additional benefits.
It’s usually set up in a cabinet underneath your main tank. The equipment is hidden away just going about it’s job increasing the water capacity and flow through your main tank.
Freshwater aquarium sump
Because our focus is on goldfish and freshwater fish we’ll highlight the benefits for our tanks in particular.
7 advantages of using a sump
- An important reason for introducing a sump is to increase water capacity and flow through your aquarium setup. Having a greater volume of water flow circulating through your tank and sump means a more stable, healthier water quality is maintained and less stress for fish.
- A sump provides a central point to safely add nutrients, supplements and medications to your tank. By being added to the water within the sump, they’re mixed with tank water and gradually introduced to the main tank. Again causing less stress to your fish, a very important factor for making fish less vulnerable to disease.
- Increased water volume helps avoid, and control, the build up of toxins. For example the nitrates and phosphates in water; toxins that become dangerous in excessive quantities.
- Water circulation and surface agitation. The importance of well oxygenated water can’t be overstated. Oxygen content in the water is vital for aquatic life. (Note: The pump’s flow rate should be steady and compatible with the size of your tank. IE not more powerful than required. Just as too little oxygen is dangerous, so too, a larger, higher flow than required.)
- Customize: Add different types of filter systems: mechanical or biological or both. Customize media for biological filtration, whatever singular filter system or combination you’d like to make the most effective system for your tank. Heaters, skimmers, lights all accessories that can be added to the sump.
- Aesthetics. Visible filters and accessories detract from the look of your aquarium and are hidden away in the sump.
- Minimise cleaning time
A sump can be used for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. It’s a necessity for a reef tank setup.
There are 3 main ways a sump can be set up. Wet/dry system, refugium, and Berlin method. Refugium, and Berlins setups are used often in saltwater and reef systems.
The wet and dry system for either freshwater or saltwater tanks where your aquarium is supporting a lot and fish and you want to add in biological filter media.
Keep reading for the featured ProFlex sump review with video explanations and instructions for each of the 3 setups.
Why consider the Aqueon Proflex sump
Before we get started, I’ll say that the Aqueon ProFlex is ‘wow’! It’s state-of-the-art and gets the job done. I like the fact that it’s not ugly like most systems and surprisingly quiet. (I’ve had some systems in the past that drove me crazy because they were so loud.)
There are plenty of options on the market but one of the top choices is the ProFlex. Apart from flexibility, it’s easy to setup. It only takes a short time to get it up and running.
Dimensions are 30.9″ x 11″ x 19″ height, and recommended to use with a medium sized fish tank up to 75 gallon capacity.
There are 3 chambers in the Proflex. The filter sock and bubble diffuser are in the first chamber.
The second chamber can be used for a refugium* or protein skimmer. Over the second chamber there’s an opening where you fit a Mini LED Aqualight (for reef systems).
The second chamber holds a steady water level and is ideal for a protein skimmer. Take off the lid in the top to add a taller skimmer.
You can add a protein skimmer to the 3rd chamber, but note that it shares space with the return pump. To keep the water level constant in the third chamber (if you’re using a protein skimmer there), consider adding an ‘Auto Top Off controller’.
Sump Tank Setup
The 3 main setups are wet/dry, refugium, and Berlin styles.
- The wet and dry system can be used for freshwater or saltwater systems. If you have a lot of fish and extra biological filtration is required this is the system for you. Add a BioMedia Accessory pack in the second chamber.
- The refugium setup is system where you add light to make the reef livelier. Having an advanced filtration system allows you to grow beneficial macro algae, helps absorb dangerous phosphates in the system and protect microfauna and other microinverterbrates.
- The Berlin setup is most common in reef tanks applications because it allows for placement of a large protein skimmer, important in reef tanks.
The material used to manufacture the product is of high quality which ensures that it doesn’t leak even after usage for a long time. In addition, and something to always check is warranty. Aqueon provides a lifetime warranty against any leakage. Got to love that!
By adding a sump you have more flexibility to customize and add any aquarium accessories you like to create your own unique aquarium environment.
Reference : refugium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugium_(fishkeeping)
