Sumps

Sumps are a water reservoir which is at a lower level then that of the tank.  Gravity causes the water to drain from your aquarium into the sump tank where a pump is utilized to move the water from the sump back to the aquarium.  This constant flow of water through the sump produces a number of advantages over non-sump systems.  The advantages are as follows:

SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION WATER VOLUME:  this creates a healthier aquarium by enabling dilution of organic and inorganic compounds created in the main tank, such as nitrates, organic acids, etc.

INCREASED TEMPERATURE STABILITY:  which helps lower the depletion rate of major and minor elements.

ELIMINATION OF SURFACE SCUM:  by skimming the water surface, sumps keep the water crystal clear.

IMPROVE OXYGENATION:  when water drains into the sump, mixing air into the water occurs and this allows the gas exchange being released from Carbon Dioxide to fresh Oxygen.

ADDED CIRCULATION:  the return of sump water is a great way to move water into the tank.  Return outlets from the sump can be used to create additional flow, instead of more power heads.

HIDING EQUIPMENT:  by using a sump you can hide heaters, protein skimmers, ph and monitor probes, filters, top-off systems, dosing pumps from your displayed aquarium.

CONSISTENT WATER LEVEL:  water level is maintained in the display of the aquarium.  Any water that does evaporate will lower the sump water level and not that of the aquarium level.  Sumps also allow auto top-off systems to be installed.

PROVIDES A SAFE PLACE TO ADD ADDITIVES:  chemicals get diluted before they reach any of the inhabitants that are in your aquarium.

WORK CAN BE DONE ON YOUR TANK WITHOUT DISTURBING THE INHABITANTS.  WATER CHANGES CAN BE DONE VIA THE SUMP.  The advantage to this is that the circulation can stay the same plus the water level will not change in the main tank.