What is a sump? More newb questions

Hey guys, I've got a few quick newb questions. First off, I am looking to buy a 55 gallon tank (used) and most of them are just coming with standard Freshwater type filters. Do I need to buy a sump or will these standard filters combined with the fresh rock/ live sand be enough?

This may be a pretty dumb question but if I buy a used tank off someone, is there a chance any diseases from their prior fish be transferred to my fish down the road? Thanks again guys.

 

Sump - not a must have, but once you get one, you'll never want to live without one. It makes life SO much easier!! You can expand more easily, keep the tank clean more easily, and it will give you more water volume!

If you are buying used live rock you run a high risk of adopting any pests they have (well not really fish problems, but there are many other pests). You can dry the rock out first or buy dry rock on the internet to avoid it.

The glass itself if bought used is no problem at all. Just be mindful of scratches and the condition of the seams. Clean it with vinegar and you are good to go. Don't use any soaps to clean it, imo.

 

It all depends on what you are planning to keep in your tank FOWLR or reef? You can buy a sump or check out the DIY thread on DIY sump it’s real easy to do and it will cost you around 25 dollars to make.

You have to find out if the old tank was freshwater or saltwater? If it was freshwater you have to find out if the person has every treated his fish with copper.

 

Sweet man, so I can use just the standard freshwater type filters that hang from the top of the tank? Would I need more than one since it will be SW?

 

Sweet, good info. It won't be a reef tank because I am planning on putting a puffer in. Is it correct that you can only have live rock with puffers?

 

THIS LINK is about the easiest explanation of how a sump works that I know of.

I HIGHLY recommend running a sump, even for FOWLR...as mentioned, once you run a system with a sump, you'll never want to do otherwise.

 

Yes/no and no. I run a HOB filter on the back with nothing in it except a media bag of GFO to lower phosphates and surface aeration. Just the box it's self no filters. Running a freshwater type filter on the back however will cause you nitrites to go up so I'd advise against it. I also have a 55g. I would get a sump if you could. I don't have one myself but I really want one.

 

I think you mean niTRATES, but what causes this is lack of regular filter maintenance.

 

+1 on the sump. They are very easy to make. IMO, go get yourself a 20g long and buy some glass at home depot or lowes and a glass cutter. Silicone the glass in and leak test after 24 hours and you're good to go. Check my pics here, and here to you'll see my sump that I built last weekend. I think I spent $50 for everything, including the silicone and glass cutter. Welcome to the hobby man. If you have any questions on building the sump, let me know. It's all still fresh in my mind. I'm new to the hobby also, so I know you can get more/better info from others on this site, but I did build a sump last week and can help you out.