New so be gentle

[stevieduk]

Hiya, I joined yesterday, just getting back into the marines again, ( fish not army ) , used to keep marines 39 yrs ago, when everything was in its infancy, now there is so much technology to make it so easy . Anyway what I would like to know , if anyone can help is , when you set up a sump filter , does it have to be lit , or have daylight getting to it, I would like to have one in the cabinate under my tank but it has doors on it, so I would have to put a light inside if it needs light. can anybody help ??

 

[carey]

Hi. Welcome to the forum!

If you have a refugium in your sump then yes you will need light bit otherwise no light needed.

 

[stevieduk]

??

whats a refugium ?

 

[carey]

iT's typically between the input compartment and return pump compartment. You keep macro algae, sand and live rock in it. It can help with algae and nitrates in a reef tank. The macro algae absorbs the nutrients from the water that otherwise would be growing algae in your main tank and also consumes nitrates in the process.

 

[redsea]

Welcome to Aquarium Advice! Thanks for joining!

 

[bruinsbro1997]

to AA!

 

[stevieduk]

ah yes i see. do you think a power head would lift water up about 3 feet

 

[carey]

To what end do you want to move water 3 feet? As a return pump or maybe a water changing pump? In either instance I don't think a powerhead is gonna cut it.

 

[stevieduk]

ok well thanks, you see i have my tank on a large cabinate with a cupboard underneath which would easily take a 3 foot tank inside it, I thought i might make that into a sump filter but obviously need a pump to send it back up again. thats why i wanted to know about lighting it cos the doors would be shut but thought today i could have L E D 's in there so no heat and hardly any running costs

 

[RedFlame]

Welcome to AA.