I am thinking???

[reefking]

I am thinking about building or buying a sump for my 29 gallon, I have a canister filter right now, my question is once I get a sump, is there even a need for the canister filter or should I get rid of it, does a sump basically do the same thing only alot better?

 

[OrionGirl]

Depends. You could keep the canister flowing for additional water movement and the ability to add a different variety of media if needed down the line. Which would be a bigger pain--taking it out, or leaving it in?

 

[reefking]

so would you advise putting a sump in, do you have one in your setup? I seen someone put some kind of algea in their sump, what for??

 

[Crown Royal]

People put macroalgae in a part of their sump called a "refugium".

Macroalgae absorbs phosphates and nitrates (bad stuff). The refugium also can grow various types of "pods" - little bug-like creatures that fish like to eat and also help process detritus.

A refugium is a "refuge" for both the pods and macroalgae from the main tank as they would probably get eaten too quickly by the fish to do much good.