Sump Tank Question...asap

[D.J.]

hey guys i just had to tear my 55g down and was wonderin if i caould use it as a sump tank on my 75g?

if so what do i need to do to it make it work for that? im hoping i can get the HOB overflow from brad. so other than that what do i need??

i know most of yall are running RR tank with refugiums but some of you have a sump tank,,,,,

this is the idea of what i have in mind.......just dont know what type of filtration to use in each chamber.....maybe some help on that as well.........

[hansmatt]

Hey dj,
yes...you can run this as a sump/fuge, and I would if possible. I have a 90g with a HOB overflow (I have a peninsula tank, so one short end is where the overflow is located). It goes down into the skimmer chamber, through 3 pieces of acrylic bubbletrap (this works fine, but takes up room...don't really need it) and into the return section in the middle. I have the overflow water T'd off so some of it goes to the far left side of the sump sectioned off as a refugium with less flow. That also drains into the middle return section. This site is a wealth of great information...http://www.melevsreef.com/...
Running a sump/fuge will make a HUGE difference in making this hobby easier. Better water volume, less changes in all chemicals, you can run a much better skimmer, it's quieter, easier water changes etc. Let me know if you have questions.
Matt (in La Crosse)

oh, you'll need some basic pvc plumbing/spaflex tubing, elbows etc for the return and overflow, a return pump capable of 3-500 gph including the head distance (up-pressure) and some glasss squares & silicon for gluing sections in the sump.

oh, fyi...I'm getting new bulbs for the fixture I'm selling, so the price will go up but it'll have brand new bulbs...I figured people wouldn't want to mess with the dirty work.

[D.J.]

so i dont need to section off the 55g????

what do i need to use as filtration in the sump? thought about adin the chambers.....
1 with bio-balls and a sponge maybe then empty into
1 with chaeto(SP) or something.....HINT HINT....I NEED SOME CHAETO>.....
and then empty into a larger section with LR and sand......
and then empty into another section for the return....

or is all that wrong????

on the light....pm me with what its gona cost now....

[hansmatt]

I would ONLY do some live rock/chaeto in the sump. Bioballs are a huge nitrate factory that are unnecessary in a reef system, as the rock takes care of the denitrification. I personally wouldn't put any sort of sponge or filter there, with the exception of a filter sock over the overflow that goes into the sump. I put a filter sock on occasionally, but it needs changing every 2-3 days (at least that's what I do) to prevent buildup/breakdown of the nasties that you catch. I have 4-5 that I rotate, but I have not been running them much recently. The chambers are nice to keep microbubbles from returning back to your system, but are not necessary. They are good to keep your skimmer/fuge/return sections distinct, and allow better pod growth in the fuge. I know we can find some chaeto locally, Josh or Jason here usually have a great stock. Mine is not growing much now as my phosphates are pretty low or I would give you some. I'll pm you later with more

[condiman]

if ya need any help gimme a call

[Afish4u]

Sorry been gone for a little while, with the cites swap.... now I have to catch up on work around the house. you don't need to section the sump off. Alot of people actually just use rubbermaid containers for sumps, Rock and cheato are really the only things you may want to add to your system..... I'll be back in a few days here.

[hansmatt]

Aaron...that's post number 1000!
bet you didn't notice that...and I have no idea why I did...I usually don't even look at those things.

Originally Posted by Afish4u

Sorry been gone for a little while, with the cites swap.... now I have to catch up on work around the house. you don't need to section the sump off. Alot of people actually just use rubbermaid containers for sumps, Rock and cheato are really the only things you may want to add to your system..... I'll be back in a few days here.

[Afish4u]

Originally Posted by hansmatt

Aaron...that's post number 1000!
bet you didn't notice that...and I have no idea why I did...I usually don't even look at those things.

lol Man I should have went a lighted some Fireworks.... I knew I was getting close. So much for me not staying off of here for a few days to get caught up on work around here. But I have to leave for work now.

[condiman]

You know i remember when the big thing was sectioning off everything and now its the complete opposite.

[D.J.]

so if i use the 55g tank just leave it all open? like a regular tank?

what keeps the water in check? i mean i dont want to over fill the sump and drain the display tank.....

[hansmatt]

the overflow box in the tank is set at a high level...any water above the teeth in the box goes into the drain down to the sump. If power goes out, the only water going down will be that water above the teeth of the overflow. Your return pump pushes water up, so the water going up will be the amount going down (in theory) assuming your return pump is matched closely to the maximum overflow capacity. Most overflows are around 600gph or so, some more.
The sump does not need to be partitioned, but using a rubbermaid tub or sections can help control the amount of water available for the return or for the fuge.

[D.J.]

oh ok matt.......i get it now.......so as long as i dont over power the overflow im fine....

im not sure what the overflow rating is on the one that i might be gettin from brad(condiman).....hopefully he knows so i can get a pump.

ive heard of people using power heads as return pumps...is that a good idea? or is it just better to get a pump for that?

on the sectioning.....if i just make one section for the return that should be all i need then and just set the rest of the tank up as a "tank" with some chaeto,LR,sand.....what about critters? ive heard of people havin shrimp,crabs, star fish and feather dusters in there.....any sugestions on that?

[D.J.]

OH NO..........i finally clicked on that link and now im confused again!!!!

i guess seeing the way he builds his just made me more confused.....


i need to see a regular sump tank i guess to fully understand what yall are talkin about.....

the different chambers in his and the ones ive looked at on line and then tryin to figure this out is just giving me a headache!!!!!!!

[hansmatt]

make one section, about 1/3 or 1/4 of the tank for your return. The water from the skimmer/fuge section simply flows over a piece of glass into the return section where it is pumped up. You'll need much more than a powerhead to pump 4feet up, again you will need around 8-900gph, which will be reduced to about 4-600 gph with the head pressure of the tubing, turns, and 4 feet up. Consider what you are using for a skimmer too...in sump skimmer I'd assume, not hang on back?
I know people have done some nice things with tubs doing the sectioning, but have not done that myself.
m

[D.J.]

i didnt think that a powerhead was enuff but ya never know till ya ask....

as for the skimmer.....not sure on what im gona run yet...i have to price them to determine what im gona end up doin.....i would rather not do a HOB skimmer unless i just have to run one till i can afford an in sump skimmer...but we will see...

all this is being built as a "AS THE MONEY COMES" basis.....so as i have alil bit of money ill get something for it....untill tax time...then i can get alot more...

with an in sump skimmer, will it just be in the main part of the sump where the LR and all is? or in the return?