Emperor 400 needeed for sump?

[angelofdeath132]

want to put an overflow/sump on my 55 so i can put the heater, and skimmer in it out of site. my question is, i am currently running an Emperor 400 on the back of my tank also but i won't have room for it hanging on the sump, not using it except for current now anyway. if i get a sump running,could i just quit running the Emperor all together? all i've been using for filtration for a few months is the skimmer anyway? does that all make sense? in other words.............................HELP!!!

 

[lonestar]

I run a Magnum 350 filter on my 75 gal tank. I run this fillter about 2 times a month for a day or 2. I only use it to run carbon through the system to get out a few toxins in the tank. My tank stays crystal clear with no filteration (except a skimmer). If you dont have many inverts, I wouldnt see a problem with running a skimmer only.
Jeremy

 

[dreeves]

The sump is for filtration. So to continue to use the Emp would be a duplication of effort. Keep the Emp running until you get whatever you decide on for bio filter in the sump established.

 

[zafirablanca]

Most people here go with a deep sand bed (4-6"), live rock (~1 lb/g) and a good skimmer as their sources of filtration. Your sump can house the mechanical things, skimmer, heater, maybe baffles to reduce bubbles going back to tank, return pump. The sand bed and live rock in your main tank will be a good enough bio-filter is you have an adequate amount. You shouldn't need the Emperor.

 

[wrassecal]

If the sump isn't for filtration what is it for? I'm getting so confused on this stuff. We are going from a 55 to a 125, have dsb, 125 lbs lr in main tank so other than hiding the skimmer heater and whatever what is the purpose of the sump?

 

[jumpfrog]

The sump can provide for a lot of things or very few. If incorporated with a tower and bioballs it can serve as a place for mechanical and bio filtration (most often good for aggressive tanks) as well as hiding equipment (skimmer, heater). In a reef I think most people don't use the bioballs or other mechanical filtration and just take advantage of hiding equipment. In both cases the extra volume water allowed by the sump is a benefit.
At least that's how I look at it
Angel.....How much LR, LS do you have?

 

[zafirablanca]

Jumpfrog is correct.
Probably the most significant benefit to having a sump (aside from getting ugly equipment out of the main tank) is adding more water to the system.
A larger body of water is more stable, always better for the tank inhabitants. It takes longer for pollutants to build up, longer for temp to change, longer to deplete minerals, etc. In the end, much, much easier to maintain.
Also, you can house a larger (maybe better) skimmer in a sump than you could in/ on your main tank. You can also set up things like kalkwasser drips, auto water top-off systems, carbon media bags, etc in or next to the sump.
The sump is a great tool for mechanical filtration and chemical filtration (carbon, poly filters).
Live rock and sand beds are a great source of biological filtration (the bacteria that break down waste that you establish when cycling your tank). For those that do not use live rock, they usually set up a tower of bio-balls in their sump as a substitute. That is why reef tanks usually dont use bio-balls, they just have alot of live rock and vice versa.
Does that help? I hope so.
Good Luck,
-Christine

 

[angelofdeath132]

thanks all!!

 

[wrassecal]

yes, that helps a lot. I need to set up my new 125 with one and I'm just losing my mind trying to figure out all the plumbing, whether to have main tank water into the refugium, then the sump, or vise versa and then all these people with these bubble issues and baffles and ball valves and, and and I'd like a nice simple neat plan to make it work. Can't afford a reef ready so there is a whole 'nother set of problems. With my Emperor 400 and 280 and hang on skimmer the only thing you can see in my tank is the powerheads and heater anyway and I seem to always see powerheads and tubes in tanks with sumps too......but I see your point about water volume and exchange. Sorry to butt in on your thread angel.

 

[angelofdeath132]

no prob Wrassecal, it sounds like we're both confused about the same things and we both want the same result - i nice SIMPLE,EASY sump setup!

 

[zafirablanca]

OK you guys, BREATHE......


I really does feel overwhelming when you are trying to figure out what you want to do with your tank and its plumbing/ mechanics. I was there not so long ago, and am still learning everyday. Just keep watching, listening and learning. I managed to get through the plumbing part and am really proud of my set-up. I soooo could not have done it that well/ well thought out without the help of this board. I found there is no simple way that works for everyone. You just have to collect and process what info you can find and then stare at your tank for a while. It feels pretty out of control while you are putting it all together. But, you will finish and it will be a very good thing.
The people that helped me out alot when I first came here were Broomer5, OceanJumper, Bang Guy, MelbourneFL, and of course many others.
I have also managed to bookmark all the the helpful DIY websites and suppliers sites as people mention them here, and that has been an invaluable reference tool for me as I go.
Here are some good sites:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/
http://www.rl180reef.com/frames.htm
Hope this helps!
Good Luck,
-Christine