Flower's Sump/Fuge Build

[acrylic51]

Quote:Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/320#post_3314797
Gotcha...I was imagining the tank sitting at floor level.  Not an all bad idea if I do say so...but you're right in that would pose a proplem in where to run a relatively descent skimmer that we could keep out of site.  Then we'd have to figure out who's going to construct the support for the tank.  She's mentioned that she doesn't have alot of strength in her hands to do alot of lifting or anything mechanical so we were kind of thinking 2 smaller tanks would be easier for her to handle.  I dunno though, I do think it's a pretty innovative idea.  But at this point I think some of the plans have already been set it motion.  Then again, Shawn is the one doing the constructing, not I.
Corey the support would be rather easy to build into the design.... The front panel that would actually butt up against the back of the tank you would make taller than the back panel. You could then put the front panel on the acrylic heater and bend the radius lip to fit the contour of the tank rim, sorta like a HOB filter fits. As far as added support you could add in radius cut supports welded to the bottom of the sump/fuge just as we see on HOB filters to level them out. Could easily be fanned with 3/8" material and could probably get away with minimal top support because of height of the sump/fuge.

 

[acrylic51]

Quote:Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/320#post_3314872

What about the idea with the goby and new live sand....We started talking about a different tank and nobody mentioned the new sand idea.
Yes replacing the sand bed in the DT would work, as well as seeding the fuge. I would still try to isolate the goby for a bit if possible!!!!

 

[2quills]

That was a great thread that Spanko posted, kinda wished it was a little bit longer but informative nonetheless. I think once I get ready to set my tank back up that my goby will be getting donated to the LFS in order to let the sand fourish as much as possible for several months before I think about adding any kind of sifter or sifters in there.

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3314933
That was a great thread that Spanko posted, kinda wished it was a little bit longer but informative nonetheless. I think once I get ready to set my tank back up that my goby will be getting donated to the LFS in order to let the sand fourish as much as possible for several months before I think about adding any kind of sifter or sifters in there.

The reason I really like this particular goby is that it feeds on mysis shrimp and even algae sheets. Sleeper gobies starve when they don't get enough pods or whatever they are cleaning out of the sand. To get them to eat other food is about the only way keep one, no amount of pods is enough for their appetite..They eat continually.

That's why Spankos post says they usually starve. I had that happen, it was the saddest thing to watch, and their gut just shrinks up till they can't eat.

I do have the 10g hospital tank it isn't set up right now but I could prepare it, I have time to let it cycle while Shawn makes the sump. I haven't needed it for ages. It’s such a small tank the goby is 4.5 inches long and used to a 90g to swim in...He might decide to go crazy and bang himself around or jump.

I don't think he could deplete a new sand bed with it constantly being fed from a refugium and he eats regular food too. The only reason this sand is dead is the heater incident (he didn't deplete it)...it had life before that and the goby was in there a good year before then. He is a replacement the first starved...I waited a year to let my sand replenish, I had no refugium, and then I bought this one.

The first goby... and it was the same kind and same size lasted three years before it starved...if I had a refugium back then I think it would have been okay....and like I said..this one eats regular fish food too.

 

[posiden]

Well I'm glad the idea was at least feasible. Yes Al, that's just about exactly what I had in mind. That looks like some nice work too. I mentioned this cause this is what I'm going to do to my new 20L. I'm going to try my hand at working with acrylic for the first time. (I think) I'm a bit intimidated. That's another thread though.
Flower,
I understand completely. That's why I apologized in the very beginning of my post. It was just another idea as a, maybe. Really nothing more. Sorry to throw things a skew.
Acrylic,
The shipping was my first thought after posting. The second was size, and weight.

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Posiden http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315034
. Yes Al, that's just about exactly what I had in mind. That looks like some nice work too. I mentioned this cause this is what I'm going to do to my new 20L. I'm going to try my hand at working with acrylic for the first time. (I think) I'm a bit intimidated. That's another thread though.
You can do it Posiden, just remember make all your pieces the same (ajoining sides) - you can cut this stuff with a table saw, jointer, router etc etc. The company I work for goes through a skid a month of acrylic. (no we don't manufacture aquariums, I did bring it up once though)

 

[posiden]

Ha,Ha. Al you post reminds me of Forest Gump. "C-mon Forest....You can do it!"

 

[al&burke]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Posiden http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315060
Ha,Ha. Al you post reminds me of Forest Gump. "C-mon Forest....You can do it!"
Run Forest Run - I loved that movie - life is like a tank full of corals, you will never know what you will get next.

 

[acrylic51]

Liability is probably more the issue as to why your company doesn't jump on the aquarium manufacturing......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Al&Burke http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315037

 

[2quills]

Hey, Flower...whenever you get time can you let me know how wide the plastic trim on the top of your tank is? No rush.
For reference purposes...the trim on this tank is 1 1/4" wide.

 

[acrylic51]

Posiden that is a nifty idea.....I've actually seen something of that idea custom built into a tank or the idea or thought of using it that way anyways!!!!! It's not really the weight issue, even though it isn't feather light, but your correct the shipping is killer!!!!!

At something that size your not actually paying for the weight, but the space it will take up as well, and it probably wouldn't be able to be shipped on the Parcel end because of box size requirements, so it would have to probably be shipped freight, which is a lot more expensive.....And I see the freight everyday, and that would be scary!!!!! I'm quite sure you will be able to handle the acrylic project....Pretty simple a key to it, is the same as this hobby??? Patience and prep work!!!!
Flower........

I would post some updates that you've been dying for, but it's getting late here, and I have to be in work at 4 am, but I'll leave you sleepless for a bit, but you'll have some eye candy to look at tomorrow night......I have to find my handy dandy acrylic scraper to round the edges over for the baffles....That is another small element missed a lot during the build, but having sharp straight edges produce a little more splash and noise vs, rounded over edges, so the water flows smoothly over and under..........
Al&Burke the acrylic work is nice as I had mentioned in an earlier post....Man imagine all of us insane fish people living in 1 town the same neighborhood!!!!!

Quote
Originally Posted by Posiden http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315034
Well I'm glad the idea was at least feasible. Yes Al, that's just about exactly what I had in mind. That looks like some nice work too. I mentioned this cause this is what I'm going to do to my new 20L. I'm going to try my hand at working with acrylic for the first time. (I think) I'm a bit intimidated. That's another thread though.
Flower,
I understand completely. That's why I apologized in the very beginning of my post. It was just another idea as a, maybe. Really nothing more. Sorry to throw things a skew.
Acrylic,
The shipping was my first thought after posting. The second was size, and weight.

 

[acrylic51]

Have we made a decision on the return pump as of yet? 2Quills I tried to send you a PM on my phone didn't work, but what skimmer are you planning on your setup?

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315108
Have we made a decision on the return pump as of yet? 2Quills I tried to send you a PM on my phone didn't work, but what skimmer are you planning on your setup?
On my build...the Super Reef Octopus 2000xp internal or the Tunze 9410.
I don't know, what do you think? Is it worth it to try something new or do you think it would be a safer bet to go with the Mag?

 

[acrylic51]

Ahhh nice skimmer choice...I seen a good deal on the 3000.....internal.....
I was leaving that call to Flower and you......Better yet we can punt the ball to her and let her make the call.....I can work with either one.....Remember budget!!!!!!! Skimmer being key here. Flower

Your call!!!!!!

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315115
Ahhh nice skimmer choice...I seen a good deal on the 3000.....internal.....
I was leaving that call to Flower and you......Better yet we can punt the ball to her and let her make the call.....I can work with either one.....Remember budget!!!!!!! Skimmer being key here. Flower

Your call!!!!!!

Shabbat Shalom Everyone!
I have $500.00, right now. If you want to wait another month (Nov.1st) I can up the budget another $200.00 ...I have other obligations besides my fish tank, so next month is not as open as this one. My money is budgeted to the penny. I was going to buy new sand..That's $100.00 I also have that right now...but going by what you guys were saying I need the sand.
I totally trust your decision on the skimmer. I have to date chosen 4 bad ones. You have been talking about shipping..that also has to come out of that budget, then there is the money you guys are out of pocket for odds and ends you didn't have just sitting around as extra parts. So do the best you can do, the idea you are doing this at all makes me overjoyed.
I can get on line during Shabbat but I'm afraid measuring is forbidden. So Corey I'm afraid you have to wait for the rim size on my tank until tomorrow night..
I love pictures!.....you get up for work at 4 am or BE THERE by then..

I thought I kept horrible hours.

Click here to add these cool Smileys to your emails for FREE!
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[acrylic51]

Nope Fridays I get off at 9:30pm and have to be back on the clock at 4:00am.... Rough way to end the week, but could be worse... Flower importance to me at this point is getting you back online!!! All the other misc we can deal with later. I have to dig through some parts boxes I have stashed for rainy days or emergencies. I have something else I'm looking at just have to make a couple calls for some items!!!!!
Flower I don't recall you mentioning precisely, an I know there was talk or conversation about you running poly pad or something of that nature? What is your position on that?

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315135
Nope Fridays I get off at 9:30pm and have to be back on the clock at 4:00am.... Rough way to end the week, but could be worse... Flower importance to me at this point is getting you back online!!! All the other misc we can deal with later. I have to dig through some parts boxes I have stashed for rainy days or emergencies. I have something else I'm looking at just have to make a couple calls for some items!!!!!
Flower I don't recall you mentioning precisely, an I know there was talk or conversation about you running poly pad or something of that nature? What is your position on that?

I want a healthy tank with the least amount of work...LOL
I am committed enough to do whatever it takes, like daily water changes but it ain't fun. The idea of a sump that just needs a healthy refugium, a skimmer and water flow is like a dream come true. I will run carbon because of coral wars. I never had any issues with phosphates, only nitrates. That doesn't mean it can't develope, Meowzer runs a sump and she has a phosphate issue but no mitrates.
So my possition is ...if I need to run it I will, if I might have to run it in the future I will plan on it. If don't need it and it can throw a monkey wrench into the works to put it in there...I won't.
I have never had a sump so I don't know anyting about them or how to service them. My only knowledge is of canister fiters, even the hang on the back has the same concept. You put media in and water flows, it has pads trapping the yuck, good bacteria feeds on the yuck and grows on the pads. The pads get clogged and they have to be rinsed or replaced.
This is what I thought you guys said to do... the skimmer traps the yuck and the rest the natural things in the tank feed off of it as water flows not too fast, but not too slow. Every week I have to clean a little sponge pad in the overflow and make sure the tubes are clean. Meowzer says to use a brush that snakes through the pipes, I saved the site on favorites to be able to get one. If I wanted to run carbon or phosban I could. However a pad would trap stuff and I would have nitrates again if I didn't change it daily and that it was unnecessary..

 

[2quills]

Personally, Flower...if you wanted to run some poly pad or filter floss in your bubble trap...or maybe even filter socks on your drains coming from the fuge into the return chamber, then I don't see any problems with that. My main concernes is that I just don't think they are needed on the drain lines coming into the sump or fuge. But running something after the skimmer and after the fuge would not be as big of an issue. Infact I think both could be helpfull in the way of a traping and breaking up any bubbles before they have a chance to make it to the pump. As long as they get cleaned regularly which I'm sure you would do than I don't see it being an issue...infact I may just do something like that myself on my own sump. I really think it just comes down to personal choice...if bubbles do become in issue then that would be an easy solution. But I still don't think they would be totally necissary as long as you're not going crazy and over feeding the tank too much. JMO

 

[flower]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/340#post_3315147
Personally, Flower...if you wanted to run some poly pad or filter floss in your bubble trap...or maybe even filter socks on your drains coming from the fuge into the return chamber, then I don't see any problems with that. My main concernes is that I just don't think they are needed on the drain lines coming into the sump or fuge. But running something after the skimmer and after the fuge would not be as big of an issue. Infact I think both could be helpfull in the way of a traping and breaking up any bubbles before they have a chance to make it to the pump. As long as they get cleaned regularly which I'm sure you would do than I don't see it being an issue...infact I may just do something like that myself on my own sump. I really think it just comes down to personal choice...if bubbles do become in issue then that would be an easy solution. But I still don't think they would be totally necissary as long as you're not going crazy and over feeding the tank too much. JMO

...When I thought it was a necessity I was looking at that polyfilter stuff Florida Joe mentioned, it says it means no running carbon and such, seemed perfect answer for a sump since it was in sheets. It is not the cheap stuff Meowzer was talking about so I couldn't afford to swap it out daily. LFS has it a little cheaper than what this site advertized. I think I would only use it if I had issues.

The POLY-FILTER is for filtering and purifying both fresh and salt water aquariums. It is a formulation of a special patented material bonded to a synthetic matrix. By means of a unique proprietary process, the POLY-FILTER is made impervious to salt and is also organic loving to certain materials. It can absorb and adsorb contaminants and other toxic materials found in nature or added to fresh and salt water with or without fish and invertebrates. Medication added to fresh and salt water aquariums for treatment of diseased fish will automatically be removed by the POLY-FILTER after serving their intended purpose before the medication can produce a toxic effect on the fish.
12" x 12" ~ $34.99
3.75" x 8.5" ~ $7.99
Discs 12pk ~ $35.99

 

[posiden]

I use the batting material from the fabric store. Its about 3/4-1" thick and is a lot less expensive then the Poly brand stuff. I myself think the batting polishes the water better. I used a small square of it right now and I change it out every other day.
Edit;
I did give the polyfill stuff a try. The stuff that Spanko posted about. I found it to almost disintegrate once it hit the water. I must not have used it in the right manner.