Flower's Sump/Fuge Build

acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
The cup isn't the real concern about being clean for the skimmer to perform. It is the neck of the skimmer that has to be kept clean to be at it's peak. It's important to empty the cup, but if the neck of the skimmer hunks up, your "gunk" will never make it into the cup. Very time you pull the cup wipe the neck down. That is why after cleaning you don't see a skimmer at it's max. The neck had to build up a bit of slime coat. Just real small adjustment on the skimmer.
They actually do make automatic wipers to keep the skimmers running peak, that clean the neck and such.
I thought I read somewhere that you could use carbon or something??? To cut down on smell. Not sure where I saw it at, but I'm pretty sure if we'd google it, we'd find something.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Monsinour http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1640#post_3339922
the little floaty bits are fine and normal when you run a sump without a filter sock. I had a sock on my setup for a while and had the clear water. I liked it lots. Then 2Q advised me that I was "starving" portions of the tank and sump as those little floaty bits is what they feed on. I took the filter sock off and I now have little floaty bits in the tank. I dont mind knowing that I have something eating those floaty bits.
The smell is normal and the foam as suggested would work to reduce the smell. About the only other thing I can think of is adding carbon in a high flow area in the sump to help reduce the smell. I only smell my tank when I open the door to the sump and that is only when I do tests, or feed the flakes.

Yes, it only has a smell when I stick my head in the door...LOL..yes I do that.
The floaty things are not many..but the critters eat it? How do I add carbon to a sump without creating a place for bacteria to grow or hoard nitrates?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Forgot to mention Flower.... If you want to try to quiet it down a bit more try raising the water level just a hair on the return side.
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by Flower http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3339928

Yes, it only has a smell when I stick my head in the door...LOL..yes I do that.
The floaty things are not many..but the critters eat it? How do I add carbon to a sump without creating a place for bacteria to grow or hoard nitrates?
Flower....when I had to run extra carbon, I added it to a filter bag, and placed it in the sump where water would run thru it
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3339929
Forgot to mention Flower.... If you want to try to quiet it down a bit more try raising the water level just a hair on the return side.

I'm very happy with things just like it is...except I want my refugium up and going. I also want to build a sump/fuge out of a 30g I have to go with another 30g tank in my office/bedroom.. I have been corrupted.
Are we suing UPS? I still have the pictures and the evidence. It's Tuesday...did they pay you yet?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Sounds good Flower. I've been over to the magistrates office already, and I know they have contacted them, haven't heard from magistrate yet. Welcome to sump world!!!! I like the water sound myself as well!!!!
 
slice

slice

Active Member
Yes, it only has a smell when I stick my head in the door...LOL..yes I do that.
that reminds me of that old Jeff Foxworthy skit about how men appreciate and share the most disgusting smells:
"Hey Shawn! smell this!"
"BLEEHHHCH!! thats the most disgusting thing I have ever....here, lemme smell that again...BLEEHHHHCHH!!!! Hey Al, come smell this!"
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
You could run a filter sock right after a water change to clear things up a little quicker and then pull it. I'm anal about clarity, buy socks do catch alot of food, but you could shut your main pump down for 10 minutes during feeding and then fire the pumps back up.
I read somewhere that Monsinour had suggested running carbon? Very good idea, but more efficient if you run it in a small reactor that way it's all being used instead of just 1 side of it.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slice http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3339945
Yes, it only has a smell when I stick my head in the door...LOL..yes I do that.
that reminds me of that old Jeff Foxworthy skit about how men appreciate and share the most disgusting smells:
"Hey Shawn! smell this!"
"BLEEHHHCH!! thats the most disgusting thing I have ever....here, lemme smell that again...BLEEHHHHCHH!!!! Hey Al, come smell this!"
Courtesey sniff
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3339952
You could run a filter sock right after a water change to clear things up a little quicker and then pull it. I'm anal about clarity, buy socks do catch alot of food, but you could shut your main pump down for 10 minutes during feeding and then fire the pumps back up.
I read somewhere that Monsinour had suggested running carbon? Very good idea, but more efficient if you run it in a small reactor that way it's all being used instead of just 1 side of it.
What is a reactor?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
A reactor is just a small vessel to house media instead of nylon bags. If you google Twolittlefishes reactor, Kent, BRS ha them as well. You put media; be it carbon, phos remover or GFO, and water is forced through the media instead of allowing water to run over or around. Running media this way is called the "active" mode rather than running it in bags and just placing it in the sump. Running actively you utilize the media more efficiently.
The reactor had 2 ports; an in an out. Flow is regulated into the reactor, through the media an then out the exit port back to the sump. Pretty simple , but effective.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Your correct Jstdv8 she could throw some carbon in there, but don't need mad flow through the canister as it would push unless the pump can be slowed down????
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3340010
Your correct Jstdv8 she could throw some carbon in there, but don't need mad flow through the canister as it would push unless the pump can be slowed down????

I don't like my canister, we are not on good terms since it turned on me..I would rather stand on the side of the tank and manually dip a sock full of carbon than pull that sucker out.
In the past if I had a situation, I would place carbon in a nylon and drape it over the center brace in front of a power head. Can't I make the same kind of double sock and drape it over the baffles in the sump?
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
:laughing: a converted canister user!!!!:laughing: yes Flower you could do that. Another good place would be in the bubble tower where all the water comes in.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/380517/flower-s-sump-fuge-build/1660#post_3340037
a converted canister user!!!!
yes Flower you could do that. Another good place would be in the bubble tower where all the water comes in.

Did you read what happened that last day?
I had this plan to remove the canister filters from under the stand and set them on the side. I removed the first canister and was reattaching the hose…apparently I pulled too tight and the hose came loose from the rim…water went everywhere, I tried to break the siphon and had not realized I had zip tied the intake and output tubes from both canisters together, they had been like that for years. Well I landed up with all four hose flaying around spraying me in the face water going everywhere emptying my tank as I fought for control….I ripped the tubes out in a crazy frenzy, cutting my hand…I don’t know how.
There I stood..dripping…out of breath…shaking and bleeding. My carpet soaked, the tank water 1 inch down (in my 90g that’s about 3 gallons) That was the day I installed the sump…They turned on me and I packed them in boxes…there they shall remain until I give them away.
Now that it's over I can laugh but not at that moment...I was so upset.
 
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