Gearing up to rebuild: 125g
- Thread starter reefkprz
- Start date
reefkprz
Active Member
random photo from my sump. I'm sure a lot of people don't understand a benthic sump so brief explanation first. what I have done is stacked a bunch of egg crates to make a very tight racking system that breaks up and slows flow as well as creates a lot of surface area for little pieces of life to attach to.
in this photo you can see how multitudes of micro dusters are starting to spread through the racking system making a natural mechanical filter. there are a few sponges starting to develop too though I cant get any good angles on them. the hope is to use the benthic zone to provide all sorts of natural filtration. I still need a bunch more rubble rock to load the sump up with. the "sand" in the bottom isnt actually sand its the crushed up tubes of micro dusters from me bashing around in the sump. I dont fret to much about killing of a couple dozen on accident as some may just move and set up a new tube and the rest become food for other benthic organisms and scavangers in the sump. I do need to add a couple hermits to the sump to scavange but thats in the future. I dont feel there is enough fauna down there yet to support the crabs.
if you click the image it gets bigger and easier to see.
in this photo you can see how multitudes of micro dusters are starting to spread through the racking system making a natural mechanical filter. there are a few sponges starting to develop too though I cant get any good angles on them. the hope is to use the benthic zone to provide all sorts of natural filtration. I still need a bunch more rubble rock to load the sump up with. the "sand" in the bottom isnt actually sand its the crushed up tubes of micro dusters from me bashing around in the sump. I dont fret to much about killing of a couple dozen on accident as some may just move and set up a new tube and the rest become food for other benthic organisms and scavangers in the sump. I do need to add a couple hermits to the sump to scavange but thats in the future. I dont feel there is enough fauna down there yet to support the crabs.
if you click the image it gets bigger and easier to see.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
So... I like the idea, but how do you handle detritus build up in the sump? I mean, what happens when it gets to be so much that it's too much for your benthic creatures to handle?
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bullitr http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474305
Looks good
I wish I could buy some Caulerpa from you.
It's a great macro algae but illegal in California.
I thought it was only caulerpa toxifolia that is illegal in California? I didn't know all caulerpa was outlawed. Interesting.
Originally Posted by bullitr http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474305
Looks good
I wish I could buy some Caulerpa from you.
It's a great macro algae but illegal in California.
I thought it was only caulerpa toxifolia that is illegal in California? I didn't know all caulerpa was outlawed. Interesting.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Ah, I didn't know that. Thanks.
reefkprz
Active Member
So... I like the idea, but how do you handle detritus build up in the sump? I mean, what happens when it gets to be so much that it's too much for your benthic creatures to handle?
ONce the mulm build up gets too bad I'll just lift the racks out and put them in a rubbermaid tote of water for a minute and do a 100% waterchange on the sump and suck it all out. then place the racks back in. BUT the sludge build up is essential for the benthic life so I cant keep it too clean because there are tons of life forms that live in the sludge. right now I dont have nearly enough sludge I was thinking of helping it along by adding some mineral mud to the bottom of the sump under the racks. in a shallow rubbermaid or something. its still an Idea I am processing the pro's and cons of.
ONce the mulm build up gets too bad I'll just lift the racks out and put them in a rubbermaid tote of water for a minute and do a 100% waterchange on the sump and suck it all out. then place the racks back in. BUT the sludge build up is essential for the benthic life so I cant keep it too clean because there are tons of life forms that live in the sludge. right now I dont have nearly enough sludge I was thinking of helping it along by adding some mineral mud to the bottom of the sump under the racks. in a shallow rubbermaid or something. its still an Idea I am processing the pro's and cons of.
reefkprz
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by bullitr http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474305
Looks good
I wish I could buy some Caulerpa from you.
It's a great macro algae but illegal in California.
thats a bummer. due to its invasive nature I can understand why they outlawed it. due to irresponsible aquarists.... I go through great effort to make sure I kill any I harvest if I cant pass it off to other people. there is no evidence it could luive up here in maine but I dont want to be the guy to prove that wrong.
Originally Posted by bullitr http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474305
Looks good
I wish I could buy some Caulerpa from you.
It's a great macro algae but illegal in California.
thats a bummer. due to its invasive nature I can understand why they outlawed it. due to irresponsible aquarists.... I go through great effort to make sure I kill any I harvest if I cant pass it off to other people. there is no evidence it could luive up here in maine but I dont want to be the guy to prove that wrong.
snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474327
ONce the mulm build up gets too bad I'll just lift the racks out and put them in a rubbermaid tote of water for a minute and do a 100% waterchange on the sump and suck it all out. then place the racks back in. BUT the sludge build up is essential for the benthic life so I cant keep it too clean because there are tons of life forms that live in the sludge. right now I dont have nearly enough sludge I was thinking of helping it along by adding some mineral mud to the bottom of the sump under the racks. in a shallow rubbermaid or something. its still an Idea I am processing the pro's and cons of.
Ok, ...
So, the build up of detritus isn't contributing to any nitrate and phosphate readings?
Originally Posted by reefkprZ http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474327
ONce the mulm build up gets too bad I'll just lift the racks out and put them in a rubbermaid tote of water for a minute and do a 100% waterchange on the sump and suck it all out. then place the racks back in. BUT the sludge build up is essential for the benthic life so I cant keep it too clean because there are tons of life forms that live in the sludge. right now I dont have nearly enough sludge I was thinking of helping it along by adding some mineral mud to the bottom of the sump under the racks. in a shallow rubbermaid or something. its still an Idea I am processing the pro's and cons of.
Ok, ...
So, the build up of detritus isn't contributing to any nitrate and phosphate readings?
reefkprz
Active Member
the general idea is the life forms down there will be processing most of the waste rendering it moot in conjunction with the algae screen, protien skimmer, macro algaes, DSB, and waterchanges. its just another aspect of filtration. sort of like this
fish food gets eaten by the fish, they remove 25% of the nutrition fom it pooing it back out to become coral and micro-organism food if its not removed by the skimmer, that which breaks down to nitrate should be eliminated by the turf screen and DSB. and the macro algaes should eventually (when I have a large enough amount) consume the leftover nitrates and phosphates. the micro organisms reconsume the foods several times depending on their place in the food chain. feathers and sponges (as well as silicates, the sponges) consume small particle removing another percentage of the nutrition pooing out the remainder which falls down as snow to become worm food or pod food. there are so many micro organisms that I hope to draft into service in the consumption race. The theory is the more times food gets consumed and processed the more actual nutrition gets removed from it leaving less end waste overall to be removed by other means of filtration.
please note this is my first experiment with this style sump so I am not gauranteeing it will work any better than your standard fuge style sump. but the theory is fairly sound. lets see how it works out in practice.
fish food gets eaten by the fish, they remove 25% of the nutrition fom it pooing it back out to become coral and micro-organism food if its not removed by the skimmer, that which breaks down to nitrate should be eliminated by the turf screen and DSB. and the macro algaes should eventually (when I have a large enough amount) consume the leftover nitrates and phosphates. the micro organisms reconsume the foods several times depending on their place in the food chain. feathers and sponges (as well as silicates, the sponges) consume small particle removing another percentage of the nutrition pooing out the remainder which falls down as snow to become worm food or pod food. there are so many micro organisms that I hope to draft into service in the consumption race. The theory is the more times food gets consumed and processed the more actual nutrition gets removed from it leaving less end waste overall to be removed by other means of filtration.
please note this is my first experiment with this style sump so I am not gauranteeing it will work any better than your standard fuge style sump. but the theory is fairly sound. lets see how it works out in practice.
reefkprz
Active Member
although at this point I am pretty disapointed at the extremely slow growth of my algae screen. I may eliminate it altogether and run with straight macro algaes in the sump after the benthic zone. this is something else I am kicking around. I need to get my hands on a massive wad of cheato I think for my sump.
rickross23
Active Member
What part of the sump is the skinner in if you have that refuge thing? The beginning of it?
reefkprz
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474368
As new as the system is do you think there are enough nutrients right now to get the screen to really take off?
the red slime is showing there are plenty available since I used old dirty sand. also thats why I said I was debating it. I'll give it some time if I come across a load of cheato I'll add it as well. I havent really made any concrete decisions yet. I'm going to take it slow and give the screen its chance. I'm not 100% sure I have enough light on it. I may add another bu;lb to it and see if that helps. I would Ideally likje to set up a solar powered algae screen but thats further down the road I have some ideads but nothing has come to fruition yet.
Originally Posted by spanko http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474368
As new as the system is do you think there are enough nutrients right now to get the screen to really take off?
the red slime is showing there are plenty available since I used old dirty sand. also thats why I said I was debating it. I'll give it some time if I come across a load of cheato I'll add it as well. I havent really made any concrete decisions yet. I'm going to take it slow and give the screen its chance. I'm not 100% sure I have enough light on it. I may add another bu;lb to it and see if that helps. I would Ideally likje to set up a solar powered algae screen but thats further down the road I have some ideads but nothing has come to fruition yet.
reefkprz
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474354
What part of the sump is the skinner in if you have that refuge thing? The beginning of it?
the drtop from the tank is on the far right side of my sump the pick up for the skimmer is anout 5 inches from the drop pipe. then the water flows through the benthic area, and goes to the algae screen powerhead and return pump. its all open ( no baffles ) so there is no forced flow in the sump or specific direction water must take.
Originally Posted by rickross23 http:///t/390234/gearing-up-to-rebuild-125g/160#post_3474354
What part of the sump is the skinner in if you have that refuge thing? The beginning of it?
the drtop from the tank is on the far right side of my sump the pick up for the skimmer is anout 5 inches from the drop pipe. then the water flows through the benthic area, and goes to the algae screen powerhead and return pump. its all open ( no baffles ) so there is no forced flow in the sump or specific direction water must take.
rickross23
Active Member
Hmmm. Tell me how that style of dump works out in the long run.
reefkprz
Active Member
I added a second clip light over my algae screen and noticed the bottom of the sheet (below water level) had NO algae growth at all on it while the part in the air has some. I looked closer and saw hundreds of pods swarming all over the lower section of screen. seems its a good pod feeder.