Going to Order in the next three hours...need your help.

squidd

squidd

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cartman101
Squidd,
People have told me my filtration is not so good (emporer 400, turborflotor skimmer, and 2 power heads) so i need something else like this for extra filtration. What do u reccomend?
.
Lets loose the emperor... the Turbo is a fine skimmer for the price, I give you a couple simple mods for it...Two PHs is a start, if you do the sump (ala crimzy) that'll do if not add two more...
Here's My thoughts of filtration...
Large (adaquate) quantity of Live Rock and SSB for Biological filtration (suface area for Bacteria)...High Flow , distributed through out the tank to keep deitrus suspended and removed from MT,promote gaseous exchange and maintain oxygen levels...a Large sump and LARGER Fuge with Macros for malnutrient removal through export (denitrification) and a Killer Skimmer to remove Mass quantities of DOCs (organics) prior to decomposition...
With a well balanced system, no other "filtration devices" (bioballs/biomedia) are necessary...Other than the ability to run Chemical Media (carbon or phosphate removers) from time to time, best done in a Fluidized bed (or converted canister) type system...
Your 2/3 there...Go get a cheap 20 gallon tank or if your real low buck, you can do it by "nesting" rubbermaid tubs inside each other...

What size overflow do you have...?? That will help "size" the return pump...
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I dont know what size over flow it is. crimzy can u tell me what size it is? I have a rio 2500 will that work for the return pump, do i need bigger? Are Rios any good?
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
Originally Posted by Cartman101
I dont know what size over flow it is. crimzy can u tell me what size it is? I have a rio 2500 will that work for the return pump, do i need bigger? Are Rios any good?
Sorry but I don't know... I didn't buy the overflow new. Squidd may be able to estimate, it's a single u-tube that's about 1.5 inches in diameter. I think I used it with about a 1500 gph return pump.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
try using the pump you already have... you'll know pretty quick if it's too strong... the water level in the sump will go down.
 
crimzy

crimzy

Active Member
the overflow can slow down a little... if it's far too slow then you'll see the sump filling up.... just set it up and watch the water line for 10 minutes or so. You'll see if it stays constant.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Your Rio, depending on how we set it up to the tank, will push around 500-550gph to the tank...and that's a decent enough number to start with...
Will need a little more info on the overflow, but it sounds like it will handle it...
An undersized or over sized pump will not overflow the sump...they just flow slower or faster...an undersized pump will not hurt (flood or drain) your tank...only exception is a pump over sized to the overflow, which can overfill the tank...
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
A sump can only overflow only if more water is drained into it than is being pumped out...
The most common cause is in a "power out" situation...the back wash (water in tubes and drain down of main tank) is greater than the volume left in the sump...
Or if a back siphon is created in the return line, (again power out) allowing the MT to drain into the smaller sump area...
Both of which can be avoided thru anit-siphon measures and calculating for proper backwash volume when setting up sump system...
Having "too big" an overflow will not cause this as the overflow will only drain as much as is being pumped up...if it drains "faster" than the pump, the water level stops at the overflow lip and will not continue to drain to sump...
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I was just doing some calculating with my money about the sump. I just remember I need a new heater and a new bulb which is going to suck some money way from me
This is why I need that HOB fuge.....I have the money for something. When my birthday comes up in june I will ask for some money for the sump. I hope you all can see the picture. Plus I will be getting another job during the summer to make me some more money
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Yeah but....
You have the overflow...
You have the pump...
Rubbermaid tubs are like $5-$6 a pop...
Plumbing parts,pipe and hose maybe another #10-$12....
????? What's holding you back????? Compared to say the price of that HOB???
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
Some people told me my pump will not work and that i will need a slightly larger one. And I'm still frustrated with the plumbing, people say i need a ball valve, what is a ball valve and where does it go??????? Everyone shows their pics of their sumps they have all this plumbing stuff which makes me more confused. Maybe I will just ask the lfs to make me one....I really just dont know
I'm too fed up with all this sump stuff that its really stressing me out. I'm sorry. And I also have that fear of overflowing.
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
ok this sump thing is looking easy now after looking at melevsreef. Where does the tube that runs from the overflow go in the sump? Right above the water, in the water, what section?
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Where does the tube that runs from the overflow go in the sump?
To the overflow/drain chamber ...the first chamber in the sump...
Set about an inch deep in the water (water level set by return chamber baffles)
Overflow/drain chamber should be a smallish box about 6"x6" and open at the bottom to collect the "first" blast of bubbles from water flowing down drain line...
This chamber should be set in the "second" chamber...which is the skimmer chamber...sized to fit your skimmer fotprint...
From there water flows over and under baffles to return chamber where it is pumped back to tank...
At this point your RIO may be a bit small, but not too small to get started...somewhere down the line you can upgrade it to a faster pump that "matchs" your overflow capacity...
 
cartman101

cartman101

Active Member
I'm pissed. I took my overflow and placed it on that back side of my tank, and it doesn't fit! I mean i have a glass lid and the overflow is to wide its like i need to cut glass from my lid. BUT can i use the overflow on the side of the tank? :notsure: If I cant its not going to work at all, I spent $50 on getting the glass cut so that my skimmer would fit last time, not going to do it again.
 
squidd

squidd

Active Member
Lose the Lids..don't need them anyway...(unless you keeping an eel or "jumpers") and the open top will promote gaseous exchange and oxygenation...
 
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