2quills
Well-Known Member
This is probably one of the best resources for researching sumps, ideas and plans. Mark has lots of pictures and instruction on how to DIY. http://www.melevsreef.com/links.html
I am extremely new and i could truly use a lot of help, thank you.
- Thread starter zerocool480
- Start date
deejeff442
Active Member
i have read through all the posts.of course most of you here know i have been doing this for a long time .i would be confused at all the info in here.yes its all correct but would be confusing to someone new.
imo i would just set up the 55 with 2-3 inches of sand ,50 lbs of lr ,get a couple of #3 koralia powerheads and a hang on penguin filter with the bio wheel,heater .
get it running and cycle it.if the op doesnt know about cycling you can search it on here easily.cycle it with the shrimp method.then in the mean time since it takes a few weeks to cycle you can research the corals you want down the road and find a light system for the tank.you dont need light for the rock or the cycling stage.then after it is cycled and you have the lights add a clean up crew like snails and a few shrimp.i dont like to have light on a tank when it is cycling since it just causes algae and serves no purpose since there is nothing in there.
then get a couple fish.and then you can start adding the extras like a sump and skimmer.
jmo
imo i would just set up the 55 with 2-3 inches of sand ,50 lbs of lr ,get a couple of #3 koralia powerheads and a hang on penguin filter with the bio wheel,heater .
get it running and cycle it.if the op doesnt know about cycling you can search it on here easily.cycle it with the shrimp method.then in the mean time since it takes a few weeks to cycle you can research the corals you want down the road and find a light system for the tank.you dont need light for the rock or the cycling stage.then after it is cycled and you have the lights add a clean up crew like snails and a few shrimp.i dont like to have light on a tank when it is cycling since it just causes algae and serves no purpose since there is nothing in there.
then get a couple fish.and then you can start adding the extras like a sump and skimmer.
jmo
zerocool480
New Member
Regardless if I cycle now and worry about the rest after the cycle I would truthfully like to be brought up to speed before I add a drop of water. I want no mistakes, this something ice been wanting to do forever and I refuse to start without the proper knowledge ya know. I do appreciate the idea and once I understand everything better and know how to set up everything and set it up very well then I'll do the cycling.
cryptics
Member
Welcome and congrats because you have found the right site. The community here is extremely helpful. Going through the process of setting up my first reef and reading this thread I think I see your confusion. Your main filter is your live rock. What you are basically doing by cycling your tank and using live rock/live sand is cultivate bacteria that eat the waste of your fish. That is most of your filtration. all else is to help that along. A sump increases your water volume (same bad chemical in 70g is a less concentration than in 55g) and gives you a place to put other helpful things.
You can add carbon to remove ammonia or a phosphate remover. That can be added either directly in a bag in the sump or in a reactor that works in your sump.
A Protein Skimmer is a good thing to have. Best description I ever heard was from someone here (I forget who sorry). If you watch waves crash against the beach and see the crap in the foam. That's what the skimmer does removes the foam.
A refugium. This is a place to grow macro algae. This would be eaten if in your display tank but since it is here it can grow freely. It also filters out waste which helps and allows things to grow (copepods) freely that your fish can use as food.
All those things in the sump are to help your live rock filter the waste. If you are going to put in basically nothing (that won't happen) in your display then you need nothing. You basically just have to figure out what you need to keep the balance.
Hope that helped
You can add carbon to remove ammonia or a phosphate remover. That can be added either directly in a bag in the sump or in a reactor that works in your sump.
A Protein Skimmer is a good thing to have. Best description I ever heard was from someone here (I forget who sorry). If you watch waves crash against the beach and see the crap in the foam. That's what the skimmer does removes the foam.
A refugium. This is a place to grow macro algae. This would be eaten if in your display tank but since it is here it can grow freely. It also filters out waste which helps and allows things to grow (copepods) freely that your fish can use as food.
All those things in the sump are to help your live rock filter the waste. If you are going to put in basically nothing (that won't happen) in your display then you need nothing. You basically just have to figure out what you need to keep the balance.
Hope that helped
btldreef
Moderator
Have you looked at Flower's sump build? Do you think it's something you can do? Honestly, sumps are very easy to make. I live in NY and found that the cost of acrylic to make the sump, vs buying one pre-made was just about the same. I actually bought a wet-dry sump and modded it to be a regular sump.
The general gist of what you're saying seems to sway me to believe that you want a clear cut do this, do that of what to do with your tank. Yes?
The general gist of what you're saying seems to sway me to believe that you want a clear cut do this, do that of what to do with your tank. Yes?
zerocool480
New Member
First off let me say, thank you VERY much cryptics for that entire explanation because I needed that, a more direct and straight forward this is how it is and this is how it works, truly thank you very much. On that note yes BTLDreef that's exactly what I was looking for if that's possibility and if it's not then I understand. And I did read flowers build and what happens to me when I start reading multiple people's ideas is I get confused but I do want this very very much don't get me wrong, it's just hard for me to focus with so many things I don't know then so many people saying different ways to do things. I know it shouldn't probably be this hard for someone to follow but I do and slightly embarrassing ha
zerocool480
New Member
I understand you can't give me links to other sites that sell stuff but what would be a good size and or brand to buy as far as the sump goes.
slice
Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by zerocool480 http:///forum/thread/385127/i-am-extremely-new-and-i-could-truly-use-a-lot-of-help-thank-you/20#post_3376599
I understand you can't give me links to other sites that sell stuff but what would be a good size and or brand to buy as far as the sump goes.
Re-read BTLD's post #12 above, she gives her recommendations of possible sumps.
Originally Posted by zerocool480 http:///forum/thread/385127/i-am-extremely-new-and-i-could-truly-use-a-lot-of-help-thank-you/20#post_3376599
I understand you can't give me links to other sites that sell stuff but what would be a good size and or brand to buy as far as the sump goes.
Re-read BTLD's post #12 above, she gives her recommendations of possible sumps.
zerocool480
New Member
Is there anything else that goes along with what I should know. As far as anything goes really.
cryptics
Member
Lighting is a whole other issue 
Do you have any idea what you are using? It has been mentioned before but you will need powerheads to move water around your tank (you can have the best filters ever but if crap sits on your sand decaying you will always have issues) Then you just have to decide what substrate to use and how much live rock. Most people will recommend sand because food and waste gets stuck in crushed coral and will always be a problem (I learned this one the hard way). Live rock most recommendations are 1-1.5lbs per gallon of water. To save money on live rock you can get base rock much cheaper and use some live rock to seed that. This is my plan on the build I am doing. I have 50lbs of base rock that I plan to put 50-60 lbs of live rock with (90g tank)
Do you have any idea what you are using? It has been mentioned before but you will need powerheads to move water around your tank (you can have the best filters ever but if crap sits on your sand decaying you will always have issues) Then you just have to decide what substrate to use and how much live rock. Most people will recommend sand because food and waste gets stuck in crushed coral and will always be a problem (I learned this one the hard way). Live rock most recommendations are 1-1.5lbs per gallon of water. To save money on live rock you can get base rock much cheaper and use some live rock to seed that. This is my plan on the build I am doing. I have 50lbs of base rock that I plan to put 50-60 lbs of live rock with (90g tank)
btldreef
Moderator
There are certain things that it's okay to cut costs on, such as using macro and base rock. This can also be safer, as you'll have no worries of bad little critters hitching a ride. NEVER skimp on equipment. You don't have to buy top of the line, but a good mid-range priced piece of equipment will work far better than the cheap knock off. A lot of equipment in this hobby falls under the rule of "you get what you pay for".
Using macro rock, making your own sump, these are ways to save. Buying the Chinese no-name skimmer off e-bay, it'll cost you in the end.
Using macro rock, making your own sump, these are ways to save. Buying the Chinese no-name skimmer off e-bay, it'll cost you in the end.
deejeff442
Active Member
i bought a cheap unit from the auction site 2 years ago it has 3 250 watt mh ,4 96watt compact and moonlights.it still works perfect.it holds the same bulbs :O)
it is 72 inches and a bit flimsy but works great.
but i wouldnt skimp on a skimmer or pump thats for sure.
it is 72 inches and a bit flimsy but works great.
but i wouldnt skimp on a skimmer or pump thats for sure.
T
tailgate1979
Guest
I would go with a sump. You need to think about getting a QT tank set up and going to. Welcome to the hobbie
