Is my sump big enough

s.a. boy

s.a. boy

Member
Hi,
I have just purchased a second hand Tank.
I was at my local pet shop and he advised me that my sump may not be big enough to filter my tank effectively and that I should use UGF as well as the sump.
Tank Size 1300mm x 600mm x 500mm
Volume : +/- 400 Lt (105 gal)
Sump Size 1000mm x 300mm x 350mm
Volume : +/- 105 Lt (27 gal)
What do you Think?
What size pump should I use?
<img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />
 
D

diatom

Guest
Skip the UG filter all together. The sump will work fine. Set up a DSB if your setup allws for it...no sand sifting creatures like gobies or triggers.
 
marine qa

marine qa

Member
NuBoy,
DSB means Deep Sand Bed. The DSB is composed of LS (Live Sand) and must be 4-6 inches (103mm-254mm) deep. It is possible to start a DSB with some LS and some dead/dry sand and later all the sand will become live. The 4-6 inch depth ensures that levels of the LS are without oxygen, and protiens/wastes break down in these lower levels.
DSBs are great filters and require no maintanance. Here in the States, and in Europe, LS is sold with some water included to keep the organisms alive. Check with you LFS (Local Fish Store) an see what they have.
I believe your sump is plenty big enough, and I would certainly recomend a DSB if you can get the LS.
 
s.a. boy

s.a. boy

Member
Marine QA
Thanx for the advice, I have also been speaking to some LFS, the first one said that I shouldn't use a DSB because they are hard to maintain (I wasn't really convinced by him) and the other 2 LFS I've spoken to both say that I MUST have UGF if I have a DSB.
What do you think of what they have said?
I've also gone and bought myself a 2nd book to see what they say!
You Guys/Girls are the BOMB!
Thanx for the help(Now don't stop helping me)
 
johnnysalt

johnnysalt

Member
Again, like Diatom said...skip the UGF all together. Over time, it will build up crap that will lead to bad water quality. Use sand instead, trust us.
Originally posted by NuBoy:
<strong>Marine QA
the first one said that I shouldn't use a DSB because they are hard to maintain (I wasn't really convinced by him) and the other 2 LFS I've spoken to both say that I MUST have UGF if I have a DSB.
What do you think of what they have said?</strong><hr></blockquote>
In response to what your lfs guy said: That's a bunch of crap!
1. DSB's are so much easier to maintain....actually, there is NO maintenance at all! That's why we love em! With a UGF, you have to clean the crap out with a siphon hose...YUCK!....and the sand looks much better IMO.
2. It makes no sense that the other lfs would say that you HAVE to use a UGF in order to have a dsb...that's totally backwards! No ugf with a dsb!
If you can find anyone else in your area that has a saltwater tank with good water quality, I'd use some of their sand to "seed" your sand with. Unless of course if you can't/don't want to get live sand from the lfs.....if they even know what that is! I would be very nervous listening to ANY further advice from those people!
Keep asking us questions....we won't steer you wrong!
Your sump size is plenty big for your size tank. Other ppl have gotten away with even smaller...your lfs dorks are morons!
You asked about pump size....Do you have an overflow box or is your tank pre-drilled? Will your sump be below your tank or beside it? Do you have preference with having a submersible return pump or using an external one?
One more thing....change your username....say "no" to the newbie names!! :) You won't be a newbie for long taking advice here, then you'll wanna change your name, but then you'll lose your status!!
John
:cool:
 
s.a. boy

s.a. boy

Member
I've changed my name from Nuboy to S.A. Boy
I have an overflow box on my tank and my sump is below my tank and I have a AquaClear 802 PowerHead submersible pump in the sump and an AquaClear 301 Powerhead in my tank to circulate the water.
 
johnnysalt

johnnysalt

Member
So, S.A. Boy....is your sump running? How full are you keeping it? I agree with anthem, you need a stronger pump for your sump. Do you have a protein skimmer? If so, you can stick it in your sump with your heater, etc. so your tank will look nicer!
Email me some pics if you have em!
:cool:
 
von_rahvin

von_rahvin

Member
DSB are he way to roll, just throw a couple of cucs in there and they will keep that sand looking nice and pretty. :) remember to have a well balance system setup. you are going to need something like a mag 12 to drive your system. make sure you are not pumping too much water into the tank. also . . . this may mean that you need another overflow box. oyu should cyce the entire volume of you tank 4-6 times per hour through your sump and since you loos 50 GPH per vertical foot of travel ( i think that it is) and another 50GPH for each 90deg angle these are just somethings to remember
 
s.a. boy

s.a. boy

Member
Johnnysalt,
I'm setting the tank up 2morrow and starting the cycle I'll send you some pics as soon as I have some good ones. I don't have a protien skimmer yet but I will have one before I put my first fish in the water. My heater is in my sump and my protien skimmer will also be in my sump
Do you have any pic I could c?
 
marine qa

marine qa

Member
S.A. Boy,
We look forward to the pictures.
I would not follow any advice from that LFS before checking with others first. As you already know, there is allot of good information on this board and I often consult the members on this board before I do anything to my tank.
By the way, I was in Liverpool for my first time last week.
 
johnnysalt

johnnysalt

Member
Marine QA,
Do you still have that same sump? what is the approx gph through it?
If you remember, I patterned my first-run sump from yours! You're right about advice on this bb....you can quickly become more informed than an ignorant lfs guy!
What is your email addy?
John
:cool:
 
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