OK, so Im not new but.... New to sumps...

seeinstars89

seeinstars89

Member
I am not a new hobbyist. I had my other salt tank for about 5 years until it broke. In that tank I just had 2 Fluvals and a UV sterilizer.
We have this new 140 acrylic tank and we are doing a sump system in it and I dont know exactly how it should work. It has one hole in the bottom of it in the tank thing in the back and we plumbed that going into the sump area where it filters though a sponge into bio balls. From there it goes into the other part of the sump where it gets picked up by the uv pump and the return pumps.
The sump is a piece that someone else gave us and I am kind of in a toss up wether or not we should be using it with the bio balls or not. Everything I have read says that with a FOWLR tank that you dont really need them... But if I already have them should I keep them or tank them out?
The way its plumbed right now its very noisy and if I have enough rock should I just get rid of them? And I plan on getting a protein skimmer because everyone says this is a good idea, I would like to do a refugium because I have read that they are good but dont know if its worth it if I am not doing a reef tank?
Here is a picture of the set up so you guys can see what I am talking about. Let me know if you have any input on my system.
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
refugiums are good because they house macroalgae that absorb nutrients. it's an excellent way to export nutrients. i'd say it's a good idea.
if i was you, i'd remove those bio balls and put your skimmer in there, and/or a refugium.
where were you planning to put your skimmer anyway?
 
seeinstars89

seeinstars89

Member
Well I believe that the way it was set up before was the skimmer sat in the right side of the sump (behind the wood brace)? I would like to do a refug. but I dont know where I would fit it or how I would make the sump into a refug. Maybe I should draw a picture of it so you can see how its set up....
 
mr_x

mr_x

Active Member
well, you may not have room for one. there are a couple options- you can glue in partitions to make separate compartments for the skimer and refugium.
you can plumb in another tank to be an in-line refugium, between this wet/dry and the return pump.
you can utilize a HOB style refugium, and just toss a nice sized skimmer in this wet/dry and call it a day.
 
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