please help! Making a sump!

addicted2

addicted2

Member
ok...I need some suggestions.
I am setting up a 75 gal for (fish/coral/anenome)with 100 lbs LR/120 lbs sand tank.
I bought some stuff to start and need advice before actually diving in to do it to make sure I have the right stuff..etc..
I have an aqualight pro light 48" also.
ok..here goes...
I bought so far for the sump:
20 gal high tank
ASM mini G protein skimmer 250GPH
Mag drive pump 950GPH
oceanic sump biochamber
600 GPH continuous siphon overflow box
plumbing,PVC parts, and bio balls for biochamber.
Does anyone have any suggestions on if I should change anything? BEFORE I start siliconing and putting pieces together?
It's taken me a few months to finally get all these things and now I am ready to set up!
please! any help will be appreciated! :help:
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
Originally Posted by sign guy
have you thought about a fuge or a uv?
not really..the sump seemed a big undertaking for me..
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
I think they are just plastic..coralife.
I have read where you can use LR rubble too..what do you think?
 
sign guy

sign guy

Active Member
Originally Posted by addicted2
I think they are just plastic..coralife.
I have read where you can use LR rubble too..what do you think?
I have a thread going right now on that. as best i can figure its 6 of one and half a dozen of the other, although some people say lava rock is good
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
well. I have had a 29 gal set up for years..I have had good luck with it and only ever used HOB filtration and LR..sooo...
I plan on using some of the live rock and sand..and of course I have 100 lbs of LR in tubs waiting to go in the 75..
I was just going to wait it out before adding my 29's inhabitants.
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
how big of a tank do you have?
I have lots of money tied up in this thing and don't even have it set up yet! *LOL
I have been doing it in pieces..so not to charge.
I just want to make good decisions because this has been something i have wanted for a LONG time.
 
sign guy

sign guy

Active Member
I feel your pain. I have a 46 now and I am starting to buy for a 125 that I will set up next year
 
rustyj

rustyj

Member
I would consider making the 20 gal a fug instead, you have more than enough rock and sand for the biological process, bioballs just make it happen faster, too fast and spikes your nitrates. If you allow the rock and sand to do there job you will save yourself some water and time. The fuge only needs some lighting (not much), sand plenum does well (this is just a 1/2in to 1in space for water under 1or 2inches of sand without a powerhead), and some macro algae and that is pretty much it. You could use some sort of mechanical filter before the tank water gets to the fuge but that would be all you would need. It would remove nitrates and excess nutrients from the macro algae, and from the plenum (nitrates) and you would have a place to grow copods and such or you could use it as a quarantine if you needed too and it would be set up already. Anyway, my 135 has about 50 lbs of live rock and coral skeletons in it 2inches of live sand and a protein skimmer. I also have to hang ons but only use them for carbon and phoshate, the biowheels have been removed and my tank is stable. Good luck, but remember natures way is always the best way.
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
Originally Posted by RustyJ
I would consider making the 20 gal a fug instead, you have more than enough rock and sand for the biological process, bioballs just make it happen faster, too fast and spikes your nitrates. If you allow the rock and sand to do there job you will save yourself some water and time. The fuge only needs some lighting (not much), sand plenum does well (this is just a 1/2in to 1in space for water under 1or 2inches of sand without a powerhead), and some macro algae and that is pretty much it. You could use some sort of mechanical filter before the tank water gets to the fuge but that would be all you would need. It would remove nitrates and excess nutrients from the macro algae, and from the plenum (nitrates) and you would have a place to grow copods and such or you could use it as a quarantine if you needed too and it would be set up already. Anyway, my 135 has about 50 lbs of live rock and coral skeletons in it 2inches of live sand and a protein skimmer. I also have to hang ons but only use them for carbon and phoshate, the biowheels have been removed and my tank is stable. Good luck, but remember natures way is always the best way.

ultimately, that is what I wanted..I too believe that the more natural you can go the better...I have seen people on here say that with enough live rock, sand and so on..all you really need is a protein skimmer...I don't have a problem with doing a refugium..and the added place for copepods sounds great! (a manderine goby has been on my wish list for a long time)..but I am not sure how to and make it right. I bought an ASM skimmer that I want to use. I would like to put whatever I can under the cabinet. If I skip the sump and do a refugium...how do i house the skimeer?..diagrams?..suggestions?..I want to
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
Originally Posted by My Way
What's with all the sump questions from everyone all of a sudden? :thinking:
I posted a pic of a sump/fuge I built for a friend here. (people are going to get tired of me sending links to this page as this is the third time I've done it in 2 days)
https://www.saltwaterfish.com/vb/showthread.php?t=231366
That looks great..thanks. Is a 20 high big enough for this? I have about 100# of live rock for the 75 gal tank. it has been in tubs for over a month and doing fine. i think I am goingto try and leave out the bioballs/trickle thing and just do a skimmer. sound ok? I could put the skimmer first, fuge, then return..should i be concerned about bubbles? if so, how do you cut them down in the return chamber?
 
addicted2

addicted2

Member
Originally Posted by RustyJ
I would consider making the 20 gal a fug instead, you have more than enough rock and sand for the biological process, bioballs just make it happen faster, too fast and spikes your nitrates. If you allow the rock and sand to do there job you will save yourself some water and time. The fuge only needs some lighting (not much), sand plenum does well (this is just a 1/2in to 1in space for water under 1or 2inches of sand without a powerhead), and some macro algae and that is pretty much it. You could use some sort of mechanical filter before the tank water gets to the fuge but that would be all you would need. It would remove nitrates and excess nutrients from the macro algae, and from the plenum (nitrates) and you would have a place to grow copods and such or you could use it as a quarantine if you needed too and it would be set up already. Anyway, my 135 has about 50 lbs of live rock and coral skeletons in it 2inches of live sand and a protein skimmer. I also have to hang ons but only use them for carbon and phoshate, the biowheels have been removed and my tank is stable. Good luck, but remember natures way is always the best way.
Rusty, I am not sure what you mean by "this is just a 1/2in to 1in space for water under 1or 2inches of sand without a powerhead)"
If I set up this fuge..could i do it simply..like water in-protein skimmerchamber/baffle/fuge/baffle/pump water back up???
 
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