Pods and Co-Pods

njbluefish

njbluefish

Member
My sump has been up and running for about three weeks. I added LR and LS with anticipation of jump starting the sump with life. Now I have a great deal of pods and co-pods in the sump. My question is this....will the pods and co-pods pass through the foam block that is the last step in my sump filtration. Water flow is as follows: Pipe into sump....Refuge(lr,LS,alge).....foam block....protein skimmer.....Pump(return). Do I need the foam block....I just have it for some bio-filtration and to remove fine particles from the water. It appears if I do remove the block the pods will have more of a chance to get to the main tank.
Any thoughts would be much appriciated.
As always....Thanks!
NJBLUFISH
 
njbluefish

njbluefish

Member
Is the foam block needed? Without the water seems to have more fine particles in it. How does everyone else have their sumps set up??? Is there some kind of adjustment anyone can suggest?
 
silentshaw

silentshaw

Member
maybe if you move the block so it won't hinder the fuge's flow, and place it before or after the skimmer. a pic or diagram of your setup would help.
 
solonfairy

solonfairy

Member
get rid of all foam filters in your tank... they harbor waste and turn into nitrate-phosphate problems unless you soak and clean them weekly (which most people get lazy about)
and no... pods wont make it thru foam
the general thought amongst the experienced in the hobby is to increase flow to the point it keeps all waste suspended in the water column... then a strong skimmer can take all of the particles out.
you will need at least a 20x turnover rate to achieve this with upwards of 30x being even better... and a 100 dollar skimmer isnt gonna cut it.
if your foam block in your sump is blocking bubbles for ya, then you need to move the return pump to the complete opposite side of the sump as your skimmer/overflow drain... if you are still having bubbles, look into bubble-baffles
good luck
 
nitram

nitram

Member
mine is setup the oposite. My overfile boxdown to my sump with a skimmer in sump then into my refuge then into my return pump area. No bubbles this way. I do have to foam filters in my overflow boxon the lines, I have considered removing them. I think skimmer does need to be before the refugium area that way your return pump area is bubble free.
Here is a couple of pics of mine
 
njbluefish

njbluefish

Member
Thanks Nitram.....I will remove the foam block tonight. I am running a Mag pump 1200gph. and I do get most of the bioload to surface to the top of my sump. My nitrates are at 80ppm probably due to the foam block......we will see what happens. Will the pods and co-pods endure the force of the pump when they get sucked in? When I say I have pods...it is crazy how much these things have multiplied in just a few weeks.
Thanks for the pic's and info. Any other suggestions you have just pass them my way.
NJBLUEFISH
Mike
 
njbluefish

njbluefish

Member
If you remove the foam filters it increases the noise level.....just one thought. I have removed the foam and was forced to put it back in my overflow box. I have crafted a cover for my overflow box and that seems to work well.
Just a FYI for you.
 
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