Repost'n this Here to see if I can get some help. Opinions on my Sump / Fuge and Filtration.

texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
I know most everyones opinion on my choice of fish so please don't bother flame'n me on that. I'm more interested in your opinions of my sump and QT setup.
With the Ich glooming on the horizon I've got myself setup and ready for disaster relief! Many Many thank you's to Beth and Meowzer!!!! I have the two QT's setup with 2 filters each. Both have one small filter that is mesh and carbon and both have a larger filter that is stuffed with bio-balls. I've put a cup of sand (CC) in each and a shrimp to get the cycle to kick on each of them. Both are half new RO water and half DT water. Small powerheads are on the road for both of the QT's. When the Ich makes it's come back I'm going to use the water and filters from the 10gal and move them to a tote so the fish would have more room. The Lion and the Panther are good buddies so I'll put them in one and the two triggers are put in the other. If I've made a mistake or if this should be done differently please let me know.
My sump is a hybrid if you will. It was supposed to be all bio-balls, however, I've got the media out of my old Eheim Classic canister filter in half of the sump (since that media had all the "good" in it when the Eheim died). The other half of the sump is bio-balls. So here I am with the tank setup as a FOWLR tank and I would like opinions on how to move forward from here. I bought the 20 gallon tank with hopes of turning it into the fuge. I'm on hold till I get the Ich taken care of, at which point I hope to take it from a QT to a fuge. I've seen setups where the sump was not bio-balls but rubble and sand??
What are your opinions on how to move forward on the sump / fuge plan? All bio balls? Good as is with half Eheim media and half bio-balls?? Dump bio-balls and go all rubble and sand? Leave setup along just change the 20 to a fuge and go on (once ich is gone)?? Change sump to fuge and leave 20 as my QT???
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The idea of going with the sump as is or with LR and sand is what I'm learning toward. I'd then also like to kick off the fuge. From what I've read it can have everything my daughter wants and I cannot put in the DT. Think it would make for a nice surprise when I show under the tank to my family and friends. Daughter and Spouse want seahorses.......
 
teresaq

teresaq

Active Member
I cant really answer you questions, but can say most people dont use bio balls any more. just rubble and sand. You might get more responses in the DIY fourms.
I can tell you that seahorses will not work in a fuge under your current set up. Min tank size for lrg breed horses is 29 gal for one pair and temps need to be kept below 77 degrees with 74-75 being optimal. They need a self contained system all thier own. Stop by the seahorse forums for more info on them.
T
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
That is an awesome sized tank you have. To be totally honest with you I would move the two QT tanks from underneath and get yourself a good sized sump. I don't know if you are handy but your could build one or make one out of smaller tanks. A 20 gallon sump is a little on the small size and you said you want a fuge as well. You could use the 20 as a fuge. You might want to look into a 40 gallon for a sump at least. Just my opinion.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
TeresaQ: Good info, thank you very much!!!
Al&Burke: My sump is a 55, the 10 and the 20 are both QT's I'm strongly leaning towards turning the 20 into a fuge. I was looking at an over flow box for the future fuge (20 gallon) and not running it as an extension of the sump. Reason is I don't think I can get the water from the sump to the fuge without using a pump.
 
al&burke

al&burke

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas14Tom http:///forum/thread/387350/repost-n-this-here-to-see-if-i-can-get-some-help-opinions-on-my-sump-fuge-and-filtration#post_3407898
TeresaQ: Good info, thank you very much!!!
Al&Burke: My sump is a 55, the 10 and the 20 are both QT's I'm strongly leaning towards turning the 20 into a fuge. I was looking at an over flow box for the future fuge (20 gallon) and not running it as an extension of the sump. Reason is I don't think I can get the water from the sump to the fuge without using a pump.
All you have to do is make the fuge higher than the sump. You can split your drain line so some goes to sump and some to fuge. Then drain the fuge back to you sump (which is higher) That is how I run my system, except I have two separate drains one for sump and one for fuge.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
SWEET!!! I can easily raise the fuge and one overflow tube to the sump and one to the fuge. My Overflow is a two tube system and both drain into separate compartments of the sump. I guess it would make since to divide the drain from the overflow to the sump into two so the sump still had 2 working bays. then let the fuge dump into the pump side of the sump. That would be easy and I would have a minimum of work to do. Thank you very much!!!!! I'll look into this a bit more this afternoon!!
Oh and nice drawing's BTW!
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
True true Joe, I don't know how long it will be in the mix to be honest. I was in a panic to get them cycling before the Ich shows back up and it will not fit in there long ways. My plan is to put the water and the filters in a plastic tote when it is time to put my fish in there. Don't think two of my fish would make it a month or so in that 10gal...
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
It would make a great tank to grow frags and even if you do not have a reef tank you can sell them or you could use it to grow higher forms of algae for nitrate and phosphate harvesting
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
I think that 10g is fine for a QT. If you are able to see your fish underwater then you are able to detect any diseases they may have. You just have to pay attention to what you are looking at. Most breeding / aquaculture operations have tanks stacked up side by side on the long end - and you can easily tell the condition of the specimen. Just my $.02
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Now remember we are talking about the dimensions of a 10g tank
We are looking at a time frame to detect if anything is going on with our fish and the very short time the fish are exposed to our view looking through the side makes that observation very limited
Simple test go to your DT at look at it through the side and not the front and you tell me
 
snakeblitz33

snakeblitz33

Well-Known Member
Again, think of the dimensions of a 10g tank. A 10g tank is no longer then some aquariums are wide. The point is moot.
 
texas14tom

texas14tom

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by florida joe http:///forum/thread/387350/repost-n-this-here-to-see-if-i-can-get-some-help-opinions-on-my-sump-fuge-and-filtration#post_3408247
It would make a great tank to grow frags and even if you do not have a reef tank you can sell them or you could use it to grow higher forms of algae for nitrate and phosphate harvesting
Loving this idea!! I'll go do some research on how to accomplish this! Smallest thank I've ever owned was a 55gal, HOLY COW the 10 and 30 are super sensitive!!! My lack of skills in having an SW tank is better suited to the large tank! We'll see if I can get them stabilized!!! I'm learning the art of using a teaspoon now!!
 
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