snakeblitz33
Well-Known Member
Snake's Methods for Setting up and Aquarium with a Sump
Welcome to the wonderful world of Saltwater Aquariums! If you are reading this, you are probably thinking about setting up a saltwater aquarium. It's easy, fun, and very rewarding. There are a few things that you should know about the hobby. For starters, it can get kind of expensive, but the rewards are vast. The wonders and thrills of the ocean can be brought into your livingroom, and shared with your family, friends, and guests. So, anxious to get started? Here we go. This is a method that has worked for me for a long time. I, unfortunately, will not go in to detail about brands and types of equipment you should get. That is reserved for other articles.
Obtain all of your sand (if any), a few pieces of base rock, and live rock. Place the base rock down on the glass bottom first. This provides a solid foundation for your live rock to sit on. Then, pour your sand over the top of your base rock. By doing this, if you get any sand sifting fish or inverts, they won't make your liverock shift around in your tank without your permission. Next, add your live rock on top of it. Aquascape as you see fit. Aquascape means to adjust your live rock into caverns, holes, dips, loops, swirls, whatever you want. Place a small plate inside of your aquarium.
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Pour your saltwater onto the plate to keep the sand from being stirred up tremendously. Keep aiming for the plate until the tank is filled.
[*]
Install your return pump into the correct chamber of your sump and connect it to your return plumbing via PVC Union or Vinyl hose with a hose barb and clamp.
For an external overflow, use an airline tube to siphon the air out of the Utube(s) in the external overflow to get the siphon started. Saltwater has to be poured into a cup, and the first chamber with the Utube has to be filled with saltwater before your can start your siphon. This does not apply to internal overflows.
For an internal overflow, re-check that your bulkheads have been installed properly, with the gaskets two rings facing the glass, and the nut only hand tightened. Making a complete seal ensures your aquarium will not leak.
Pour saltwater into your sump a little over half way up the sump. Have extra saltwater on hand to add to your sump as necessary to keep your pump running wet. Turn on your powerheads, and heater. Make sure you have read all of the instructions to your skimmer before plugging it in. Make sure your entire plumbing system is completed and the cement is dry before plugging in your return pump.
Turn on your return pump and immediately check for any leaks in your plumbing. Watch the water level in your sump to make sure the pump isn't going to run dry. Water will start to run into your overflow(s). Make sure that your overflow plumbing is not leaking. Add enough saltwater to your sump to cover the pump's intake by 4”. Mark this your minimum fill line.
Turn your return pump off and watch the sump fill up. Make sure the sump will not overflow when the return pump is off. You will have to drill a couple of holes in your return pipe at the water level of the display tank so that air can be sucked in to stop the return pipe from siphoning water out of the aquarium. Two 1/8” holes are generally recommended. Just in case a snail decides to park over the hole at the worst possible moment, you will have a backup hole to stop the siphon.
[*]
With a tape measure, or some accurate fingers, measure the amount of water that filled the sump. Then, start 1” from the top of the sump, and mark your bottom finger (or bottom measurement.) This will be your “Maximum” fill line. That means, do not go over this line or else when your return pump stops, your sump will overflow. I like 1” of wiggle room, while others prefer a lot more. You can adjust the 1” to however many inches you feel necessary.
[*]
Turn your return pump back on and keep it on. Let everything run and check for leaks for the next few days. Add saltwater to your sump half way between the minimum fill line and the maximum fill line. Mark this line as “standard.” I try to keep my tanks topped off as close to the “standard” as possible.
Add your lights over the top of your tank, and make sure they are on a light timer for no longer than 8 hours per day.
Add a small piece of raw shrimp from the grocery store to the tank, to get your first “cycle” started.
Now is a good opportunity to start reading, researching, and getting to know saltwater aquariums more. Read a few good books, starting with “The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner. If you are looking into getting some corals, I highly suggest reading “Aquarium Corals, Selection, Husbandry and Natural History by Eric Borneman. There are also a couple of guide books that you should obtain on marine fishes and marine invertebrates that will come in handy for future reference. Also, now is the time to find some message boards that you feel comfortable in and start asking questions to things that you haven't found the answers to. This is a very rewarding hobby, and it's definitely something worth sticking to.
There is a method for choosing the right pump to the right overflow box. That is mainly a brand name and output question, which I will not discuss. I just wanted to note that not just any return pump will do for any overflow box. Ask around for more information!
If you would like to read more of my articles and threads, please visit this link: Snake's Methods.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Saltwater Aquariums! If you are reading this, you are probably thinking about setting up a saltwater aquarium. It's easy, fun, and very rewarding. There are a few things that you should know about the hobby. For starters, it can get kind of expensive, but the rewards are vast. The wonders and thrills of the ocean can be brought into your livingroom, and shared with your family, friends, and guests. So, anxious to get started? Here we go. This is a method that has worked for me for a long time. I, unfortunately, will not go in to detail about brands and types of equipment you should get. That is reserved for other articles.
Look at some different types of aquariums and decide what LIVESTOCK you want to keep. Pick out some pretty fish and if you want, coral, and then ask a forum/ message board about the livestock you want. Ask if it is all compatible, ask what size and type of aquarium you will need. Once you know that, then you can start budgeting.
Start a budget. If you don't already have a budget drawn up, start looking at some of the stuff you will need to invest in. Keep in mind that you will need an aquarium, a sump, a return pump, a filter, a protein skimmer, live rock and live sand. You will also need a stand to put it on, and something to light it up with. This does not include all of the basic maintenance equipment. Basically, once you know your livestock, figure out what equipment and tank you need and go from there.
Decide where your new tank will go, if you haven't already. The best place to put an aquarium is in a room that you spend the most time in. The best position in that room is where it meets these conditions: A: It has to be out of direct sunlight. B: It has to be out of direct air conditioning. C: It has to be set on a steady, solid floor to account for weight. Saltwater weighs 8.2 pounds per gallon!
Obtain saltwater. Either mix it yourself in a separate container or buy it from your live fish store.
Obtain all of your sand (if any), a few pieces of base rock, and live rock. Place the base rock down on the glass bottom first. This provides a solid foundation for your live rock to sit on. Then, pour your sand over the top of your base rock. By doing this, if you get any sand sifting fish or inverts, they won't make your liverock shift around in your tank without your permission. Next, add your live rock on top of it. Aquascape as you see fit. Aquascape means to adjust your live rock into caverns, holes, dips, loops, swirls, whatever you want. Place a small plate inside of your aquarium.
[*]
Pour your saltwater onto the plate to keep the sand from being stirred up tremendously. Keep aiming for the plate until the tank is filled.
[*]
Install your return pump into the correct chamber of your sump and connect it to your return plumbing via PVC Union or Vinyl hose with a hose barb and clamp.
For an external overflow, use an airline tube to siphon the air out of the Utube(s) in the external overflow to get the siphon started. Saltwater has to be poured into a cup, and the first chamber with the Utube has to be filled with saltwater before your can start your siphon. This does not apply to internal overflows.
For an internal overflow, re-check that your bulkheads have been installed properly, with the gaskets two rings facing the glass, and the nut only hand tightened. Making a complete seal ensures your aquarium will not leak.
Pour saltwater into your sump a little over half way up the sump. Have extra saltwater on hand to add to your sump as necessary to keep your pump running wet. Turn on your powerheads, and heater. Make sure you have read all of the instructions to your skimmer before plugging it in. Make sure your entire plumbing system is completed and the cement is dry before plugging in your return pump.
Turn on your return pump and immediately check for any leaks in your plumbing. Watch the water level in your sump to make sure the pump isn't going to run dry. Water will start to run into your overflow(s). Make sure that your overflow plumbing is not leaking. Add enough saltwater to your sump to cover the pump's intake by 4”. Mark this your minimum fill line.
Turn your return pump off and watch the sump fill up. Make sure the sump will not overflow when the return pump is off. You will have to drill a couple of holes in your return pipe at the water level of the display tank so that air can be sucked in to stop the return pipe from siphoning water out of the aquarium. Two 1/8” holes are generally recommended. Just in case a snail decides to park over the hole at the worst possible moment, you will have a backup hole to stop the siphon.
[*]
With a tape measure, or some accurate fingers, measure the amount of water that filled the sump. Then, start 1” from the top of the sump, and mark your bottom finger (or bottom measurement.) This will be your “Maximum” fill line. That means, do not go over this line or else when your return pump stops, your sump will overflow. I like 1” of wiggle room, while others prefer a lot more. You can adjust the 1” to however many inches you feel necessary.
[*]
Turn your return pump back on and keep it on. Let everything run and check for leaks for the next few days. Add saltwater to your sump half way between the minimum fill line and the maximum fill line. Mark this line as “standard.” I try to keep my tanks topped off as close to the “standard” as possible.
Add your lights over the top of your tank, and make sure they are on a light timer for no longer than 8 hours per day.
Add a small piece of raw shrimp from the grocery store to the tank, to get your first “cycle” started.
Now is a good opportunity to start reading, researching, and getting to know saltwater aquariums more. Read a few good books, starting with “The Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner. If you are looking into getting some corals, I highly suggest reading “Aquarium Corals, Selection, Husbandry and Natural History by Eric Borneman. There are also a couple of guide books that you should obtain on marine fishes and marine invertebrates that will come in handy for future reference. Also, now is the time to find some message boards that you feel comfortable in and start asking questions to things that you haven't found the answers to. This is a very rewarding hobby, and it's definitely something worth sticking to.
There is a method for choosing the right pump to the right overflow box. That is mainly a brand name and output question, which I will not discuss. I just wanted to note that not just any return pump will do for any overflow box. Ask around for more information!
If you would like to read more of my articles and threads, please visit this link: Snake's Methods.