Sump/Fudge

bluewhite4

bluewhite4

New Member
This weekend I finished installing about a 30 gallon custom sump/fudge. Its divided into three sections (skimmer, return, fudge). With the end two flowing into the middle. I have sand and chaeto in the fudge side. Should a piece of lr be in there as well? (If so, how much?) I have about 40 pounds in the main 55 gallon tank. Thanks.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
What were your water parameters before the sump/refug? What are you trying to accomplish with your new addition?
 
bluewhite4

bluewhite4

New Member
I had been using a mechanical filter before, and it kept spitting micro-bubbles into the tank no matter what adjustments I made to it (it only ever changed the frequency of the bubble bursts). So the goal of the sump/fudge is to act as my filter.
I don't have my log book with me, so I can't say definitively what my levels were, but I believe ph was 8.2 and everything else was 0.... I can update later with those when I get home.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
You are going to need some sort of mechanical filtration IMO other then your protein skimmer. I will be back tonight to post some more but I am sure you will have others give you some input
 
spanko

spanko

Active Member
At least the option to have some mechanical/chemical filtering capability. Do you have, I am guessing yes, the flow coming down from the display split so that it goes into the fuge side and some into the skimmer side? Is there a place there, on either side, that you could stick some filter floss to remove particles from the water and or some bags of activated carbon, Chemi Pure Elite, Purigen to help to remove unwanted toxins/chemicals? If not could you fabricate a tray out of some eggcrate that could hold these types of things that would fit under one of the pipes/hoses coming from your display?
A number of folks will run tanks and be successful at it without any form of mechanical filtration however IMO it is nice to have the additional protection that floss, carbon etc offer to keep the water clean and clear. Just some thoughts for you.
 
wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
You dont have to have any mechanical filtration,. But I do recomend it. Placing a sponge between your baffles might be sufficient for this. Your LR and your SB are your filters. Do you have a DSB? Or a SSB? A NNR SB is very beneficial. 40lbs is not enough LR IMO,
 
gypsana

gypsana

Active Member
I have been running my tanks for three years without mechanical or chemical filtration. I have a 90+ gal with a 30 sump/fuge. I run the protein skimmer in the intake section then next is the sump/fuge then the return section (3 sections total). In the fuge I have chaeto, about 15 lbs. of LR, and a 4" sand bed. My tank water is always very clear. I do how ever have a very light bio load. If you have a large bio load use of a micron sock is good but they like to catch your pods and other little critters.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
Actually a protein skimmer is a mechanical filter. Utilizing the mechanics of water and air introduction. Via a pump
 
gypsana

gypsana

Active Member
Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/3036231
Actually a protein skimmer is a mechanical filter. Utilizing the mechanics of water and air introduction. Via a pump
Oh yea
! I lied, but that is all I use. Thanks Joe for clearing that up.
 
bluewhite4

bluewhite4

New Member
Right, so the skimmer is my only mechanical part right now.
I added some activated carbon filter pads between the baffles tonight So....
Right now the water comes down from my HOB overflow, is split and half goes the skimmer side and the other half to the chaeto/3" sand side. After that the water passes through the filter pads, and into the middle return where its pumped back up into the tank.
I'm not opposed to having say a HOB carbon filter, I just needed to get rid of the micro-spewing canister that I had. (Had thought just a 3-part fuge would be enough.)
 
gypsana

gypsana

Active Member
For your original question, LR is not necessary in your fuge but the more you have the better IMO. It is a great place for pod reproduction and added biological filtration.
 
bluewhite4

bluewhite4

New Member
Thanks guys. I think I'm going to add some more lr to the sump for now, and do a 20 percent water change and see where that puts me.
 
florida joe

florida joe

Well-Known Member
This is my opinion on live rock. If you have equilibrium in your tank right now the addition of more live rock is displacing water. The more water you can add to your system the more dilution you have so all things considered your best bang for your buck is more water
 
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