Sumps

[PennywiseXClown]

I have a 20 gallon breeder tank with few live rocks in it. Should I put a LED light on the sump or just leave it? I don’t have the return pump separated from the larger compartment so I do not have a sand bed in it. Was that a mistake?

 

[silverado61]

You should put chambers in the sump with bubble traps. For a 20 breeder you could probably get away with only two chambers. The overflow going into the first chamber with the live rock and your return pump in the second chamber. I wouldn't worry about putting sand in. The rocks will do the same job of filtration in my opinion.

 

[lmforbis]

I’d suggest chambers as well. At least one for he return pump to keep things out of it. I just have rock in my sump and my skimmer and my starry Benny who decided to move out of the display. I don’t like sand in the sump. I want to have chaeto in my sump but I can’t keep it alive.

 

[PennywiseXClown]

Okay. I have one & inch chamber that my overflow goes into so I can add a skimmer later. That feeds into a small bubble traps. The rest is wide open with rocks and return pump.

 

[lmforbis]

An additional divider between the rocks and return would allow you to have a Refugium for things like pods and you could have macro algae in it. The macroalgae helps with nitrate removal.

 

[PennywiseXClown]

I posted a question about live rock maybe it will help fill the sump a little cheaper than adding more liverock

 

[silverado61]

If it was the question about using lava rock, I read it and responded with my opinion. Others may have a different take on it though.