Thinking about a sump and need some help!

[yimmy]

Right now I have a 95gal FOWLR tank w/ a canister and UV. I want to trash the canister and get a sump w/ proteinskimmer. I currently I have 90lbs of LR, 80blue leg hermits,cleaner shrimp,LN buttefly,2ocellaris clowns,a LMB, and like 20 snails. If I converted to a sump would I have to take out all the fish, LR, and completley start over? Thanks
Jimmy

 

[pfitz44]

Nope!! But im guessing you want to do a refrugium... right???all you will need is a HOB overflow (if your tank isnt drilled already), some plexiglass, a tank, and a pump!

 

[yimmy]

My dan's already drilled, has a built in overflow and it has a Little Giant pump which pumps at 1200gph.

 

[yimmy]

Tank...not dan :thinking:

 

[dreamreef]

I am getting ready to do the same thing, and I've heard that when I add the sump, I would want to keep both the canister filter and sump running for a few weeks together until the sump is built up enough for the bioload, then remove the canister. Just something to think about....any comments from anyone regarding this technique?

 

[yimmy]

This is the debate I got. My LFS said the sump won't remove solid wastes like a canister...so I said I'll run both, I just don't have room for both. A different LFS (not the one I go to) sells sumps which also have filter media in them. Just a thought in my head.

 

[trainfever]

A good cleanup crew will remove solid waste.

 

[bawood]

Some people run a sponge or mesh pad in the flow in their sump to filter out larger solid waste.

 

[yimmy]

that's what they do...if I wanted to do a 55gal sumpw/ fuge and skimmer I could get it done under 350$?

 

[bawood]

I just re-read your last comment, sounds good
Also a skimmer removes particulate matter as well. Skimming is physical filtration still.

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by BAWood
Some people run a sponge or mesh pad in the flow in their sump to filter out larger solid waste.

That is what I do. I float just a foam pad 2 inches wide on top of the sump and it gets pulled to the overflow wall next to the return pump. Big stuff hits that and eventually falls down to the refugium to be broken down. I do have a problem though. I have a drilled one ich drain hose from the overflow box straight to the refugium. How do I muffle the water drain noise? Should I have put the tube into an "S" or something?
Mc

 

[yimmy]

I"m not sure on that...is the water not taking up the whole tube???

 

[grumpygils]

I"m not sure on that...is the water not taking up the whole tube??? Exactly. I have a rio 1400 return pump to the tank and the 1 inch tube to the fuge is only about 1/3 full on the return to the fuge. If it took up the whole tube, that would be too close to an overflow situation wouldn't it?
Mc

 

[yimmy]

yeah I just thought of that...it's just the water splashing in the tube...I think maybe doing an "s" type thing might work though