To Sump or Not To Sump

spafeature

spafeature

Member
:help: Am confused--

Currently Have: 75gal reef tank w/fluval canister filter (BioNoodle & Carbon) & hang on CPR Protein Skimmer.
Want to add a fuge--- for $250 I can have LFS build Wet Dry Sump/Fuge Combo. Should I do that or just add a CPR fuge? I have searched and not found any Wet-Dry/Fuge Combos pre-made. Space is an issue--i can go about 24 inches wide under tank. Should I ditch my Fluval? Very confused--every time I embark on new project it's overwhelming!!
 
spafeature

spafeature

Member
I have about 60lb LR--but am about to order another 45lb (75gal tank)---by the time I get it cured I'll have about 100lb for fuge and DT. DIY scares me. How hard is it?
 
92protruck

92protruck

Member
100 lbs of LR will provide good filtration so you won't need the canister filter. Alot of people claim the high maitenance req'd to keep canister filters and wet/dry filters clean just isn't worth it. They work great but have to be kept very clean or they create nitrate problems. With your LR and good flow you can eliminate the canister and wet/dry. If you want a fuge then just build a sump/fuge from a 20 or 30 gal tank. You need the tank and some baffles cut from glass or acylic. THere are many websites with instructions and you can do a serach on here for pictures and instructions.
 
gtiguy

gtiguy

Member
I recently upgraded from a 30g to 65g and the sump (wetdry) thing was all new to me....When all said and done my fish seemed to be healthier and the tank seemed to be more stablized with the rate of water exhange (i am running a 20g wetdry with lr and a quietone 3000 pump-780gph) but it has thus made me more aware of my tanks conditions everyday bc once you have a sump you always need to be aware of any minor problems that can occur ....on 2 occasions i have had the tank either overflow from a lack of siphoning through the overflow or having the tank try and drain all the water into the sump (via the gravity theory) what goes up-the pump pumping the water back into the tank) must go down, if the power or pump gets shut off the water will siphon auto back down into the sump through gravity....so i guess what i am trying to say is yes it is a wiser choice for the fish and tanks future, but it also needs to be monitored and set up flawlessly, cause disasters can occur and you dont want that much water trying to back up.....
 
ninjamini

ninjamini

Active Member
Originally Posted by spafeature
Exactly what i'm afraid of---if the power goes out am i going to have 75gal of water on the floor?

Just make your plumbing come up to the water level desired. It does not and should not be at the bottom of the tank. Problem solved.
 
X

xoxox

Guest
Originally Posted by ninjamini
Just make your plumbing come up to the water level desired. It does not and should not be at the bottom of the tank. Problem solved.

And make sure there is a break in the gravity line (pump side) to the sump.
Its amazing what a little drilled hole can do to disrupt a flowback to the sump.
 
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