From canister to sump

[trevormass7]

I started out with a canister because I was new to saltwater and honestly all the plumbing and drains and returns made me feel a little lost. Now that my tank has been running without issue for a about three months I want to switch to a sump. My tank is 30g and I already have a 20g sump picked out but I know nothing about return pumps, plumbing, how an overflow box works or the proper lights to us on the sump. So advice and knowledge would be much appreciated

 

[Big G]

How about a picture. This is my tank just before filling.

 

[DSC reef]

Unless you plan on a refugium you don't need to worry about lighting the sump. Keep it simple. 1st chamber for a sock (if you want mechanical filtration) and maybe a little bag for carbon, 2nd chamber for a skimmer and last chamber for a return. Plenty of room in the 20 gallon and by no means do you have to set it up that way. As far as plumbing, overflow boxes, ect. It's easy once you see how they work. A good LFS should be able to walk you through the basic understanding of how it works and to prevent an overflow. It looks more confusing than it really is.

 

[trevormass7]

How about a picture. This is my tank just before filling.

I haven't set anything up yet, it's still running on my canister filter. Trying to get all the information I can before I but something I don't need

 

[trevormass7]

Your tanks looks great btw^

 

[trevormass7]

Unless you plan on a refugium you don't need to worry about lighting the sump. Keep it simple. 1st chamber for a sock (if you want mechanical filtration) and maybe a little bag for carbon, 2nd chamber for a skimmer and last chamber for a return. Plenty of room in the 20 gallon and by no means do you have to set it up that way. As far as plumbing, overflow boxes, ect. It's easy once you see how they work. A good LFS should be able to walk you through the basic understanding of how it works and to prevent an overflow. It looks more confusing than it really is.

Haha it looks very confusing. I am planning on having a sump, I want to add more water volume and somewhere for my pods to colonize before my fish eat them all

 

[DSC reef]

A refugium is best for pods but ive never had one. Dosing them every couple of months have sufficed our mandarins diet. Plus he loves LRS reef frenzy. Maybe some fuge experts can chime in to give you a better idea of space to accommodate your 20 gallon sump.

 

[trevormass7]

A refugium is best for pods but ive never had one. Dosing them every couple of months have sufficed our mandarins diet. Plus he loves LRS reef frenzy. Maybe some fuge experts can chime in to give you a better idea of space to accommodate your 20 gallon sump.

Sorry meant refugium. I have a watchman goby pair and a firefish that eat everything before it has a chance to get to the rocks even with the lights off

 

[Daddy-o]

Haha it looks very confusing. I am planning on having a sump, I want to add more water volume and somewhere for my pods to colonize before my fish eat them all

If your tank is not set up with an overflow, You are going to have to drill it. Is it glass or Plex.?

 

[trevormass7]

If your tank is not set up with an overflow, You are going to have to drill it. Is it glass or Plex.?

Glass but I was planning on using an overflow box? Correct me if that's not gonna work tho

 

[Daddy-o]

We culture our pods in 5 gallon buckets. It is so easy, saltwater, an airline bubbling, some phyto and some pods ( Apocyclops are my favorite) I add pods and Rotifers to our tanks daily.

 

[DSC reef]

Glass but I was planning on using an overflow box? Correct me if that's not gonna work tho

An overflow box will work just fine

 

[trevormass7]

Another question, so I need to take everything out to install. Or it's it ok to do all at once

 

[DSC reef]

Another question, so I need to take everything out to install. Or it's it ok to do all at once

As far as live stock?? You might need to drain some water to position the tank to get the sump under the stand but that should be it. Not sure I understand the question fully though.

 

[trevormass7]

As far as live stock?? You might need to drain some water to position the tank to get the sump under the stand but that should be it. Not sure I understand the question fully though.

Thanks, that's what I meant