General Sump Questions....

[rcillig]

Ok guys I got a few questions I've always wanted to ask. Ever since building my first sump, Ill never buy one again.... so much more cost-effectively using the $ 1-gallon sale on future sumps. I mean if I could afford a top of the line trigger ya sure but I'm more of a used Eshopps guy if I'm honest.

#1 Is it better to use glass or acrylic for baffles or does it even matter... remember I'm using glass tanks.

#2 Is live rock better or bio-media... never could afford good media in the past but got my self a 5gallon bucket of Sachem Matrix.. almost full never used from someone getting out of the hobby. I got plenty of Live rock but the Matrix would take up much less space. Also, how would this affect pods without having live rocks in the sump to use for population?

#3 What's better skimmer then fuge or fuge then skimmer? Also when I run my water through my UV and reactors where is the best place to dump it back into the sump... I currently got it by my return pump but I get micro bubbles and I dislike that immensely.

#4 Is it worth constructing a lid for the sump to combat evaporation?

#5 Does anyone run a small powerhead in the sump to keep it clean?

#6 The last one, for now, do you go left to right or right to left with your sump? Someone actually told me I'm going backward and I was like what the heck bro... but it got me thinking all the same...

Please don't think I'm an idiot just I don't have friends in the hobby to bounce questions off of and the LFS guys can be jack ***** at times acting like they are better than everyone so I avoid dealing with them if possible.

 

[Twoddler]

Following this, some questions I wanted to ask but never did, good for you

 

[Gravity]

Here is my two cents.

1) glass to glass baffles are much stronger. But I don’t think acrylic is necessarily a problem for the sump, worst case you just reseal it every few years. Perosonally, I love the look of the trigger systems but functionally they are the same and diy is more customizable. I have a Fiji baffle kit for my tank and really like it.

2) I think in a sump I would prefer bio media, it’s more surface area and collects less debris. But it wouldn’t be less space for pods.

3) Based on the trident method, the skimmer removes nutrients that the algae could have used. I think the us return would depend on your full setup. But possibly back to the filters or before skimmer to try and remove and dead microbes.

4) I think a sump lid is more of a personal preference. I could see it being beneficial if you can only get a 5 gal ATO under the stand but your tank needs more then that in a week or whatever your maintenance preference is.

5) I don’t currently have a power head but have seen people do this. It helps keep debris suspended for removal, caution on this in your ATO chamber so you don’t trip it all the time.

6) I go into the sump on the left to and return on the right, the same way you read.

Hope this helps.

 

[rcillig]

Here is my two cents.

1) glass to glass baffles are much stronger. But I don’t think acrylic is necessarily a problem for the sump, worst case you just reseal it every few years. Perosonally, I love the look of the trigger systems but functionally they are the same and diy is more customizable. I have a Fiji baffle kit for my tank and really like it.

2) I think in a sump I would prefer bio media, it’s more surface area and collects less debris. But it wouldn’t be less space for pods.

3) Based on the trident method, the skimmer removes nutrients that the algae could have used. I think the us return would depend on your full setup. But possibly back to the filters or before skimmer to try and remove and dead microbes.

4) I think a sump lid is more of a personal preference. I could see it being beneficial if you can only get a 5 gal ATO under the stand but your tank needs more then that in a week or whatever your maintenance preference is.

5) I don’t currently have a power head but have seen people do this. It helps keep debris suspended for removal, caution on this in your ATO chamber so you don’t trip it all the time.

6) I go into the sump on the left to and return on the right, the same way you read.

Hope this helps.

thanks a ton.... yes you are right the Trigger systems look awesome and who knows maybe one day but for now... I mainly use 29g or 40b with exception of the next project I'm building one for my 150g and using an old 75g I just resealed.

I never thought about the nutrients that the fuge could use, awesome point.

I got a 2x50g brute for a top off & salt mix I run a line through the wall, I auto change about 1g a day. I'm still kind of in limbo about a lid..