Sump Sponge - Does it need to be fully submerged?

[omniphil]

Hello all, i'm still learning this Sump stuff having recent picked up a scratch and dent trigger systems CRYS36S...

I have it up and running well now and since the 2 main chambers stay at a fixed level my question is about the bubble trap section between section 2 and 3.
As water is evaporating the sponge in there is now exposed to the air. Should I keep the sump level so that it stays submerged or does it not matter?

I circled the sponge in question in yellow...

 

[TheSheff]

You should have an ATO on the tank anyway, that would prevent the water from fluctuating. But, to answer your questions, no it doesn't matter if the sponge dries out.

 

[mfinn]

If this were me, I would get a ATO ( freshwater top off device) and place the float sensor in the end chamber to keep the level up.
You also need to make sure you keep enough room in the sump so when the return pump is off ( poweroutage) the sump doesn't overfil.

 

[mfinn]

Looks like you could also use a protein skimmer. I would place it in the opposite end where the water enters from the display tank.

 

[omniphil]

I thought about adding an ATO but it seemed like just a nice to have but not necessary feature... If I have to pour water in the ATO tank how is that different from adding water to the sump?

(To answer another question, my display tank is 32 gallons, so when testing power failures I don't get much water back into the sump, maybe 1 or 2 gallons)

 

[Cichlid Dad]

If this were me, I would get a ATO ( freshwater top off device) and place the float sensor in the end chamber to keep the level up.
You also need to make sure you keep enough room in the sump so when the return pump is off ( poweroutage) the sump doesn't overfil.

Ditto

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I thought about adding an ATO but it seemed like just a nice to have but not necessary feature... If I have to pour water in the ATO tank how is that different from adding water to the sump?

(To answer another question, my display tank is 32 gallons, so when testing power failures I don't get much water back into the sump, maybe 1 or 2 gallons)

Three fold, you will get complacent and forget, something happens and you unexpectedly need to be away and finally salinity stability

 

[omniphil]

Three fold, you will get complacent and forget, something happens and you unexpectedly need to be away and finally salinity stability

I guess I need more tanks... Gotta have the tank that feeds the tank that feeds the tank... haha, but all valid points. I usually have two 5 gallon jugs of RODI water on hand, I suppose the jug itself could be the ATO tank, assuming the ATO pump fits in through the lid... Then once it gets empty just swap another jug in there...

 

[mfinn]

I thought about adding an ATO but it seemed like just a nice to have but not necessary feature... If I have to pour water in the ATO tank how is that different from adding water to the sump?

(To answer another question, my display tank is 32 gallons, so when testing power failures I don't get much water back into the sump, maybe 1 or 2 gallons)

As well as forgetting, ( life happens) it also helps keep the salinity stable.

 

[mfinn]

I guess I need more tanks... Gotta have the tank that feeds the tank that feeds the tank... haha, but all valid points. I usually have two 5 gallon jugs of RODI water on hand, I suppose the jug itself could be the ATO tank, assuming the ATO pump fits in through the lid... Then once it gets empty just swap another jug in there...

There are all sorts of containers that will work for a ato reservoir. On my 240, I use a 20 gallon rubber maid garbage can that sits in my garage with a line that runs about 10' to the sump.
On my smaller tank I use a 14 gallon dog food container that sits next to the tank.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I guess I need more tanks... Gotta have the tank that feeds the tank that feeds the tank... haha, but all valid points. I usually have two 5 gallon jugs of RODI water on hand, I suppose the jug itself could be the ATO tank, assuming the ATO pump fits in through the lid... Then once it gets empty just swap another jug in there...

LOL! Wait for the Petco 50% sell get a 10 gallon aquarium. I have a Tunze ( my be spelled wrong) on my main display in a10 gallon aquarium. I have a simple 18.00 float switch on my aptaisia hospital tank using a 5gallon bucket and gravity. Both work great.

 

[BaliReefBox]

normally the ato tank is alot bigger and only needs topping off weekly or so..I would also load up that centre chamber with more bio media.. and keep the first one for a skimmer when you get one

 

[omniphil]

normally the ato tank is alot bigger and only needs topping off weekly or so..I would also load up that centre chamber with more bio media.. and keep the first one for a skimmer when you get one

I know a protein skimmer will come at some point. (I don't think at this point I have enough waste/protein to feed it) The bio media in the center section all came out of my Fluval 407 as I figured I could keep the bacteria going... I should have more in there? (I currently have 2 small fish, so bio load is probably on the light side)

I could add one of those marine pure bio bricks, 4x8x8. I think that should be plenty?

 

[Court_Appointed_Hypeman]

I tried operating without an ATO and there were a couple times by month 5 that I would be going to bed and hear my hydros scream about the water being low. I finally bought the pump to make my hydros handle top off and I am glad I did. 4 gallons would evaporate to cayse the low water level, and sometimes instead of that happening over 4 days it would happen in one and a half, it would catch me off guard if I wasn't diligent in checking.

That much evaporation on my system increased salinity by almost 2ppt. If for no other reason, I will always ATO now just to keep stability for corals.

 

[omniphil]

I tried operating without an ATO and there were a couple times by month 5 that I would be going to bed and hear my hydros scream about the water being low. I finally bought the pump to make my hydros handle top off and I am glad I did. 4 gallons would evaporate to cayse the low water level, and sometimes instead of that happening over 4 days it would happen in one and a half, it would catch me off guard if I wasn't diligent in checking.

That much evaporation on my system increased salinity by almost 2ppt. If for no other reason, I will always ATO now just to keep stability for corals.

That is certainly alot of evaporation! For me a 5 gallon jug of RODI water last me about 3 weeks of manual top-offs..

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

That is certainly alot of evaporation! For me a 5 gallon jug of RODI water last me about 3 weeks of manual top-offs..

what size is your tank? I have a 40 gallon tank, and the 5 gallon ATO jug only lasts 5 or 6 days.

 

[silent1mezzo]

To provide a contrary opinion an ATO is purely a quality of life piece of equipment IF you're dilligent with evaporation and manually topping off. I had a very successful work tank for a number of years that I manually topped off. I was away on weekends and 4-5 weeks off a year where I wouldn't top off and it was fine.

Now I run ATO on all of my tanks because it's just easier. I will say, I've forgotten to top off the auto top off more times than I forgot to manually top off the tank because it's less frequent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[omniphil]

what size is your tank? I have a 40 gallon tank, and the 5 gallon ATO jug only lasts 5 or 6 days.

32 gallon...

 

[omniphil]

To provide a contrary opinion an ATO is purely a quality of life piece of equipment IF you're dilligent with evaporation and manually topping off. I had a very successful work tank for a number of years that I manually topped off. I was away on weekends and 4-5 weeks off a year where I wouldn't top off and it was fine.

Now I run ATO on all of my tanks because it's just easier. I will say, I've forgotten to top off the auto top off more times than I forgot to manually top off the tank because it's less frequent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I probably only add water to the sump once a week. And I can certainly see the benefit of having an ATO. But there is also the part of me that is paranoid about flooding since the tank is in my carpeted living room.

Currently I have a 4 inch liquid level sensor in the display tank, a 4 inch liquid level sensor in the HOB PF-800 and also an optical sensor down in the return chamber of the sump (To keep the pump from running dry)

I did some testing trying to create flooding by holding my hand over the drain down in the sump and the HOB box on the back of the tank rose pretty quickly as you can imagine.
Adding an ATO to the picture also means more potential flood scenarios....

 

[silent1mezzo]

I probably only add water to the sump once a week. And I can certainly see the benefit of having an ATO. But there is also the part of me that is paranoid about flooding since the tank is in my carpeted living room.

Currently I have a 4 inch liquid level sensor in the display tank, a 4 inch liquid level sensor in the HOB PF-800 and also an optical sensor down in the return chamber of the sump (To keep the pump from running dry)

I did some testing trying to create flooding by holding my hand over the drain down in the sump and the HOB box on the back of the tank rose pretty quickly as you can imagine.
Adding an ATO to the picture also means more potential flood scenarios....

The most likely Avenue for flooding is that pf-800. I run the same on my 30g and the u-pipe developed a crack which loss the vacuum so it was no longer draining. Most ATOs have an automatic stop if it runs too long to prevent flooding in this case.

Manual topoff (at least for me) caused more splashing and drips than the ATO