Wet dry sump?

GoVols · Mar 28, 2017

Ksturg said:
So would I need live sand or could I just use live rock on the bare bottom of the sump....I found a eshopps 100 for $30 that comes with everything but the pump but it looks like the center chamber was set up for bio balls. Here is a pic of it.

Live Rock.

Ksturg · Mar 28, 2017

Ok perfect I was just going to fill that center chamber up with just live rock and put a skimmer in the first chamber. The acrylic has a patch on it but I'm going to try to patch it even better. Figured I can't go wrong for $30 the overflow is worth that.

donnievaz · Mar 28, 2017

As an alternative to live rock you could put a Marine Pur ceramic block in the sump and have a lot more surface area in there than you could with rock.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/marin...a-plate.html?gclid=CLz0gaPX-dICFQeBswodgK0LIw

Ksturg · Mar 28, 2017

Does that have to be cured like live rock? And will it produce a pod population to replenish what my mandarin eats?

donnievaz · Mar 28, 2017

donnievaz said:
As an alternative to live rock you could put a Marine Pur ceramic block in the sump and have a lot more surface area in there that you could with rock.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/marin...a-plate.html?gclid=CLz0gaPX-dICFQeBswodgK0LIw

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video/view/Which-rock-has-the-most-surface-area/

donnievaz · Mar 28, 2017

Ksturg said:
Does that have to be cured like live rock? And will it produce a pod population to replenish what my mandarin eats?

Does not need to be cured and won't support pods but you could pile rock rubble on top of it and that would create a haven for the pods.

GoVols · Mar 28, 2017

donnievaz said:
Does not need to be cured and won't support pods but you could pile rock rubble on top of it and that would create a haven for the pods.

But it could produce (lose) nitrates in the water column, like bio-balls.

If it were me I'd fill the chamber with live rock.

No man made media has been proven (with scientific data) to take care of nitrates like live rock.

Ksturg · Mar 28, 2017

GoVols said:
But it could produce (lose) nitrates in the water column, like bio-balls.

If it were me I'd fill the chamber with live rock.

No man made media has been proven (with scientific data) to take care of nitrates like live rock.

I already have some live rock I'm going to steal from my 29gal and replace it when the stuff I have curing is done...:and I picked up a coralife 65 skimmer for $25

GoVols · Mar 28, 2017

Ksturg said:
I already have some live rock I'm going to steal from my 29gal and replace it when the stuff I have curing is done...:and I picked up a coralife 65 skimmer for $25

Ksturg · Mar 28, 2017

GoVols said:

I'm stoked I got a whole sump set up for $55...I'm gonna have to do a few mods but hey it's my first sump so I'm a learnin.

GoVols · Mar 28, 2017

Ksturg said:
I'm stoked I got a whole sump set up for $55...I'm gonna have to do a few mods but hey it's my first sump so I'm a learnin.

Anytime your not sure about something regarding water chemistry. Then google what your looking for and add Randy Holmes-Farley behind it.

Or ask a question on his forum over here and he will answer.

Ksturg · Mar 28, 2017

Oh ok cool thanks I appreciate all of your help! I am seeing patches of red algea so I think I have to many nutrients in my water that's why I decided to go with a sump and skimmer. It may help it may not plus I want to get everything out of my tank except the powerheads.

Sistawolf · Mar 29, 2017

I have a wet/dry I turned into a sump (for the time being) I completely agree with not having bioballs.. they are a disaster waiting to happen.. I threw them all away and replaced with matrix.. I know this isn't live rock but at the time I only had enough LR for my DT.. when I grow up and get a real sump.. I will be replacing the matrix with the tons of LR I have collected since I started this hobby.. I use the blue media in the tray and if need be you can add phosban or whatever if you run into a problem right on top of the floss and below the trickle.. on the empty side is where I have my skimmer and pumps for my sump and reactor and skimmer.. very tight squeeze but it works for me.. again until I can get what I want.. that is a rimless 100 gallon long with a nice sump to accommodate..

so great job with the score on the wet/dry!! You can always change it out later if you desire! Just stay away from the bioballs!! Good luck with your set up

Ksturg · Mar 29, 2017

Sistawolf said:
I have a wet/dry I turned into a sump (for the time being) I completely agree with not having bioballs.. they are a disaster waiting to happen.. I threw them all away and replaced with matrix.. I know this isn't live rock but at the time I only had enough LR for my DT.. when I grow up and get a real sump.. I will be replacing the matrix with the tons of LR I have collected since I started this hobby.. I use the blue media in the tray and if need be you can add phosban or whatever if you run into a problem right on top of the floss and below the trickle.. on the empty side is where I have my skimmer and pumps for my sump and reactor and skimmer.. very tight squeeze but it works for me.. again until I can get what I want.. that is a rimless 100 gallon long with a nice sump to accommodate.. so great job with the score on the wet/dry!! You can always change it out later if you desire! Just stay away from the bioballs!! Good luck with your set up

I have already abandoned the chamber for bio balls and am stealing some live rock from a 29gal tank I have going as well. I have some curing in a 10gal that I will replace it with. I did however find some cracks in the sump I am going to have to fix but not a big deal. Yes I too would like to have a big boys sump but I have already spent enough money can't afford to blow $500 right now.

GoVols · Mar 29, 2017

Sistawolf said:
I have a wet/dry I turned into a sump (for the time being) I completely agree with not having bioballs.. they are a disaster waiting to happen.. I threw them all away and replaced with matrix.. I know this isn't live rock but at the time I only had enough LR for my DT.. when I grow up and get a real sump.. I will be replacing the matrix with the tons of LR I have collected since I started this hobby.. I use the blue media in the tray and if need be you can add phosban or whatever if you run into a problem right on top of the floss and below the trickle.. on the empty side is where I have my skimmer and pumps for my sump and reactor and skimmer.. very tight squeeze but it works for me.. again until I can get what I want.. that is a rimless 100 gallon long with a nice sump to accommodate.. so great job with the score on the wet/dry!! You can always change it out later if you desire! Just stay away from the bioballs!! Good luck with your set up

What ever @Sistawolf says

... Goes!!!!!!!

Sistawolf, You scare me.

Ksturg · Mar 29, 2017

Im not going to use a trickle the overflow I researched says that each tube can support up to 1100gph and it came with a giant filter sock. The only thing I am worried about with the hob overflow box is it breaking siphon and my dt overflowing do to the pump pumping out the sump into my tank.

Ksturg · Mar 29, 2017

Or if I have a power outage how to geek the water from going back down the return hose and overflowing the sump

Sistawolf · Mar 29, 2017

GoVols said:
What ever @Sistawolf says ... Goes!!!!!!!

Sistawolf, You scare me.

And why is that lol..

Sistawolf · Mar 29, 2017

Ksturg said:
Im not going to use a trickle the overflow I researched says that each tube can support up to 1100gph and it came with a giant filter sock. The only thing I am worried about with the hob overflow box is it breaking siphon and my dt overflowing do to the pump pumping out the sump into my tank.

Very true.. but when your stuck.. your stuck haha