What is in your sump???

[Robink]

Besides the usual equipment? I am going to upgrade my sump. The current one is too small for all the occupants that currently reside in my 75 gallon mixed reef. I have bio balls in the current one and am considering changing to something more effective. So I'm asking for opinions and suggestions as to what to use to stock my sump. What's everyone using and what is working for you:help:

 

[Eckolancer]

I run skimmer, biopellets, return pump. I don't run a fuge as I feel the pellets do a good enough job on there own.

 

[Wiz]

I run a skimmer, a carbon sock, a fuge,which I feel is very important, a piece of phosphate pad, which serves as a breeding place for my pods lol,and I have been looking at algae scrubbers which look very very interesting and make a lot of sense might want to look into that.

 

[Rjramos]

I run 2 stacked sumps. The top being a refugium and the bottom a pad and sometimes carbon. The skimmer is fed by and dumps back to the lower sump.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My sump (2 x 44 gallon Brute cans bulkheaded together) has:

Multiple heaters
A big coil of plastic tubing for cooling water
float switches to turn on ATO and turn off main pumps
Temperature sensors for a controller
pH sensor
inlets and outlets for skimmer, GAC, GFO and refugia
drip point for limewater
air sucked out to the outside
drip point for liquid foods on a timer

 

[Robink]

Thanks for the replies. I was considering a refugium, didn't know how much trouble it is to keep. Don't know much about biopellets but will look into them...
:smile:

 

[Brendan]

Nothing. Waiting for the plumbing to finishing sealing and my return pump. What will go in is a reeftek TS2 skimmer, heater, frags and return pump. Chaeto in the frag section for extra filtration.

 

[Robink]

Wow Randy!! How big is your tank?? You must have a basement. I can't wait to move north again and have one (basement). Don't know how confident I would be having stuff going through walls and such.

My sump (2 x 44 gallon Brute cans bulkheaded together) has:

Multiple heaters
A big coil of plastic tubing for cooling water
float switches to turn on ATO and turn off main pumps
Temperature sensors for a controller
pH sensor
inlets and outlets for skimmer, GAC, GFO and refugia
drip point for limewater
air sucked out to the outside
drip point for liquid foods on a timer

 

[Robink]

so in frag section... sand bed or none? live rock?

Nothing. Waiting for the plumbing to finishing sealing and my return pump. What will go in is a reeftek TS2 skimmer, heater, frags and return pump. Chaeto in the frag section for extra filtration.

 

[Robink]

very ingenious...:smile:

I run 2 stacked sumps. The top being a refugium and the bottom a pad and sometimes carbon. The skimmer is fed by and dumps back to the lower sump.

 

[Brendan]

No sand bed, Some live rock, Frags, Chaeto...my tank is a 100g total and right now I am managing to dose everything no problem. Maybe I will add a reactor or 2 later but I really want to keep it as natural as possible. So basic idea, refugium/frag section.

My previous sump just had my heater, skimmer and return pump in. Having very hot days in South africa right now so a heater is not needed. Running my tank sumpless for the meantime. The plumbing needs to cure.

 

[ifarmer]

my 30g sump. display is 110g

 

[Tek]

my 30g sump. display is 110g

Is that enough to hold extra water when your return is turned off?

 

[Tek]

I run skimmer, biopellets, return pump. I don't run a fuge as I feel the pellets do a good enough job on there own.

I also run no fuge since my nitrates are usually not high at all, but I have a GFO reactor since P04 will rise otherwise. I did try bio-pellets again since I plan on stocking more fish but at half recommended only to not strip my tank too clean.

 

[h8z2luze]

Filter sock, Skimmer, Chaeto, dragons breath, live rock, sand, a nem, heater, GFO Reactor, JBJ ATO, and return pump.

This was when I set it up but its basically the same.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=bjSLppzCPWg

 

[Eckolancer]

Picture of tank running with no sand. On side note I don't do water changes as well. I don't recommend skipping water changes till you fully understand your water. I do run filter socks that I change out 3 times a week.

 

[Robink]

Great information... thanks for all the input.:bigsmile:

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Wow Randy!! How big is your tank?? You must have a basement. I can't wait to move north again and have one (basement). Don't know how confident I would be having stuff going through walls and such.

It is a 120 display. Yes, definitely a basement. The system also has three refugia that are 44 gallon Brute cans. They are filled with rock and then have macroalgae in the top 6-12" of open water at the top.

 

[Rjramos]

It is a 120 display. Yes, definitely a basement. The system also has three refugia that are 44 gallon Brute cans. They are filled with rock and then have macroalgae in the top 6-12" of open water at the top.

Wow Randy, that's a lot of water! 120+(5x44) - rock and contents. How much water would you say in the whole system? Would more water mean more buffer, calcium and additives or is that determined by the consumption of the organisms?

 

[Diesel]

My sump (2 x 44 gallon Brute cans bulkheaded together) has:

Multiple heaters
A big coil of plastic tubing for cooling water
float switches to turn on ATO and turn off main pumps
Temperature sensors for a controller
pH sensor
inlets and outlets for skimmer, GAC, GFO and refugia
drip point for limewater
air sucked out to the outside
drip point for liquid foods on a timer

How simplified but effective, love this.