building a sump

[Artemis JT]

I'm currently in the process for planning a 75g reef tank.

The first step (in my plan) would be to build the sump.

I have no idea where to start, since I've never used a sump before :rolleye1:

I have a spare 55g, would that work or is it too big? I've looked around but haven't been successful in finding any articles on how to build a sump, can anyone point me towards a good one, if there are any?

I've thought about it in my head, I figured it would start with a bit of mechanical filtration, then go into a compartment with scrubbies/bioballs, and then into another compartment with calupera or something like that......

Thanks!
tim

[uncleof6]

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

[BeanAnimal]

The 55 will make a perfectly fine sump....no such thing as too big. You will need an internal pump thoug, as many (most?) 55 gallon tanks are tempered and can not be drilled.

[BeanAnimal]

http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

Hey my overflow is not the only project on my website ;)

http://beananimal.com/media/6100/acrylic-sump-sw-rendering.jpg

[Gold Stripe]

Personally I dont like sumps where the entire flow runs through the refugium. I prefer to have the mechanical filtration on one end and the refugium on the other end with the return in the center. That way you can adjust flow through the refugium without affecting the mechanical side. Forget the Bioballs! All you need is plenty of live rock in your display, a sump section with a GOOD skimmer and a refugium section with Macro algae. If you want to hang a filter sock in the sump section to catch the big stuff then you can but you will need to remember to rinse it once a week. If I can figure out how to draw on this thing I will post an example. I'm sure there are plenty out there already.

[tcp316]

Has anyone made a sump with a rubbermaid container?

[uncleof6]

Hey my overflow is not the only project on my website ;)

http://beananimal.com/media/6100/acrylic-sump-sw-rendering.jpg

Yes I know that Bean.....

http://www.beananimal.com/projects/acrylic-sump.aspx:beer:

Jim

[uncleof6]

Has anyone made a sump with a rubbermaid container?

Lots have made them, there are quite a few threads here about them. I just don't care for them.

Jim

[uncleof6]

Personally I dont like sumps where the entire flow runs through the refugium. I prefer to have the mechanical filtration on one end and the refugium on the other end with the return in the center. That way you can adjust flow through the refugium without affecting the mechanical side. Forget the Bioballs! All you need is plenty of live rock in your display, a sump section with a GOOD skimmer and a refugium section with Macro algae. If you want to hang a filter sock in the sump section to catch the big stuff then you can but you will need to remember to rinse it once a week. If I can figure out how to draw on this thing I will post an example. I'm sure there are plenty out there already.

You must be talking about something like this:

http://i655.photobucket.com/albums/uu274/uncleof6/sump3-1.jpg

Oh and filter socks need to be cleaned more often that once a week, every other day, at the very least-- the same goes for skimmers. :)

Jim

[munkyboy111]

You can use the 55. The only thing you would have worry about (if you have the sump sitting under the tank in the stand) is to make sure you get a stand or build a stand that will accommodate the sump. If I'm not mistaken, the 55 and 75 are both 48" long.

[Gold Stripe]

Thats it Jim.

[Artemis JT]

so why no scrubbies or much bio filtration? does the live rock really do that all?

thanks for all the info guys.

[uncleof6]

I don't know what scrubbies are, however, socks are just a PITA as they need to be changed/cleaned every other day-- if not everyday, to keep the stuff it collects from rotting and adding more burden to the system.

Bio-balls, live rock and other such media, really have no use in the sump, as there is adequate "biological" filtration in the main tank. Live rock really doesn't do "all" that, but as far as producing nitrates it does a good job of it, along with any other surface (substrate) in the entire system. The sump is a processing center to rid the system of unwanted materials, not to produce more of them. A system has no problem producing these materials, the problem lays with exporting them.

Regards,

Jim

[Artemis JT]

really? hmm. see in freshwater, the whole goal of the sump is to cram as much bio-filtration (scrubbies, bioballs, whatever) into the sump as possible, but in salt i take it thats not really necessary?

[Gold Stripe]

In salt water your live rock is your main filtration. The next most valuable part in my opinion is a good refugium with macro algae to export the nitrates once the bacteria in your rock has broken it down that far. Third would be a good skimmer to help remove larger proteins before they break down. Nothing else is really needed in my opinion.

[Artemis JT]

Thanks for the info! :cool:

[MayoBoy]

The only things I would do different on uncleof6's picture is make the pump chamber half the size shown with the 'fuge taking up more space and make the dividing wall 3" taller. Then you could have a nice 6" DSB (deep sand bed) put in a bunch of live rock rubble and top it off with some cheato. That will give you a place to grow plenty of pods if you want to have a mandarin or something. You'll need a cheap grow light over the fuge for the cheato. (Put it on a reverse cycle from the main tank)