Sump Questions - Only Bio Balls n Filter Media

[hamannbmw]

Hi,

Jus heard from someone that in the sump compartment, only requires Bio Balls, Filter Media n Skimmer only does not requires any refrigium, DSB, LR etc.....

Can some experts verify this ......

[Siput]

From what I read from other threads in this forum, ok for FOWLR only. If corals, then the bioballs, etc will become nitrate factory...hope this helps...

[typrobin]

actually it all depends on individual....some pple don't like DSB in the main tank so they bring it into the sump....

the "nitrate-factory" thing is true but having a good skimmer should solve the problem as less dissolved organic compound can be converted to ammonia to nitrite to nitrate....

ammonia and nitrite affects the fishes and other LS and the nitrate mainly affects the corals.....so if u are having only a FOWLR tank than don't worry about nitrate too much....

[Kalib]

I think this is quite an individual thing.

A good,powerful skimmer does help to reduce nutrients in the water so i guess thats why a protein skimmer is used in combination with the filter wool and bioballs.

But like what the 2 posts earlier have mentioned, such a setup should be ok for FOWLR. For reef, the bioballs might produce excessive nitrates and the skimmer might not be good enough to control nutrients in the water depending on how much fish/invert is in the tank.

IMO by having a refugium/DSB/LR in the sump is just to aid in nutrient export which is quite important for reef tanks. For FOWLR, i think it doesn't matter if you choose to have a DSB,Refugium or LR in the sump or not.

Just some thoughts.

[hamannbmw]

I will be setting up a reef tank mainly soft n hard corals NOT SPS (cos still new in this hobby) ..., i have seen many tanks w/o DSB, LR, Refrigium in the sump..... and its been years already... i guess some of u guys know who i'm refering to...

I'm asking this becos, my sump design does not have much space for any refrigium or DSB....

Maybe some others will like to contribute your comments....

[ReDDeviLs]

having dsb and refugium is optional i guess... unless u face high nitrate level..

if u where to face high nitrate level..

u got to keep doing water cahnge or another way is to get denitrator.

[Kalib]

An alternative if space allows, is to get a hang-on refugium.

Think Ian has such a product, thought i saw it on his website.

[jesperlam]

actually it all depends on individual....some pple don't like DSB in the main tank so they bring it into the sump....

the "nitrate-factory" thing is true but having a good skimmer should solve the problem as less dissolved organic compound can be converted to ammonia to nitrite to nitrate....

ammonia and nitrite affects the fishes and other LS and the nitrate mainly affects the corals.....so if u are having only a FOWLR tank than don't worry about nitrate too much....

So is it right to say that if u have DSB in sump then it's not necessary to have DSB in main tank...then main tank juz have shorter DSB?? Can anyone verify??

[hamannbmw]

i have check with RC.... according to them, if u have sufficient LR and a good skimmer, the sump does not requires any refrigium or DSB....

[FuEl]

Hmmm..basically you can put anything into your sump..I don't believe in bioballs though. I just have sand and protein skimmer in my sump...that's all..

[Kalib]

So is it right to say that if u have DSB in sump then it's not necessary to have DSB in main tank...then main tank juz have shorter DSB?? Can anyone verify??

A DSB's efficiency is dependant on its surface area.

So, by having a DSB in the sump, that does not mean that you don't need a DSB in the maintank. The DSB in the sump will not be able to carry out dentrification as effectively as a DSB in the maintank.

This is because its not possible for you to be able to get a DSB that will be as big as your maintank in your sump. You still need to leave space for the return pump and other filter media.