What to put in my sump?

[absolut_vodka]

Hi guys,

New 4ft tank just arrived y'day so need some help from all the experts here.

Please take a look at the photo and give me some suggestions what I should put in each tower?

I read previously that shd not use bio balls and coral chips so what shd I use instead?

[Gouldian]

Very hard to advise you cuz your sump is design for wet / dry filtration. Thus you will notice that the water overflow from the main tank goes through the bottom of the first and second chamber from the right before flowing into the skimmer.

Most people now uses deep sand bed (DSB) support with macroalgae. As such, the design of the sump will be slightly different. The water from the main tank generally will be fed into the first chamber with deep sand bed, filter feeders and macro algae. From the first chamber, the water will "overflow" to the second chamber with some form of deritus trap and subsequently to the third chamber for Skimmer.

You noticed that both your first and second chamber does not permit you to place DSB.

Anyway, wet / dry filtration is considered not suitable for invertebrates / reef tanks if you are planning to have a FLOWR tank than it is ok.

You may check the following link to find out more:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dynamic/o...g1%2Fsumps.html

Cheers,

[absolut_vodka]

oh no! is there anything I can do then? perhaps modify the design on the sump in some way?

[absolut_vodka]

anyone using such a sump can give me some ideas?

Here's a full pic of the tank.. together with a tower, at the back, on the right side of the tank

[absolut_vodka]

...

[don]

bro add a check valve along the return pipe,if happen your pump tripped your sump will overflow,by looking at your design of the return piping

[iewnehz]

you can also put nothing but LRs.

they are the bio filtration

[absolut_vodka]

which column should the live rocks be in? 2nd one from the right? or both 1st and 2nd?

[giantbicycle]

which column should the live rocks be in? 2nd one from the right? or both 1st and 2nd?

both ways also aceptable ,.But if its me, i will put at the 2nd colum.

[riot]

If Im you this is what I will do:

middle chamber for the chem filters (rowa, carbon, etc) & skimmer

1st chamber for the major lfloss (if needed other wise empty

last chamber for the return and to break up skimmer bubbles.

One thing good with reef tanks is that you can run a very clean sump. Lots of space to do your tests.

Nice water top off container, by the way

Looking good

[boxfish]

Most people now uses deep sand bed (DSB) support with macroalgae. As such, the design of the sump will be slightly different. The water from the main tank generally will be fed into the first chamber with deep sand bed, filter feeders and macro algae. From the first chamber, the water will "overflow" to the second chamber with some form of deritus trap and subsequently to the third chamber for Skimmer.

IMO, is better to use the first compartment to capture the debrius from main tank first else your DSB or refugium will be one big rubbish dump

anyway the nutrients won't run away during mechanical fitering.

So the arrangement should be reverse.

vodka,

I think your sump is still ok maybe you can have a smaller refugium in the second compartment.

Just curious what's the tank on the left for?

[absolut_vodka]

thanks for all the suggestions guys! appreciate it... after much consideration, have decided that 1st tower will be used for biohome & bio rings. i sewed some net bags so that it will be less messy when cleaning and changing the filter media. see below.

boxfish: That's a top up tank... there's a float switch connected to the compartment where the skimmer is.. by the way, replied ur pm already.

[absolut_vodka]

check out the modified 2nd compartment... there's a little container there for the carbon and rowaphos that I'll be putting in. Water will run through the little container before going to the 3rd column where the skimmer is.

So 2nd compartment will be for grade 1 sand, together with some live rocks. Hopefully, that will be good for filtration

[d00d]

Hey there! Just to point out something...

Your 2nd chamber, has water flowing through it downwards. You can't have DSB with water flowing to the lower regions, it won't be a DSB anymore. Can't colonise any anaerobic bacteria there, thus defeating the purpose of a DSB.

Nice topoff system. Can show how it works with the pump in the tank on the left to top up water. Thanks!

[absolut_vodka]

hi d00d, actually i did realise your pt and that's why the 2nd tower was modified... see the blue acrylic sheet? that is to prevent what you mentioned from happening. so in the 2nd tower, only the small little container part will have water flowing thru, not the whole tower.

will display a pic of the topup system once the tank is running... currently still letting the sealant dry up before I switch on the sump system.