Any idea?

[siaoliao]

Where can i get a cheap

1. 2ft sump tank(with those partitions made)?

2. Bioballs and coral chips?

3. Pipings? Should i get them from hardware shop and build it myself?

Might be better if someone can sell me a used one or even better if give me for free?

Did i left out anything?

I already got skimmer, pumps and sponges.

[hammerhd]

Y u need Bioball???

[Rogerttt]

bro slioliao,

PM u liao.

[Thexder]

I have 1 bag of bioballs (50-60 ea). Washed and dried. Removed from my sump.

Also have 1 bag of coral chips (ard 15kg) inside my sump.

Planning to get rid of them. You can have them FOC if you want. PM me if you are interested.

[siaoliao]

hammerhd. No need bioballs meh?

I thought i should have them in a sump system which doesnt have a refugium?

[dleecool]

Bioball r known to be nitrate factory, so try not to have bioballs if possible, else when u have algae bloom, that time u really "SIAO LIAO"!!!

[RX_GAN]

Hahaha...corrections to bioball.

The usage of bioball is to build up aerobic bacterias and they are really effective.

That explains why there is Nitrate build-up.

From ammonia to nitrite to nitrate and these nitrates are left-overs from the process.

If u tank dun have enough live rocks, u can put bioballs in the sump for tank cycle.

When the cycle is completed, u can then take out the bioballs.

If not enough live rocks, u will need bioballs for the cycle.

So after u used it, u can pass it on to someone who is new and setting up tank.

Cheers.

There are other medium which u can try to build-up bacterias in ur tank but bio-balls are one of the fastest method around.

If u are afraid of the adverse effects caused by it, simply use liverocks instead and of cos, it more expensive.

[siaoliao]

OH I SEE!

I thought the bioballs are a must in the sump system. So now i can forget those balls thingy liao, cause i already have live rocks in my display tank.

But nvm, i can pass them to my friends who will be setting up tanks soon...

What about those coral chips and bio-rings? I have to choose either one of them or do i have to get both of them into my sump tank?

Thanks alot for your replies... They really helped.

[RX_GAN]

hahaha..u're welcome.

I do see some ppl using bioballs.It's to speed things up la. Up to u ba.hahaha..

Okay. Bio-rings. also known as ceramic rings or ceramic noodles.

It has the same function as bioballs. But it does trap in so much nitrate as compare to bio-balls.

so it's a better choice.

I myself uses a special bio-home. it's like tube-like structure. I don't know if anyone else uses that.

Or u can try Seachem's Matrix. There are other great products out there which has the biological effect. If u plan to use bio-rings, try to get those which is suitable for saltwater. Those which are really porous.

Coral chips may act as biological filter as bacteria and grow there too. But will trap nitrate too. It also act as a source of carbonate and calcium so for a new tank, it can help to create a stable pH in the water. At the same time, it act as as mechnical filter too as some choose to use coral chips for their substrate.

It's most likely used as a mechnical filter so u must wash them frequently.

It's not a very good biological filter as it's not porous enough when compared to other filter medium.

A good biological filter medium allows both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to thrive. And anaerobic bacteria can convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.

Hope that these can help u in setting up.

U can try bio-rings for biological filter. I know this very good german brand ceramic noodles and it cost around $65 for one box. hahaa.

There are alot of ways for biological filter. Some uses deep sand bed, some uses live rocks, some uses this and that. each way works and each has their own pro and cons.

[siaoliao]

THANKS ALOT! RX_GAN

Those informations you gave are really very helpful!

So now i just have to put in filtering sponge, bio-rings, skimmer and pump into my sump tank and thats it? Is there anything which i left out? Or do any of you guys have recommendation?

And for those pipings, better to get them from hardware shop or LFS?

Btw, i am still in search for a sump tank with partitions...

Nowadays running around like mad.

[Thexder]

Siaoliao,

when you come my place to collect the bioballs and coral chips, you can take a look at my sump design. Its a 2ft sump with 3 compartments. You can also take a look other reefers' sump in this forum and decide which design suits you better.

[RX_GAN]

for piping just go to hardware shop ba.

Just like what Thex says, take a look at some other ppl's tank then decided ba.

There is a lot of ppl who have diff tank concept and it's all up to u to choose at the end of the day.

When I made my delivery rounds, I have seen many tanks around.

Some depends more on biological, while depends on a big skimmer.

It's all up to ur choice.

just made sure u know the pros and cons of each tank design.

How to know ? Just take a look at the condition of their tank.

Biological is the one that will made down most easily and the most vulnerable.

A sudden buildup in harmful chemical can crash the tank which depends merely on biological system. Pro is cheaper and Con is manual work and continuous monitor.

Chemical and mechnical filter both work together normally.

It's more stable as chemical react according to the output of ur tank.

Chemical filter means a lot of filter mediums to remove the chemical in ur tank.

Pro is stablem and Con is expensive becos u need to renew ur filter medium every once in a while. :> FR is normally used to enhanced the function of chemical filter in this case.

Protein Skimming is a topic for debate. As most ppl uses protein skimming but some can survive without. If u dont' depends on protein skimming, then u need to really study and put in effort into chemical or biological filter here. Mostly who choose so will most likely use biological filter.

I saw one of the tank which uses maggrove plants and mud instead of protein skimmer.

At the same time, the birth of marine hobby starts without it. And the further development is made possible with the invention of protein skimmer. So it's still up to u. But this section is not for amatuer hobbyist as it's more complicated.

Have a nice day.

For a start, I recommend u to get a good skimmer and depend more on biological and chemical filter with mechnical first. When u get more into the hobby, u can slowly add on more weight on biological filter and shift away from the dependent of chemical filter system.

The design of a sump is up to individuals. some hav e a refugium in their sump while some dun.

alot of choices on that.

[siaoliao]

WOW! One more helpful information. THANKS ALOT GUYS!

[RX_GAN]

no prob. anything just pm me. and u can share pictures of ur tank in the members' tank section.

Have fun and good luck.

[siaoliao]

sure. i will post them once my tank is ready...