Sump/Fuge

Dan9 · 07/17/2007, 05:10 PM

I have a 65g tank with a 29 gallon sump. There are no baffles or anything in the sump. I was wondering if anyone covers the bottom of their sump with sand. It seems like it would be a good place for pods to live and breed. I just have some lr, my skimmer, and my mag7 return pump down there now. I am just trying to do everything possible to maintain a mandarin. I also want to add some macro algae down there. Is the sand a good idea? Thanks

Dan9 · 07/17/2007, 05:12 PM

I forgot to ask if I should remove the sponge that covers my mag7 intake in order to increase the amount of pods getting into the display. Thanks

AngeloM3 · 07/17/2007, 09:45 PM

Well without baffles... the water level in the sump will reduce with evaporation. So if you end up putting sand and rocks in there... theres a chance that the water level will expose the rocks and give your living room (or where ever it is) a nice low-tide smell. Also if you have a skimmer in the sump... the fluctuation of the water level will reek havoc with your skimmate production.

Personally I'd remove the sponge on the mag... really no need for it.
And putting sand and rocks and stuff in there is a good idea... but putting baffles is your best bet. That way you can make 1 chamber a fuge and will give a "calm" area for pods to live and reproduce.

Phong33 · 07/17/2007, 09:57 PM

Without baffles, I'd be very concerned about sand getting into the return pump and skimmer.

drummereef · 07/17/2007, 09:58 PM

With no baffles, I'd be concerned the return pump would start sucking sand. I personally wouldn't do it, unless you get some baffles in there.

beaupierce · 07/17/2007, 10:32 PM

The sand is a good idea, also some plants and even rock down there will help in the cycling process. I like the palnts especially. Just let mother nature do it's thing and cycle more efficiently.

BadOleRoss · 07/18/2007, 05:46 AM

I have a 3" sand bed in my 70G sump/refugium. However, my sump does have baffles and there is no way the sand is getting anywhere near my pump.

07/17/2007, 05:10 PM	#1
Dan9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Williamsville, NY Posts: 392	Sump/Fuge I have a 65g tank with a 29 gallon sump. There are no baffles or anything in the sump. I was wondering if anyone covers the bottom of their sump with sand. It seems like it would be a good place for pods to live and breed. I just have some lr, my skimmer, and my mag7 return pump down there now. I am just trying to do everything possible to maintain a mandarin. I also want to add some macro algae down there. Is the sand a good idea? Thanks __________________ Dan

07/17/2007, 05:12 PM	#2
Dan9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Williamsville, NY Posts: 392	I forgot to ask if I should remove the sponge that covers my mag7 intake in order to increase the amount of pods getting into the display. Thanks __________________ Dan

07/17/2007, 09:45 PM	#3
AngeloM3 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 1,016	Well without baffles... the water level in the sump will reduce with evaporation. So if you end up putting sand and rocks in there... theres a chance that the water level will expose the rocks and give your living room (or where ever it is) a nice low-tide smell. Also if you have a skimmer in the sump... the fluctuation of the water level will reek havoc with your skimmate production. Personally I'd remove the sponge on the mag... really no need for it. And putting sand and rocks and stuff in there is a good idea... but putting baffles is your best bet. That way you can make 1 chamber a fuge and will give a "calm" area for pods to live and reproduce. __________________ "I'm sick of chasing my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where their going and catch up with them later." -Mitch Hedberg R.I.P

07/17/2007, 09:58 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	With no baffles, I'd be concerned the return pump would start sucking sand. I personally wouldn't do it, unless you get some baffles in there. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

07/17/2007, 10:32 PM	#6
beaupierce Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 419	Rock too The sand is a good idea, also some plants and even rock down there will help in the cycling process. I like the palnts especially. Just let mother nature do it's thing and cycle more efficiently.

07/17/2007, 09:57 PM	#4
Phong33 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 371	Without baffles, I'd be very concerned about sand getting into the return pump and skimmer.

07/18/2007, 05:46 AM	#7
BadOleRoss Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lynchburg VA Posts: 381	I have a 3" sand bed in my 70G sump/refugium. However, my sump does have baffles and there is no way the sand is getting anywhere near my pump.