Water Change from sump or DT?

nynikki · 01/23/2011, 01:39 PM

I recently purchased a fully stocked 90g reef and am still learning about all of the new equipment and the use of a sump. This is a huge upgrade from my 30g tank where I ran a canister filter and didn't have a sump at all, so I'm looking for advice about how things are different using the sump.

My understanding is that with a sump it is easier to do the water changes. I assume that would mainly be because you don't disturb what's in the display tank. I have pumps and a python, so I can figure out how to get water out, what I can't decide is where to take the water from. If I pull the water out of the sump, won't I lose a lot of coepods and such? I also have a thick sand bed in the fuge section, so I don't want to disturb that too much, but I assume I should stir any detritus from the top of the bed and get that out? I was also considering raising the flow on the return pump for a few minutes to stir up anything that may have settled in the DT just before starting the water change, but then I wonder if this will cause more problems than it's worth.

Any advice you have have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

shifty51008 · 01/23/2011, 02:19 PM

I will syphon out any ditrus from the sump and then the top part of the sand in the DT if there is any junk on the sandbed. otherwise i will blow a powerhead at the rocks to clean anything that gets trapped in there but will put on a filtersock on my sump to capture anything from blowing around the DT.

IMO you won't disturb anything to bad from taking water out of the DT or the fuge, you may loose some pods but they will grow back.

Sk8r · 01/23/2011, 02:23 PM

either, but sump has less chance of siphoning up a small fish or snail.

Cj923 · 01/23/2011, 08:14 PM

Yea change from the sump

fstlane4me · 01/23/2011, 09:50 PM

I always change from my sump.It's easier for me to refill.I just use a small powerhead with a hose and pump it out into a 5gal jug.

MHG · 03/08/2011, 07:43 PM

So the pump and drain from the main tank are off line during this water change? Also lets say you have a 60 gallon DT and a 20 galon fuge. well only half that fuge has water so thats like a 10 gallon water change. what if you need to do more? Isnt it hard to not udo the syphon from the display tank?

JoeRonda · 03/08/2011, 09:14 PM

I use the python sink siphon and suck out the detritus from the return section of my sump, then open the drain valve and refill the sump back to normal level. Then continue the siphoning from the D.T., siphoning off the top of some sand.

01/23/2011, 01:39 PM	#1
nynikki Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Phoenix Posts: 161	Water Change from sump or DT? I recently purchased a fully stocked 90g reef and am still learning about all of the new equipment and the use of a sump. This is a huge upgrade from my 30g tank where I ran a canister filter and didn't have a sump at all, so I'm looking for advice about how things are different using the sump. My understanding is that with a sump it is easier to do the water changes. I assume that would mainly be because you don't disturb what's in the display tank. I have pumps and a python, so I can figure out how to get water out, what I can't decide is where to take the water from. If I pull the water out of the sump, won't I lose a lot of coepods and such? I also have a thick sand bed in the fuge section, so I don't want to disturb that too much, but I assume I should stir any detritus from the top of the bed and get that out? I was also considering raising the flow on the return pump for a few minutes to stir up anything that may have settled in the DT just before starting the water change, but then I wonder if this will cause more problems than it's worth. Any advice you have have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

01/23/2011, 02:19 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	I will syphon out any ditrus from the sump and then the top part of the sand in the DT if there is any junk on the sandbed. otherwise i will blow a powerhead at the rocks to clean anything that gets trapped in there but will put on a filtersock on my sump to capture anything from blowing around the DT. IMO you won't disturb anything to bad from taking water out of the DT or the fuge, you may loose some pods but they will grow back. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

01/23/2011, 02:23 PM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	either, but sump has less chance of siphoning up a small fish or snail. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Basement sump, multiple DT	Camel413	Reef Discussion	6	11/28/2010 09:29 PM
HELP Water Circulation, Sump Design, Filter and Skimmer in a Reef	claudiojr	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	01/17/2010 11:48 AM
Sump Design 40g Sump 40g DT	SteveJakubiec	New to the Hobby	9	11/09/2008 10:40 AM
Dosing 2 Part: Sump Or DT?	Reefer08	Reef Discussion	18	08/30/2008 07:47 PM
Micro bubbles in sump and DT	Toad42013	New to the Hobby	12	03/09/2008 01:55 PM

01/23/2011, 08:14 PM	#4
Cj923 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 57	Yea change from the sump

01/23/2011, 09:50 PM	#5
fstlane4me Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: VC,Ks Posts: 61	I always change from my sump.It's easier for me to refill.I just use a small powerhead with a hose and pump it out into a 5gal jug.

03/08/2011, 07:43 PM	#6
MHG Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 2,919	So the pump and drain from the main tank are off line during this water change? Also lets say you have a 60 gallon DT and a 20 galon fuge. well only half that fuge has water so thats like a 10 gallon water change. what if you need to do more? Isnt it hard to not udo the syphon from the display tank?

03/08/2011, 09:14 PM	#7
JoeRonda Made in the U.S.A. Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Washington,PA Posts: 694	I use the python sink siphon and suck out the detritus from the return section of my sump, then open the drain valve and refill the sump back to normal level. Then continue the siphoning from the D.T., siphoning off the top of some sand.