33gal Reef - Should i sump it?

stlcard · 09/02/2012, 09:30 PM

I need opinions from those who have been in the hobby longer. Me, only 6 months.

Heres my current setup:
33gal Reef Tank - (probably overstocked by everyones standards here)
2 clowns
1 royal gamma
1 six line
1 chromis
1 sleeper goby
CUC
about 25# live rock
use clean RO/DI water - no tds
2x39w t5 + 2x24w t5 - runs for 8 hours
Penguin HOB power filter -330 model- has Chaeto and rubble
-i run a small bag of purigen constant until it needs a recharge, no mech media unless alot of particulate - i remove within a day.
two powerheads - opposite sides & good flow (500 gph & 700 Gph)
Kent Reef Salt

SG- 1.024
Calcium - 440
Alk- 9
amonia - 0
nitrite - 0
nitrate - current 20ppm (WC coming tomorrow)
Mag - unknown
Trace - unknown

Should i go to a sump? with a protein skimmer? my LFS said not to bother with a skimmer and jsut do routine WC. Because it may pull too much good stuff from the water as well as bad?

Would switching to a sump help bump my water to that next level? My corals are okay, but not flourishing. they are grumpy and retracted about 4 days the week, content the other days.

I battle high nitrates (10-30ppm's) each week, probably overfeeding and from my bioload? and started to get hair algae. (i have reduced my feeding habits to every other day, and smaller amount - ie no leftovers)

Would a sump & skimmer solve this issue, or just create a headache?

Ive read alot and it seems its a toss up for tanks my size. Some say yay, others nay. What are your thoughts, advice to get my water pristine and corals happy?

kenc87 · 09/02/2012, 09:36 PM

I would definitely throw a sump on there. I would also really recommend getting a skimmer. It will really help with your nitrate issue. A sump will also let you move all equipment out of your main tank.

Tickle · 09/02/2012, 09:41 PM

+1 on the sump and Skimmer. The only way I'd feel comfortable without a Skimmer is if I had a turf scrubber.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2

dzfish17 · 09/02/2012, 09:58 PM

Adding a sump would be nice but if you dont mind seeing the equipment than just add a HOB skimmer. You are stocked on the heavy side so adding a skimmer will help expel a lot of the waste.

kenc87 · 09/02/2012, 10:25 PM

I would definitely throw a sump on there. I would also really recommend getting a skimmer. It will really help with your nitrate issue. A sump will also let you move all equipment out of your main tank.

bnumair · 09/02/2012, 10:52 PM

yes a sump is much beneficial.

BSmitty22 · 09/03/2012, 12:29 AM

run the sump...i ran mine without a skimmer in my sump for a couple months i had nothing but problems with my water

stlcard · 09/03/2012, 06:22 PM

thanks everyone. Ive opted to go with a sump and skimmer. i think it really will help out.

another question, how tall do i make my baffles? i am going to use a 10gal for sump.

JAustin · 09/03/2012, 06:31 PM

You don't want the baffles too high. You need to leave room in there for when the return pump shuts off and the water flows back to the sump. Probably 3/4 of the way up would be a safe area.

stlcard · 09/06/2012, 08:57 AM

okay so i got my sump setup. Its a 10g with 3 compartments. Just waiting on my overflow box and skimmer to come in.

Do i HAVE to use sand for my refugium section? is there a significant difference between using sand and not? My fear is the maintenance of the sand (siphoning and detrius)

Ideal would just be rubble rock and macro algae.

kenc87 · 09/06/2012, 10:00 AM

There are tons of different opinions about sand vs no sand in refugium. Personally I don't, I just have some live rock and chaeto but everyone is different

stlcard · 09/06/2012, 10:30 AM

cool, yeah i think im going to go without sand.

Adding sand would create another cycle, right?

stlcard · 09/22/2012, 06:35 PM

hey guys, need some tips again. I setup my sump and skimmer about 2 weeks ago. everything is running great, im glad i did it.

question, when i cut my baffles i did 1 of them a little uneven, (not a perfect 90 degree cut) so the water flows over about only 20-30% of the baffle edge. Is this going to cause issues?

Also, i had some food make it through my overflow into the first section, its been slowly hanging out in that section. should i add another small pump to ensure there is good flow through the sump? im afraid the water has found a certain path, and there may be dead spots in the 1st section...

stlcard · 09/24/2012, 09:23 AM

bump. anybody?

09/02/2012, 09:30 PM	#1
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	33gal Reef - Should i sump it? I need opinions from those who have been in the hobby longer. Me, only 6 months. Heres my current setup: 33gal Reef Tank - (probably overstocked by everyones standards here) 2 clowns 1 royal gamma 1 six line 1 chromis 1 sleeper goby CUC about 25# live rock use clean RO/DI water - no tds 2x39w t5 + 2x24w t5 - runs for 8 hours Penguin HOB power filter -330 model- has Chaeto and rubble -i run a small bag of purigen constant until it needs a recharge, no mech media unless alot of particulate - i remove within a day. two powerheads - opposite sides & good flow (500 gph & 700 Gph) Kent Reef Salt SG- 1.024 Calcium - 440 Alk- 9 amonia - 0 nitrite - 0 nitrate - current 20ppm (WC coming tomorrow) Mag - unknown Trace - unknown Should i go to a sump? with a protein skimmer? my LFS said not to bother with a skimmer and jsut do routine WC. Because it may pull too much good stuff from the water as well as bad? Would switching to a sump help bump my water to that next level? My corals are okay, but not flourishing. they are grumpy and retracted about 4 days the week, content the other days. I battle high nitrates (10-30ppm's) each week, probably overfeeding and from my bioload? and started to get hair algae. (i have reduced my feeding habits to every other day, and smaller amount - ie no leftovers) Would a sump & skimmer solve this issue, or just create a headache? Ive read alot and it seems its a toss up for tanks my size. Some say yay, others nay. What are your thoughts, advice to get my water pristine and corals happy?

09/02/2012, 09:41 PM	#3
Tickle Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Pardeeville Wi Posts: 272	+1 on the sump and Skimmer. The only way I'd feel comfortable without a Skimmer is if I had a turf scrubber. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk 2 __________________ 125 in wall with end overflow, 50&100 rubbermaid basement sump, 2x250 20k halides, 200+ of live rock, aqua C ev180 skimmer w/mag 9.5, Apex AquaController Current Tank Info: 20L custom AIO, Kessil A150, Budget build

09/02/2012, 09:58 PM	#4
dzfish17 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Fresno,Ca. Posts: 2,545	Adding a sump would be nice but if you dont mind seeing the equipment than just add a HOB skimmer. You are stocked on the heavy side so adding a skimmer will help expel a lot of the waste. __________________ 600g (96x36x46) FOWLR

09/02/2012, 10:52 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	yes a sump is much beneficial. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

09/03/2012, 06:31 PM	#9
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	You don't want the baffles too high. You need to leave room in there for when the return pump shuts off and the water flows back to the sump. Probably 3/4 of the way up would be a safe area. __________________ 211g Planet Aquariums Hybrid PVC bottom 48"x34"x30" and steel stand from CustomReefCreations - Reeflo Super Dart - OM 4way - SRO XP3000 External - ATI Dimmable 8x54w - Apex.

09/02/2012, 09:36 PM	#2
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	I would definitely throw a sump on there. I would also really recommend getting a skimmer. It will really help with your nitrate issue. A sump will also let you move all equipment out of your main tank.

09/02/2012, 10:25 PM	#5
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	I would definitely throw a sump on there. I would also really recommend getting a skimmer. It will really help with your nitrate issue. A sump will also let you move all equipment out of your main tank.

09/03/2012, 12:29 AM	#7
BSmitty22 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 61	run the sump...i ran mine without a skimmer in my sump for a couple months i had nothing but problems with my water

09/03/2012, 06:22 PM	#8
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	thanks everyone. Ive opted to go with a sump and skimmer. i think it really will help out. another question, how tall do i make my baffles? i am going to use a 10gal for sump.

09/06/2012, 08:57 AM	#10
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	okay so i got my sump setup. Its a 10g with 3 compartments. Just waiting on my overflow box and skimmer to come in. Do i HAVE to use sand for my refugium section? is there a significant difference between using sand and not? My fear is the maintenance of the sand (siphoning and detrius) Ideal would just be rubble rock and macro algae.

09/06/2012, 10:00 AM	#11
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	There are tons of different opinions about sand vs no sand in refugium. Personally I don't, I just have some live rock and chaeto but everyone is different

09/06/2012, 10:30 AM	#12
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	cool, yeah i think im going to go without sand. Adding sand would create another cycle, right?

09/22/2012, 06:35 PM	#13
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	hey guys, need some tips again. I setup my sump and skimmer about 2 weeks ago. everything is running great, im glad i did it. question, when i cut my baffles i did 1 of them a little uneven, (not a perfect 90 degree cut) so the water flows over about only 20-30% of the baffle edge. Is this going to cause issues? Also, i had some food make it through my overflow into the first section, its been slowly hanging out in that section. should i add another small pump to ensure there is good flow through the sump? im afraid the water has found a certain path, and there may be dead spots in the 1st section...

09/24/2012, 09:23 AM	#14
stlcard Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 317	bump. anybody?