water changes while using sump

infamous · 08/05/2006, 09:03 PM

hey

right now i'm still researching about starting a 75 gallon FOWLR aquarium. i still haven't bought any equipment yet

Anyways i'm wondering if a water change can be done less frequently if i use a sump. Also can I just use a protein skimmer placed into a sump with a return pump or do I need more filtration. Do i really need to grow algae in the sump to reduce nitrates? I really want to cut down on maintanence since it is only a fish-only with live rock tank, not a reef tank. And after reading stories of managing a reef tank I was shocked.

Thanks

PatMayo · 08/05/2006, 09:11 PM

You will still need to do the water changes. Fish are not very sensitive to nitrates. You really do not need to have cheato if you don't want. Water changes will reduce the nitrates but you can run much higher because you don't have corals or inverts. If you have inverts you will want to keep nitrates low. If you have live rock then all you have to have is a good skimmer in the sump. I would buy the best skimmer you can possibly afford. It will save you some headaches. I would still do at least 20% water change every month at the least.

Regards,

Pat

infamous · 08/05/2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PatMayo
You will still need to do the water changes. Fish are not very sensitive to nitrates. You really do not need to have cheato if you don't want. Water changes will reduce the nitrates but you can run much higher because you don't have corals or inverts. If you have inverts you will want to keep nitrates low. If you have live rock then all you have to have is a good skimmer in the sump. I would buy the best skimmer you can possibly afford. It will save you some headaches. I would still do at least 20% water change every month at the least.

Regards,

Pat

Thanks for the reply Pat

So your saying I only need a good protein skimmer in a 20 gallon tank(sump) for filtration to have a successful tank along with water changes every month?

Should I consider more powerheads for water movement or is the return pump enough?

Also can water changes be done in the sump? Don't want to stress out the fish

infamous · 08/05/2006, 11:11 PM

what is really needed in a sump? such as the splitting factor

Bebo77 · 08/05/2006, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by infamous
I really want to cut down on maintanence since it is only a fish-only with live rock tank

the more filters you have the less work you have to do... get a good skimmer and a sump with a fuge full of cheato.. that will help a lot. you still have to do water changes.

markandkristen · 08/05/2006, 11:32 PM

i suggest a euroreef cs-80 from marinedepot.com i think its 200 shipped. thier simple and work great. thiers very few people on these forums that have had problems with them. thier rock solid i have a 6-3 on my 90 which is = to a cs-135. just a thought

Sk8r · 08/05/2006, 11:35 PM

You may get by with a mag 9.5. I run a heavy flow 52 off one, with a sea swirl attachment.

infamous · 08/05/2006, 11:38 PM

what is the best COMBINATION of filters in a sump to reduce the maintenance workload?

Thankss

tunatogo · 08/06/2006, 12:54 AM

Using macro algae in the sump will reduce your labor. Water changes will not be needed as often since the water will recycle itself. macro creates a complete cycle where nutrients are absorbed and detrius is deminished. The water purifies itself. I know many people that never do water changes and have beautiful tanks. I still recommend water changes to replace trace elements but its needed far less often when you have macro.

infamous · 08/06/2006, 12:45 PM

also what about plumbing...can I use a flexy pipe? And what is the best overflow system?

theatrus · 08/06/2006, 12:55 PM

U-Tube like overflows such as the LifeReef: http://lifereef.com/frame.html are best.

Flex pipe or vinyl tubing is fine, but is harder to anchor in place compared to normal PVC pipe. Try to avoid transparent tubing as it turns into an algae farm.

infamous · 08/06/2006, 01:22 PM

How does the u tube like overflow work?

08/05/2006, 09:03 PM	#1
infamous Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	water changes while using sump hey right now i'm still researching about starting a 75 gallon FOWLR aquarium. i still haven't bought any equipment yet Anyways i'm wondering if a water change can be done less frequently if i use a sump. Also can I just use a protein skimmer placed into a sump with a return pump or do I need more filtration. Do i really need to grow algae in the sump to reduce nitrates? I really want to cut down on maintanence since it is only a fish-only with live rock tank, not a reef tank. And after reading stories of managing a reef tank I was shocked. Thanks

08/05/2006, 09:11 PM	#2
PatMayo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,843	You will still need to do the water changes. Fish are not very sensitive to nitrates. You really do not need to have cheato if you don't want. Water changes will reduce the nitrates but you can run much higher because you don't have corals or inverts. If you have inverts you will want to keep nitrates low. If you have live rock then all you have to have is a good skimmer in the sump. I would buy the best skimmer you can possibly afford. It will save you some headaches. I would still do at least 20% water change every month at the least. Regards, Pat __________________ 90 AGA Megaflow (Setup 1-24-06) 120 Lbs. Liverock EuroReef RS 100 Skimmer 2 X 150 MH 2 X 96 watt PC Actinic 2 Clarki Clowns (31 months old) 1 Niger Trigger (Owned 6 months) 2 Tunze 6055 PH Current Tank Info: 90 AGA Megaflow To Be Mixed Reef

08/05/2006, 11:35 PM	#7
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You may get by with a mag 9.5. I run a heavy flow 52 off one, with a sea swirl attachment. __________________ 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%.

08/06/2006, 12:55 PM	#11
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	U-Tube like overflows such as the LifeReef: http://lifereef.com/frame.html are best. Flex pipe or vinyl tubing is fine, but is harder to anchor in place compared to normal PVC pipe. Try to avoid transparent tubing as it turns into an algae farm. __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

08/05/2006, 11:11 PM	#4
infamous Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	what is really needed in a sump? such as the splitting factor

08/05/2006, 11:32 PM	#6
markandkristen Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Winterhaven, fl Posts: 4,081	i suggest a euroreef cs-80 from marinedepot.com i think its 200 shipped. thier simple and work great. thiers very few people on these forums that have had problems with them. thier rock solid i have a 6-3 on my 90 which is = to a cs-135. just a thought

08/05/2006, 11:38 PM	#8
infamous Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	what is the best COMBINATION of filters in a sump to reduce the maintenance workload? Thankss

08/06/2006, 12:54 AM	#9
tunatogo Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: AL Posts: 15	Using macro algae in the sump will reduce your labor. Water changes will not be needed as often since the water will recycle itself. macro creates a complete cycle where nutrients are absorbed and detrius is deminished. The water purifies itself. I know many people that never do water changes and have beautiful tanks. I still recommend water changes to replace trace elements but its needed far less often when you have macro.

08/06/2006, 12:45 PM	#10
infamous Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	also what about plumbing...can I use a flexy pipe? And what is the best overflow system?

08/06/2006, 01:22 PM	#12
infamous Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 35	How does the u tube like overflow work?