Buying a sump

bpoore89 · 12/18/2007, 04:58 PM

I have hardly any room under my tank so im looking at this
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/237632/product.web
I have a 10g I could use but I have no way to make baffles. Does this look ok? My goal is to lower my nitrates. Either adding more Lr or doing a sand bed with some macro (i think thats what its called) or whatever will help. Has anyone used this? Does it look ok? Thanks guys

poppin_fresh · 12/18/2007, 08:08 PM

thats a lot of $$ for a small sump IMO. You could use the 10 gallon sump with out baffles if you dont pump a lot of flow through it. Give the bubbles chance to dissapate, you wont have issues.

What are your nitrates at?

bpoore89 · 12/18/2007, 08:43 PM

they hang around 30 or less. They've just always given me prolems. I guess I can go with no baffles. Saves me $$$$$$

poppin_fresh · 12/18/2007, 09:12 PM

30 or less isn't really that bad. If you keep sump speeds low (for a 10 gallon sump about 150 gph) you could make it a sump/'fuge. You may need to add a screen to keep the macro from being sucked into the pump. This would help keep NO3 down better than a pre-made sump with a sock that can add to the problem.

Salamander · 12/18/2007, 09:50 PM

Its pretty easy to make baffles for your 10g. Get some plexi glass and a plexi glass cutter ($3) and some silicone. Cut to size by using the cutter to score the plexi good and deep, then snap it off. Its simple. Then silicone in place as you need. It shouldn't cost but $20 or so total and that'll leave you with some extra plexi for future projects.

jeweldamsel · 12/18/2007, 09:58 PM

^ I agree. Acrylic/plexi glass is very easy to use. You can even build your own sump with it.

Salamander · 12/18/2007, 10:21 PM

Check Melev's Reef for some DIY sump plans and search the DIY forum too.

bpoore89 · 12/19/2007, 03:08 PM

Thanks guys Ill try making my own baffles

bpoore89 · 12/19/2007, 03:08 PM

Thanks guys Ill try making my own baffles

12/18/2007, 04:58 PM	#1
bpoore89 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North East, Maryland Posts: 560	Buying a sump I have hardly any room under my tank so im looking at this http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/237632/product.web I have a 10g I could use but I have no way to make baffles. Does this look ok? My goal is to lower my nitrates. Either adding more Lr or doing a sand bed with some macro (i think thats what its called) or whatever will help. Has anyone used this? Does it look ok? Thanks guys

12/18/2007, 08:08 PM	#2
poppin_fresh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,982	thats a lot of $$ for a small sump IMO. You could use the 10 gallon sump with out baffles if you dont pump a lot of flow through it. Give the bubbles chance to dissapate, you wont have issues. What are your nitrates at? __________________ PBITAWA! Current Tank Info: None now. Past- 180g w/ 100g basement sump and 20g 'fuge. H & S skimmer, T'5s & Tunze

12/18/2007, 08:43 PM	#3
bpoore89 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North East, Maryland Posts: 560	they hang around 30 or less. They've just always given me prolems. I guess I can go with no baffles. Saves me $$$$$$ __________________ -- Bill Current Tank Info: 220g Sps Dominated, 40Br Agressive, 40Br Clam tank, 55g Sump

12/18/2007, 09:12 PM	#4
poppin_fresh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,982	30 or less isn't really that bad. If you keep sump speeds low (for a 10 gallon sump about 150 gph) you could make it a sump/'fuge. You may need to add a screen to keep the macro from being sucked into the pump. This would help keep NO3 down better than a pre-made sump with a sock that can add to the problem. __________________ PBITAWA! Current Tank Info: None now. Past- 180g w/ 100g basement sump and 20g 'fuge. H & S skimmer, T'5s & Tunze

12/18/2007, 09:50 PM	#5
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Its pretty easy to make baffles for your 10g. Get some plexi glass and a plexi glass cutter ($3) and some silicone. Cut to size by using the cutter to score the plexi good and deep, then snap it off. Its simple. Then silicone in place as you need. It shouldn't cost but $20 or so total and that'll leave you with some extra plexi for future projects. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

12/18/2007, 09:58 PM	#6
jeweldamsel Registered Member Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 385	^ I agree. Acrylic/plexi glass is very easy to use. You can even build your own sump with it.

12/18/2007, 10:21 PM	#7
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	Check Melev's Reef for some DIY sump plans and search the DIY forum too. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

12/19/2007, 03:08 PM	#8
bpoore89 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North East, Maryland Posts: 560	Thanks guys Ill try making my own baffles __________________ -- Bill Current Tank Info: 220g Sps Dominated, 40Br Agressive, 40Br Clam tank, 55g Sump