sump question

Jayclem · 03/17/2008, 11:45 AM

I got my 75 gal set up this weekend. I have some live rock and sand in the display tank. I'm getting more live rock. My question is do I need bio balls or live rock/sand in the sump tank? I did a lot of reading on the internet today and read the down side of bio balls but never could find anything saying I need anything in the sump

Fish_wiz2 · 03/17/2008, 11:49 AM

Well liverock rubble dominates and is preferred by almost everyone but bio-balls are ok but everyone hates them because of the way they produce nitrates. IMO you should do the rubble.

Jayclem · 03/17/2008, 11:52 AM

do i need a light for my sump with the rubble? if so how big?

dante7921 · 03/17/2008, 11:57 AM

Def. put in the rock. The bio-balls are nitrate factories. You'll thank yourself in the end. You don't need a light in the sump for only rock. If you plan on adding a refugium, then yes....you need to have light for the plants to grow.

Roy G. Biv · 03/17/2008, 11:58 AM

You only need a light in there if you want to keep a macroalgae. Chaeto for instance. Then it could be as small as 9W of as high as you want. The closer to 6500 - 6700K the better.

Jayclem · 03/17/2008, 12:00 PM

Thanks for the help

Jayclem · 03/17/2008, 12:03 PM

Also what about live sand is that also ok to put in the sump?

imcosmokramer · 03/17/2008, 12:19 PM

Get some "dead" sand and then seed it with a cup or so from as established tank. Either way, the LR rubble will seed it. If you want, go to a LFS and ask for some of the "gunk" at the bottom of their RL tank. You can use that to seed as well.

I wouldn't go spend money on live sand though.

03/17/2008, 11:45 AM	#1
Jayclem Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampton, va Posts: 34	sump question I got my 75 gal set up this weekend. I have some live rock and sand in the display tank. I'm getting more live rock. My question is do I need bio balls or live rock/sand in the sump tank? I did a lot of reading on the internet today and read the down side of bio balls but never could find anything saying I need anything in the sump

03/17/2008, 11:49 AM	#2
Fish_wiz2 Mangroves are kool. Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 5,246	Well liverock rubble dominates and is preferred by almost everyone but bio-balls are ok but everyone hates them because of the way they produce nitrates. IMO you should do the rubble. __________________ -The Wiz Current Tank Info: Elos Mini Seahorse Tank, 2500 gallon Koi pond

03/17/2008, 11:52 AM	#3
Jayclem Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampton, va Posts: 34	do i need a light for my sump with the rubble? if so how big?

03/17/2008, 11:57 AM	#4
dante7921 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Harrisburg, Pa. Posts: 97	Def. put in the rock. The bio-balls are nitrate factories. You'll thank yourself in the end. You don't need a light in the sump for only rock. If you plan on adding a refugium, then yes....you need to have light for the plants to grow.

03/17/2008, 11:58 AM	#5
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	You only need a light in there if you want to keep a macroalgae. Chaeto for instance. Then it could be as small as 9W of as high as you want. The closer to 6500 - 6700K the better.

03/17/2008, 12:00 PM	#6
Jayclem Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampton, va Posts: 34	Thanks for the help

03/17/2008, 12:03 PM	#7
Jayclem Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hampton, va Posts: 34	Also what about live sand is that also ok to put in the sump?

03/17/2008, 12:19 PM	#8
imcosmokramer Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,709	Get some "dead" sand and then seed it with a cup or so from as established tank. Either way, the LR rubble will seed it. If you want, go to a LFS and ask for some of the "gunk" at the bottom of their RL tank. You can use that to seed as well. I wouldn't go spend money on live sand though.