Water level in sump

Ranchhand02 · 01/12/2009, 09:31 AM

I have a 75 gallon tank with a 25 gallon sump. How full do you keep your sump? I have one side full of bioballs, do they need to be completly underwater or not?

spw4949 · 01/12/2009, 09:44 AM

I keep my sump(10 gallon) about 1/2 full. You have to make sure that in case of a power failure that your sump will not overflow. Also, it might be a good idea to get rid of the bio-balls, they are a big nitrate trap. Hope this helps.

spleify · 01/12/2009, 09:46 AM

Well first off get rid of those bioballs.
The water level will depend on how much water back drains when the power is cut off. You need to make sure you have MORE than enough room in there for this back flow.

Ranchhand02 · 01/12/2009, 09:55 AM

I have about 8 inches it the sump now. Should I use remove the bioballs and not add anything to replace them? I have about 90 pounds of live rock and a 3.5" sand bed in my 75 gallon tank now.

1BADREEF · 01/12/2009, 09:59 AM

You could replace the balls with carbon if you want to replace them with something, but it should be just fine with out anything.

atblj5 · 01/12/2009, 10:04 AM

Without rock or bioballs in that area of the sump it my be very noisy. You would be better off with some rock in there.

CIGDAZE · 01/12/2009, 10:11 AM

With the return pump OFF, and the tank's overflow FULLY DRAINED, I'll fill my sump to within 2 to 3 inches below the top...when I restart the return pump it ends up being about 3/4 full, or approximately 10 inches deep (this is on a 30 gallon long).

Whatever you decide, make sure it will never overflow in the event that your return pump shuts off and your display drains back.

Oh, and ditch the bioballs...A few peices of live rock will be orders of magnitude better for filtration.

Ranchhand02 · 01/12/2009, 11:12 AM

Thanks for the advise I will get some more live rock and put it in the sump. What is the difference in using live rock and the bioballs?

01/12/2009, 09:31 AM	#1
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	Water level in sump I have a 75 gallon tank with a 25 gallon sump. How full do you keep your sump? I have one side full of bioballs, do they need to be completly underwater or not?

01/12/2009, 09:44 AM	#2
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I keep my sump(10 gallon) about 1/2 full. You have to make sure that in case of a power failure that your sump will not overflow. Also, it might be a good idea to get rid of the bio-balls, they are a big nitrate trap. Hope this helps. __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

01/12/2009, 09:46 AM	#3
spleify Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 9,579	Well first off get rid of those bioballs. The water level will depend on how much water back drains when the power is cut off. You need to make sure you have MORE than enough room in there for this back flow. __________________ Make it a Great Day!!!! Current Tank Info: 60 gal SPS cube, with 25 gal refugium, 400W MH, DIY Lumenarc III, DIY skimmer, DIY stand and canopy. 40 breeder LPS with 40 gallon sump, DIY stand, 250W MH

01/12/2009, 09:55 AM	#4
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	I have about 8 inches it the sump now. Should I use remove the bioballs and not add anything to replace them? I have about 90 pounds of live rock and a 3.5" sand bed in my 75 gallon tank now.

01/12/2009, 09:59 AM	#5
1BADREEF Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 22	You could replace the balls with carbon if you want to replace them with something, but it should be just fine with out anything.

01/12/2009, 10:04 AM	#6
atblj5 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: N.H. Posts: 382	Without rock or bioballs in that area of the sump it my be very noisy. You would be better off with some rock in there.

01/12/2009, 10:11 AM	#7
CIGDAZE Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 136	With the return pump OFF, and the tank's overflow FULLY DRAINED, I'll fill my sump to within 2 to 3 inches below the top...when I restart the return pump it ends up being about 3/4 full, or approximately 10 inches deep (this is on a 30 gallon long). Whatever you decide, make sure it will never overflow in the event that your return pump shuts off and your display drains back. Oh, and ditch the bioballs...A few peices of live rock will be orders of magnitude better for filtration.

01/12/2009, 11:12 AM	#8
Ranchhand02 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 532	Thanks for the advise I will get some more live rock and put it in the sump. What is the difference in using live rock and the bioballs?