Sump Help/Confusion

[lucas in alaska]

I'm starting to work on my second tank. I currently have a 29g tank with an Aquaclear 70 filter and perform regular water changes.

My new tank is going to be a 40 breeder with a 20l sump. I figured at first in my sump I would put a filter bag on the drain, a small skimmer, a BRS dual reactor with GFO and carbon, a fuge with a little live rock and cheato and a small return area withan ATO. I want a lot of pods in my tank and I plan on culturing my own Phyto to feed my tank.

My question is am I over processing my water with the skimmer, GFO and carbon. I understand the cheato lowers phosphate so is the GFO really just overkill? Also if I'm skimming my water and running the carbon is there enough there to feed the pods?

Right now I'm thinking maybe just run a filter bag a huge fuge and then the return.

I'm just looking for some wisdom.

Thanks for your time and input

[lucas in alaska]

I should also ask if I do run all the equipment in my sump do I or can I make water changes more infrequently?

Thanks again.

[lucas in alaska]

More info.

I do plan on keeping quite a lot of softies and a few SPS. I also plan on having a somewhat high bioload in my 40, 2 clowns, a goby and maybe 3 or 4 other fish.

If I do run a skimmer I'm going to put the overflow into a plastic tote with the skimmer and then have that drain into my 20l refugium.

Thanks again

[dava6711]

You're proposed sump setup is sound, although I'm not 100% sure what you mean regarding regarding "overflow/tote"? You certainly won't be overprocessing/overcleaning your water either as I have a similar sort of setup to your's but with a minuscule biolad (60gal with a Heteractis Crispa and common Clownfish). With my setup I don't get much skimmate (as to be expected) but I get awsome growth on the Chaeto even with my low bioload. The only other advice I'd offer is to let the skimmer outlet drain into the return
pump/ATO section of the sump therefore the skimmer isn't processing water it's already skimmed and I put my GFO reactor on the on the last section rather than the 1st thereby ensuring the Chaeto isn't getting water that's had most of the phosphates stripped away by the GFO reactor! I can attach a photo of my sump/refugium if you like? I have a deep sand bed too and permanently have no detectable levels of nitrates or phosphates so I perform water changes irregularly, however I'm constantly testing my water and find the thing I have to regularly dose is Bicarbonate to maintain the alkalinity level.

[Joshnlaura]

I agree with the previous post. I wanted to add a comment about culturing your phyto. I had a VERY good culture going for about 4 months. It finally got to the point that I threw away more than I used. I thought it was fairly easy to do however I hope you have a lot of time on your hands. Also I found out very shortly in to doing this to NOT USE MIRACLE GROW in your cultures. It does a good job in the culture however has ill effects in the tank. Florida Aqua Farms sells a "food / fertilizer" that does a good job as well. I would very much be interested in some pictures of your cultures and set up when you get it going. I would like to start doing it again.