dont grasp the concept of keeping fish or anything in the sump?

lmh11706 · 11/21/2009, 11:39 PM

i keep reading on how people keep fish or other life in their sump.i dont get it.my sump has 2 pumps in it-1 for the sump and 1 for the skimmer-which takes up lots of room-[my sump handles up to a 150g tank-i have a 75]-plus alot of junk gets down in there-plus everyday there is evaporation at least a gallon-and when i do a water change and shut the sump pump off-when i restart theres turmoil in the sump-do people have such huge sumps they can keep fish in it??

also- over time the sump walls that are submerged get coated with this white-curved-small things-that feel hard like coralline algae-but small like the size of a tiny worm-but its not alive i dont think?what is that stuff?it doesnt dirty the water

BLKTANG · 11/21/2009, 11:52 PM

those fish in the sum are usually "banned" from the Reef,& dont have to be killed.Ive kept many animals in my sump but the monster hitchiker crab ALWAYS wins.

tkeracer619 · 11/22/2009, 12:01 AM

My sump is a 6' long 120g eurobraced tank.

I can keep tangs down there if I need to. =P

The current resident is a mean damsel.

lllosingit · 11/22/2009, 12:02 AM

I have a 250 60x36x27 gallon display hooked to a system in the basement that consists of an 80 gallon sump/refuge 72x16x16 thats divided into three compartments. First is equipment..filter socks/skimmer/heaters/probes. Second compartment and third compartments have a deep sand bed and contains a small snow flake eel and small undulated trigger in one and just live rock with a breeder net with juvenile clowns in the other. The water then dumps into a 120 gallon 72x18x22 that houses extra live rock and a chainlink eel.

I like having the large sump & refuge to have a place to keep fish that aren't large enough yet to go into the main tank and to keep some aggressive fish that wouldn't be a good fit for the main display.
Not everyone has the luxury of basement under the main display but since I do I figure I might as well use it.

nikon187 · 11/22/2009, 12:04 AM

Does your sump have any baffels? most will keep them in a section of the sump where they can't be sucked into pumps. evaporation should only happen in the return section unless there are no baffels.

lancer99 · 11/22/2009, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lmh11706

also- over time the sump walls that are submerged get coated with this white-curved-small things-that feel hard like coralline algae-but small like the size of a tiny worm-but its not alive i dont think?what is that stuff?it doesnt dirty the water

Sounds like mini feather dusters....they are a good thing.

-R

lmh11706 · 11/22/2009, 12:17 AM

i see -no my sump is very small holds only a few gallons of water up to a water line-good for my 75gal-for me a sumps meaning is just extra filtration

BLKTANG · 11/22/2009, 12:19 AM

i think he meant like a 20g or maybe 30g sump.LO effin L.

11/21/2009, 11:39 PM	#1
lmh11706 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: bayshore,long island ny Posts: 269	dont grasp the concept of keeping fish or anything in the sump? i keep reading on how people keep fish or other life in their sump.i dont get it.my sump has 2 pumps in it-1 for the sump and 1 for the skimmer-which takes up lots of room-[my sump handles up to a 150g tank-i have a 75]-plus alot of junk gets down in there-plus everyday there is evaporation at least a gallon-and when i do a water change and shut the sump pump off-when i restart theres turmoil in the sump-do people have such huge sumps they can keep fish in it?? also- over time the sump walls that are submerged get coated with this white-curved-small things-that feel hard like coralline algae-but small like the size of a tiny worm-but its not alive i dont think?what is that stuff?it doesnt dirty the water

11/21/2009, 11:52 PM	#2
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	those fish in the sum are usually "banned" from the Reef,& dont have to be killed.Ive kept many animals in my sump but the monster hitchiker crab ALWAYS wins. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

11/22/2009, 12:01 AM	#3
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	My sump is a 6' long 120g eurobraced tank. I can keep tangs down there if I need to. =P The current resident is a mean damsel. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

11/22/2009, 12:02 AM	#4
lllosingit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Des Moines Iowa Posts: 3,190	I have a 250 60x36x27 gallon display hooked to a system in the basement that consists of an 80 gallon sump/refuge 72x16x16 thats divided into three compartments. First is equipment..filter socks/skimmer/heaters/probes. Second compartment and third compartments have a deep sand bed and contains a small snow flake eel and small undulated trigger in one and just live rock with a breeder net with juvenile clowns in the other. The water then dumps into a 120 gallon 72x18x22 that houses extra live rock and a chainlink eel. I like having the large sump & refuge to have a place to keep fish that aren't large enough yet to go into the main tank and to keep some aggressive fish that wouldn't be a good fit for the main display. Not everyone has the luxury of basement under the main display but since I do I figure I might as well use it. __________________ It Was Funny Until Someone Got Hurt..........Then It Was Hilarious! Current Tank Info: DD 250 60x36x27 450 gallon total system.

11/22/2009, 12:19 AM	#8
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	i think he meant like a 20g or maybe 30g sump.LO effin L. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

11/22/2009, 12:04 AM	#5
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	Does your sump have any baffels? most will keep them in a section of the sump where they can't be sucked into pumps. evaporation should only happen in the return section unless there are no baffels.

11/22/2009, 12:17 AM	#7
lmh11706 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: bayshore,long island ny Posts: 269	i see -no my sump is very small holds only a few gallons of water up to a water line-good for my 75gal-for me a sumps meaning is just extra filtration