my sump layout please help

timmyus · 03/07/2006, 02:06 AM

Hi guys I need some info about what to do with my sump as you can see the layout I have 4chambers. this is what I have in there so far and would like any other advise about what I can change or put in that would make my water qaulity better.

In chamber 1 I have coral chips which some vendor told me to put in Not sure why put gave me some explaination about y PH chemistry and I dont know what if any of you my be clearer on the subject or have a different opinion on that matter please let me know

in chember 2 I have bio balls which was told to me that it wuld trap dirt and polish the water if that is the correct terms I am using

In chamber 3 I have nothing except my heater but would like to know what else I can put in there. I was told to maybe put in aragonite for refuse(whatever that means) any other ideas??

Chamber 4 I have my Protien skimmer and my return Pump.

The tank is not running yet as I still feel that I am missing something and would like to know if any of you could give me further advice. I would appreciate it. I wouls really like to start cycling my tank and get started.

My display tank is 1200x450x450 mm I will be stocking live rock in the main tank

My sumps diameters are 900x300x300.

mg426 · 03/07/2006, 02:26 AM

I will suggest a couple of things. place your skimmer in chamber 1 without the coral rubble/chips so it will recieve raw unfiltered water from your main tank. Mabe carbon in #2. DSB/ macro algae in #3 Return pump in #4. Aragonite is good stuff helps to buffer your alk. Use fine (oolitic aragonite)

timmyus · 03/07/2006, 02:45 AM

OK This might sound stupid. OK I am stupid when it comes to this cos I am only starting out not. But what is Migro aglea and also would it not be better for the aragonite to be in the 3rd chamber so that water overflows to the 4th where the pump will push that up to the main tank. Sorry not to sound as if I am undermining you suggestion. I just want to make sure I do tis right with no fatalities.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2006, 04:44 AM

Macro algae is what people use for refugiums. The macro algae inside of them will help reduce nitrate and give you better water quality.

Devildogg9745 · 03/07/2006, 09:48 AM

One thing I might suggest is making chamber 4 into chamber 1 because with the way it is the last baffle is an over which will casuse micro bubbles that may get sucked into the return andthen into your display. If you run the flow the other direction your last baffle is an under which will cause the bubble to get trapped in the chamber you have marked as 2.

Driftwood · 03/07/2006, 11:28 AM

I just built a sump and spent a few weeks ironing out the design. The people on this board and another helped me immensely.

I ended up with the design below:

The first chamber was divided into two sections. A crash chamber where the overflow dropped into, this chamber can be filled with some small live rock pieces. This helps to filter the water and slow it down some after the 4 foot fall. I left the bottom of the divider between these two sections an inch off the bottom. This way the flow of water is directed down the crash chamber and into the bottom of the skimmer chamber where the skimmer has it's intake. The other section of the first chamber is for my skimmer. It is best in the first chamber because most will dump some bubbles into the sump and they can be filtered out later in the bubble traps.

The middle chamber is the Refuge. A refuge is a nice calm area for you to grow some beneficial algae. This algae will eat bad stuff as it grows. I also have a hermit crab in my refuge because he wouldn't leave my yellow polops alone. I had thrown a damsel in there that was being a bully, but he swam through the bubble trap and was returned to the main tank in pieces. If you are going to grow algae in the refuge, then you need a light.

The final chamber is the return chamber and you want this as big as possible without making the other chambers too small. This last chamber is where you will see all of your evaporation. If you make it less them a gallon, you are doomed to be constantly adding top off water to keep the sump operating. Unless of course you install a freshwater 'top off' reservoir and a float switch to keep the return chamber at a constant level.

I hope this is helpful. I know that there are plenty of people here that will help you get this working!

03/07/2006, 02:06 AM	#1
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	my sump layout please help Hi guys I need some info about what to do with my sump as you can see the layout I have 4chambers. this is what I have in there so far and would like any other advise about what I can change or put in that would make my water qaulity better. In chamber 1 I have coral chips which some vendor told me to put in Not sure why put gave me some explaination about y PH chemistry and I dont know what if any of you my be clearer on the subject or have a different opinion on that matter please let me know in chember 2 I have bio balls which was told to me that it wuld trap dirt and polish the water if that is the correct terms I am using In chamber 3 I have nothing except my heater but would like to know what else I can put in there. I was told to maybe put in aragonite for refuse(whatever that means) any other ideas?? Chamber 4 I have my Protien skimmer and my return Pump. The tank is not running yet as I still feel that I am missing something and would like to know if any of you could give me further advice. I would appreciate it. I wouls really like to start cycling my tank and get started. My display tank is 1200x450x450 mm I will be stocking live rock in the main tank My sumps diameters are 900x300x300.

03/07/2006, 02:26 AM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	I will suggest a couple of things. place your skimmer in chamber 1 without the coral rubble/chips so it will recieve raw unfiltered water from your main tank. Mabe carbon in #2. DSB/ macro algae in #3 Return pump in #4. Aragonite is good stuff helps to buffer your alk. Use fine (oolitic aragonite) __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

03/07/2006, 02:45 AM	#3
timmyus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cape Town South Africa Posts: 109	OK This might sound stupid. OK I am stupid when it comes to this cos I am only starting out not. But what is Migro aglea and also would it not be better for the aragonite to be in the 3rd chamber so that water overflows to the 4th where the pump will push that up to the main tank. Sorry not to sound as if I am undermining you suggestion. I just want to make sure I do tis right with no fatalities.

03/07/2006, 04:44 AM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Macro algae is what people use for refugiums. The macro algae inside of them will help reduce nitrate and give you better water quality.

03/07/2006, 09:48 AM	#5
Devildogg9745 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Milwaukee,WI Posts: 107	One thing I might suggest is making chamber 4 into chamber 1 because with the way it is the last baffle is an over which will casuse micro bubbles that may get sucked into the return andthen into your display. If you run the flow the other direction your last baffle is an under which will cause the bubble to get trapped in the chamber you have marked as 2.

03/07/2006, 11:28 AM	#6
Driftwood Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gardiner, ME Posts: 841	I just built a sump and spent a few weeks ironing out the design. The people on this board and another helped me immensely. I ended up with the design below: The first chamber was divided into two sections. A crash chamber where the overflow dropped into, this chamber can be filled with some small live rock pieces. This helps to filter the water and slow it down some after the 4 foot fall. I left the bottom of the divider between these two sections an inch off the bottom. This way the flow of water is directed down the crash chamber and into the bottom of the skimmer chamber where the skimmer has it's intake. The other section of the first chamber is for my skimmer. It is best in the first chamber because most will dump some bubbles into the sump and they can be filtered out later in the bubble traps. The middle chamber is the Refuge. A refuge is a nice calm area for you to grow some beneficial algae. This algae will eat bad stuff as it grows. I also have a hermit crab in my refuge because he wouldn't leave my yellow polops alone. I had thrown a damsel in there that was being a bully, but he swam through the bubble trap and was returned to the main tank in pieces. If you are going to grow algae in the refuge, then you need a light. The final chamber is the return chamber and you want this as big as possible without making the other chambers too small. This last chamber is where you will see all of your evaporation. If you make it less them a gallon, you are doomed to be constantly adding top off water to keep the sump operating. Unless of course you install a freshwater 'top off' reservoir and a float switch to keep the return chamber at a constant level. I hope this is helpful. I know that there are plenty of people here that will help you get this working!