sump finished and running - a few final Qs

m3rcury · 08/07/2006, 01:43 PM

i have a 40 breeder and finally built a 20long sump. it has been up and running for a few weeks and now i have my final questions (or, at least final for the moment

)

1) it is a 3 compartment design with the return in the middle and a t-valve funneling a slower flow into the refuge. there is a film that has developed on the surface of the water in the return compartment. should i be worried about this?
2) i have a hang-on-tank overflow box that is clear acryllic. do i need to remove this to clean algea that is growing in the box?
3) is the easiest way to change the water to do it in the sump instead of the main tank? that is what i've done so far, but i wanted to get input from other people.
4) i have a fan pointed at the return section to try to reduce the temp of the water. is this the best way?
5) is there a way to install a float sensor in the sump to shut off the return pump in case something bad happens with the overflow line?

thanks folks

bertoni · 08/07/2006, 08:20 PM

1) I probably wouldn't worry very much about it, but I'd mop it out with a paper towel now and then.

2) Algae in the box isn't much of an issue, in my opinion. I might worry about algae in the U-tube, just in terms of oxygen release and plugging. Probably not an issue, but I'd keep an eye on it.

3) I don't know.

4) Pointing the fan at the largest surface area possible will produce the most results.

5) Yes, that can be done. The ReefFanatic float switches will do that for you.

08/07/2006, 01:43 PM	#1
m3rcury Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 325	sump finished and running - a few final Qs i have a 40 breeder and finally built a 20long sump. it has been up and running for a few weeks and now i have my final questions (or, at least final for the moment ) 1) it is a 3 compartment design with the return in the middle and a t-valve funneling a slower flow into the refuge. there is a film that has developed on the surface of the water in the return compartment. should i be worried about this? 2) i have a hang-on-tank overflow box that is clear acryllic. do i need to remove this to clean algea that is growing in the box? 3) is the easiest way to change the water to do it in the sump instead of the main tank? that is what i've done so far, but i wanted to get input from other people. 4) i have a fan pointed at the return section to try to reduce the temp of the water. is this the best way? 5) is there a way to install a float sensor in the sump to shut off the return pump in case something bad happens with the overflow line? thanks folks

08/07/2006, 08:20 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	1) I probably wouldn't worry very much about it, but I'd mop it out with a paper towel now and then. 2) Algae in the box isn't much of an issue, in my opinion. I might worry about algae in the U-tube, just in terms of oxygen release and plugging. Probably not an issue, but I'd keep an eye on it. 3) I don't know. 4) Pointing the fan at the largest surface area possible will produce the most results. 5) Yes, that can be done. The ReefFanatic float switches will do that for you. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni