Check out my sump/refuge...custom made!!Pics

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 08:48 PM

I just put this thing together the last week and i need some help with how it is working. I am having a couple of problems, first one is i get tons of micro bubbles from my skimmers and the bubble chamber overflow where the display tank water enters. Second is that the refugium part in the middle is getting a film on top of the water because of no top water movement. I dont want to here about the bio ball also...i know, i know!!!
Pics are from left to right!!!

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 08:51 PM

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 08:53 PM

Inner pic of the water entering into the sump

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 08:55 PM

I put all this media in here to try and stop the bubble but i need another more effective way....any ideas im open.

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 10:21 PM

no one knows anything i could try

outy · 09/09/2006, 10:56 PM

step back and give us a view/pic of the whole fuge

not sure why you have submerged bio balls

i think if your skimmer was doing its job better that film would be gone in the center, maybe with it being a new set up it just needs time. the film should be gone soon if thats the case.

outy · 09/09/2006, 10:58 PM

micro bubbles are fine on that side of your fuge, as long as there not going back to the display tank i dont see a problem

msuzuki126 · 09/09/2006, 11:01 PM

Should get rid of the bio-balls.

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 11:04 PM

skimmer is in a different bay than the water that has the film. as you can see the skimmer is before the fuge and they are seperated by a piece of glass so my skimmer section stay at the same water level for consistant skimming....but not really working because the level of the water in the skimmer bay may be too high anyway and i cant get the skimmer dialed in right. How high is the water supposed to be aroung this type of skimmer?

75reef · 09/09/2006, 11:13 PM

I think your water level in the sump is a little high. Do you have enough capacity if the power is shut off and the tank partially drains to the sump? A deep sand bed in the refugium section would also be a benefit. Looks good though. Did you make it yourself?

mahoneyc3 · 09/09/2006, 11:14 PM

down the line that media is going to end up a nitrate trap, know its not staying for long, just saying- if i were you, i would sacrafice some of your more than ample fuge room for a set of bubble traps, pm me with any further questions, more than happy to help- chirs

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 11:22 PM

Thank you for the responses.....I am planning to remove all the media on the left side of the sump and also plan for a 6 inch deep sand bed, still work in progress to day was the first day turned on. Yes 75reef their is plenty of room in case a power falure, the level on increases a bout a half inch or so. Also the i think i could increas my skimmer output if i where to make another surface skimmer in the refuge part (where the film on the water is) and connect that water directly to the intake on my skimmer. But how to do that in the space i have is the question?

EleganceMan · 09/09/2006, 11:26 PM

oh and yes i did make it myself....actually really easy to do and way cheaper...all the glass was only $100 thats cut and edge sanded. but i should have bought a piece 14.5" and cut all the inside pieces my self that would have saved a lot. Thanks again

outy · 09/09/2006, 11:43 PM

everythings fine and looks good in the whole pic

i would not run a dsb in the fuge, its just a detritus trap. if you saw what i clean out of my sump weekly you would not run sand. [i did for 2 years and it was a mess]

i would ditch the other bio balls on the left side where the water enters and make sure you clean the poly filter weekly so that its not a nitrate factory.

once you get your skimmer dailed in the film in the middle will go away. [skimmer needs to be raised so that its 6"-8" deep]

heres mine

EleganceMan · 09/10/2006, 12:34 AM

well i may have a couple different problems then....my skimmer sucks for one....anyone have any luck with this one? i only have about two inches i can raise it and that would put me at 10 inches submerged. bio balls are there to help stop the noise and bubbles from getting into main tank. also the sponge on the right, before the return pump chamber.. i should have made that last piece of glass about two inches off the bottom because you can see how the water is higher than where the pump is...its forceing the water through the sponge...which means when it clogs up then over the last piece of glass goes the water and more bubble problems.

outy · 09/10/2006, 01:00 AM

you dont want the sponge its a nitrate factory

and as for the noise on the water entering on the left. you can add a 90 degree elbow submerged in 1-2 inches of water without using bio balls. look in my pic you can see the 90 in front of the skimmer. after looking at your pics i see you added the glass so that the water splashes. if it was me i,d yank that out

Columbo · 09/10/2006, 05:25 AM

Outy-

What is that on the bottom left of Your sump?

sc

09/09/2006, 08:48 PM	#1
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	Check out my sump/refuge...custom made!!Pics I just put this thing together the last week and i need some help with how it is working. I am having a couple of problems, first one is i get tons of micro bubbles from my skimmers and the bubble chamber overflow where the display tank water enters. Second is that the refugium part in the middle is getting a film on top of the water because of no top water movement. I dont want to here about the bio ball also...i know, i know!!! Pics are from left to right!!! __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 08:51 PM	#2
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	__________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 08:53 PM	#3
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	Inner pic of the water entering into the sump __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 08:55 PM	#4
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	I put all this media in here to try and stop the bubble but i need another more effective way....any ideas im open. __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 10:21 PM	#5
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	no one knows anything i could try __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 10:56 PM	#6
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	step back and give us a view/pic of the whole fuge not sure why you have submerged bio balls i think if your skimmer was doing its job better that film would be gone in the center, maybe with it being a new set up it just needs time. the film should be gone soon if thats the case.

09/09/2006, 10:58 PM	#7
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	micro bubbles are fine on that side of your fuge, as long as there not going back to the display tank i dont see a problem

09/09/2006, 11:01 PM	#8
msuzuki126 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Dutchess County, New York Posts: 1,377	Should get rid of the bio-balls. __________________ Red House=My 90 build. Matt. Current Tank Info: 90 rebuild

09/09/2006, 11:04 PM	#9
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	skimmer is in a different bay than the water that has the film. as you can see the skimmer is before the fuge and they are seperated by a piece of glass so my skimmer section stay at the same water level for consistant skimming....but not really working because the level of the water in the skimmer bay may be too high anyway and i cant get the skimmer dialed in right. How high is the water supposed to be aroung this type of skimmer? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 11:13 PM	#10
75reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, Az. Posts: 97	I think your water level in the sump is a little high. Do you have enough capacity if the power is shut off and the tank partially drains to the sump? A deep sand bed in the refugium section would also be a benefit. Looks good though. Did you make it yourself?

09/09/2006, 11:14 PM	#11
mahoneyc3 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: milford ct Posts: 402	down the line that media is going to end up a nitrate trap, know its not staying for long, just saying- if i were you, i would sacrafice some of your more than ample fuge room for a set of bubble traps, pm me with any further questions, more than happy to help- chirs __________________ im such an addict, i upgraded my 125 to a 180 befor there was even water in it! chris

09/09/2006, 11:22 PM	#12
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	Thank you for the responses.....I am planning to remove all the media on the left side of the sump and also plan for a 6 inch deep sand bed, still work in progress to day was the first day turned on. Yes 75reef their is plenty of room in case a power falure, the level on increases a bout a half inch or so. Also the i think i could increas my skimmer output if i where to make another surface skimmer in the refuge part (where the film on the water is) and connect that water directly to the intake on my skimmer. But how to do that in the space i have is the question? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 11:26 PM	#13
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	oh and yes i did make it myself....actually really easy to do and way cheaper...all the glass was only $100 thats cut and edge sanded. but i should have bought a piece 14.5" and cut all the inside pieces my self that would have saved a lot. Thanks again __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/09/2006, 11:43 PM	#14
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	everythings fine and looks good in the whole pic i would not run a dsb in the fuge, its just a detritus trap. if you saw what i clean out of my sump weekly you would not run sand. [i did for 2 years and it was a mess] i would ditch the other bio balls on the left side where the water enters and make sure you clean the poly filter weekly so that its not a nitrate factory. once you get your skimmer dailed in the film in the middle will go away. [skimmer needs to be raised so that its 6"-8" deep] heres mine

09/10/2006, 12:34 AM	#15
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	well i may have a couple different problems then....my skimmer sucks for one....anyone have any luck with this one? i only have about two inches i can raise it and that would put me at 10 inches submerged. bio balls are there to help stop the noise and bubbles from getting into main tank. also the sponge on the right, before the return pump chamber.. i should have made that last piece of glass about two inches off the bottom because you can see how the water is higher than where the pump is...its forceing the water through the sponge...which means when it clogs up then over the last piece of glass goes the water and more bubble problems. __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

09/10/2006, 01:00 AM	#16
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	you dont want the sponge its a nitrate factory and as for the noise on the water entering on the left. you can add a 90 degree elbow submerged in 1-2 inches of water without using bio balls. look in my pic you can see the 90 in front of the skimmer. after looking at your pics i see you added the glass so that the water splashes. if it was me i,d yank that out

09/10/2006, 05:25 AM	#17
Columbo Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Binghamton, NY Posts: 37	Outy- What is that on the bottom left of Your sump? sc