29g BioCube sump video, and questions...

[jrnannery]

Greetings, all! I have wanted to install a sump for my biocube since shortly after I got it 4 years ago. Well, I now have some proof that it is possible from various places on the web.

Take a look at this video. This is almost exactly what I was thinking. I wanted it to fit underneath the cube in the stock stand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfQ3-unDRtg&feature=related

I wanted to put either Garf Grunge (http://www.garf.org/index.shtml) in the sump, and/or as a substrate for the tank itself, or to use Ecosystem Miracle mud (http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/products/eco-marine/miracle-mud.html) into the sump.

I would think that combining EcoSystems Deluxe model sump with the sump construction seen in the YouTube video above would give an excellent quality of water, and help to overcome the tendency I have of overloading a tank, as EcoSystems pretty much seems to guarantee.

Now. First question. In the YouTube video, the guy has his line to the sump drilled nearly at the bottom of the back of the tank. Is that where it should be? How do you prevent the tank from completely draining in the event of a power failure?

Second, shouldn't you put like a ton of liverock in the first chamber where the filter sock is? Would that be preferable to running a skimmer in the space, or would it be best to try to run both?

Lastly, for now at least, if we all can finalize a basic design, would any of you be able to help me engineer such a sump, as well as getting the tank drilled, and the like? I would like to do the majority of the work ( I ain't skeered! ),
but I feel that a project manager would be advisable.

[txg8gxp]

I think the drain bulkhead at the bottom would be a good place. The tank wouldn't completely drain because of the "overflow" back wall, It would just drian down the left and middle chamber in the back. With the drain at the bottom you could add a standpipe if wanted to limit the amount of water to drain out after power is shut off. I personally love filter socks, they need to be changed about every 3 days or so but they grab alot of stuff out of the water. IMO there is nothing wrong with rock rubble, I would rather have the filter sock. I would also leave space for a skimmer so you could add one to the system one day, skimmers are great. I did alot of reading about miracle mud etc. when I got started, It seems like nice stuff but I decided to go without it. For the cost and the fact that it has to be changed I would vote to just use fine sand. But only use the sand if you want a "true" DSB or macro that needs a place to root. For macro run a 1-2" sand bed, for a DSB run 3-6". Another option is to just remove the back wall and add your own overflow box.

[edshas2]

i woudnt mind trying that myself