Could use some input on a sump

[cobraden]

Still in the planning stages for my new 150g build. The tank will have a SPS focus. Looking for some input on my sump.

The inside of my stand measures 54"x 19.25" inside the bottom frame. If I add a shelf on top of the frame of course I could add a few inches all the way around.

I plan on making the footprint 30"(L)x19"(D)x22"(H), aprox. 54 gallons. It's important that all equipment fits under cabinet. Will be running an external skimmer (bullet 2) and an external calcium reactor (Korallin 1502) with the co2 tank and maybe a couple other reactors.

Some questions that I'd like input on.

1) glass or acrylic
I am leaning toward acrylic given it's ease to work with and drill but still welcome input.

2) filter sock or not. what are the pros and cons?

3) fuge or no fuge
been doing reefs for almost 20 yrs and have never used one. Since I'm still in the design of this system, figured I might try one with this system.

4) internal or exteral pumps.
I lean toward external pumps due to having a number of them laying around and trying to keep as many heat causing items like pumps out of the water as possible. Still open to suggestions though.

5) suggested flow though sump

[Mr Cob]

1) glass will be less expensive, acrylic will give you a wider range of layout and configuration and probably meet your needs more easily but of course it will cost more. I love having a lip on acrylic sumps too. Helps with water splashing and salt creep.

2) I can never decide on filter socks or not...I love that they will catch debris and help with water clarity but I hate that they can also catch "sump divers"....your fish. I tend to go without a filter sock unless it's a few chambers away from the first drain chamber in the sump.

3) Fuge fo' shuur....I love my fuge as much as I do my display, it's so interesting to watch and it's a great conversation piece, not to mention the biological benefits.

4) I'm into internal pumps...less room for another leak

5) slow-mid flow through sump if you have a fuge and I have no preference of flow through sump if there isn't a fuge, well I'd probably stay clear of heavy flow through the sump to cut down on evaporation and salt creep and water splashing


.....Justin is short, skinny and loves ballet. Oh and he has a mini chihuahua named tinker bell.

[txg8gxp]

I personally love my filter socks. I have a sps only tank, and I don't feed alot. With that said you wouldn't think there would be alot of stuff to filter out, but thats just not true. I change my filter socks out about every 3 days (only down side IMO) and they are always nasty brown. I can't even imagine how much nasty stuff must be in mixed tanks. I think I will always run filter socks.

[tebstan]

Definitely go acrylic on the sump!

Despite any other design flaws, I'm so grateful my sump is acrylic. My fuge though... It's glass. I've broken it once already, and I'm bound to do it again no matter how careful I am. Next time will be an excuse to redesign everything down there.

I *love* my fuge. I would recommend it to anyone having minor water quality issues or people who just love to watch tiny critters. But... an SPS tank? I don't know that such a low nutrient environment could support the macro growth to make a fuge worth the space it takes up. I don't do SPS, so I'm just guessing.

[Big_Pun]

my tank is sps focused, I run filter socks but use nylon 200 micron i rinse it out every couple days. as for fuge i took mine off-line when I started bio pellets. the only things in my sump are skimmer, pellet reactor, return pump and chemi pure elite. at moment I'm trying to figure out what additives to dose to get the most out of coral growth and color . I also have all kinds of other corals and they are doing great Lps, softies, of all kinds, so a low nutrient tank can support a "mix tank" , just need to feed and keep up with dosing a couple additives.

[justahobby]

I 100% agree with all of the above.

[Mr Cob]

I 100% agree with all of the above.

you sure about that?

[allan]

The only problem I have with filter socks, aside from what rob mentioned above, is the fact that it needs to be replaced every few days. I always forget this and end up realizing when it starts to back up.

[Europhyllia]

1) glass or acrylic
I am leaning toward acrylic given it's ease to work with and drill but still welcome input.
acrylic. I don't like acrylic for display tanks because I don't like to look at scratches but acrylic seems the way to go for sumps. I don't even know where to get a custom glass sump to be honest.

2) filter sock or not. what are the pros and cons?
I like filter socks but I always forget to empty them. If they had some automatic replacement filter sock that would be perfect

3) fuge or no fuge
yes fuge. a) it's pretty and b) you can have photosynthesis going on on a reverse light cycle to the tank for less of a pH swing

4) internal or exteral pumps.
I lean toward external pumps due to having a number of them laying around and trying to keep as many heat causing items like pumps out of the water as possible. Still open to suggestions though.
Sicce pump, run internal (they are so small and quiet, yet powerful. I had a top rated external pump (Pan World) before and just didn't enjoy the noise level (Sicces can be run external though)

5) suggested flow though sump
just read an article that suggested a 2-3 time an hour turnover for the sump. I got much more on my current reef though (more like 6x) and that seems about perfect for me.
I will have even more rushing through on the new seahorse tank (10x) because there will be no powerheads in the DT and all circulation will come from the return pump (unless that doesn't work out in which case I'll have to update. lol

[cobraden]

Thanks for the info so far it looks like I'm going to have an a acrylic sump, Probably going to set it up to be able to use a sock but only use one on occasion when "needed". I don't really like the 3 day schedule.

The Fuge seems to be somthing I need to research given some of the above comments. I think it's till a go since at some point I will also have fish in this system so the fuge will help take out some of the nutrients. As for it's looks, I don't think I'll spend much time watching it. The reverse light cycle might be an issue given that the tank is set up in a bedroom.

pumps and flow are still up for debate. I have a pan world and I think it's pretty quiet. May have to run some "test" to see what it sounds like when I'm trying to sleep with it next to the bed.

thanks to everyone that has responded so far.

[BSJF]

4) I'm into internal pumps...less room for another leak


Just need the right external pump. Many pumps that say they can be ran externally shouldn't be (for example Mag pumps are known to leak over time).

Internal is quieter, but the ones I have used required more maintenance than the external pumps I have used. (Monthly or quarterly cleanings rather than yearly)

You sure you want to have your skimmer external? Of all things that might leak, that would be the first thing I would consider.

To reduce the maintenance on the filter sock, you can use a larger mesh so you only collect the larger stuff. The little stuff can then feed your pods... Still requires regular cleanings though, but you don't get the backing up like you do in the filter sock if you forget.

[cobraden]

You sure you want to have your skimmer external? Of all things that might leak, that would be the first thing I would consider.



Of all the skimmers I've ever used only my first couple were internal. Leaks have never been an issue to this point (knock on wood) Plus I have a PM bullet 2 just sitting here and it fits under the stand. Less cash to outlay and getting to pull some stuff out of my aquarium closet.

[BSJF]

I have heard of folks draining their tank with their skimmer.

However, if you have one already, that would be a good reason to use it.

[cobraden]

If we didn't do anything that caused someone to drain a tank, we would be out of a hobby. The first time I heard someone tell me they were going to drill a hole in the bottom of a perfectly good aquarium I thought they were nuts. Laughed when he ended up with water on the floor too. Now, almost all my tanks are drilled.

Anyway, Let's just say for a moment I ditch the fuge idea. If that is the case, what difference does it make what the flow in the sump is....fast or slow. What am I missing?

I know that I am probably going to end up with powerheads in the tank, I have a couple of Tunze pumps on the shelf for this build, but I'm trying to avoid it if possible. Thinking that running a larger flow pump and spliting the return using the plastic locking return may do the trick. I just don't like seeing pumps and cords in the tank. I spent a lot of time hiding them on my previous build.

[justahobby]

you sure about that?

NOT COOL MAN! You know her name is Jade and ballet IS a sport! LOL

[alton]

I used this website to get some ideas when I built mine for the 300
http://www.melevsreef.com/allmysumps.html

[TexasTodd]

Unless you're locked in, I would not use an external skimmer. #1 cause of flood.

I like the newer, low watt, internal pumps.

Yes to refugium

If you use filter socks, you need the the top holders to be WELL below the top of your sump. If you set up for them, you can always just run them part time if you're worried about taking critters out. They sure make the water nice, but you have to clean often or you're running similar to a wet/dry.

[jroescher]

The faster the flow through your sump, the more turbulence there is. Bubbles, splashing, noise.

When you place your baffles for a bubble trap, leave enough space between them to get your hand and/or a pump between them so that you can clean between them. Or drain them if you need to.

[kkiel02]

1) acrylic

2) no filter sock- I dont have a need for it and its just something else to clean every three days(i've been told)

3) fuge for sure

4) internal pumps.

5) slow flow


With a fuge on one side fed by one drain pipe and the sump area on the other side fed by the other drain pipe. Return section in the middle. That is how I would set my sump up.

[cobraden]

thanks for the input everyone. Think I have my plan.

The sump will be acrylic, and use an external pump. In over 20 years of using external pumps, I haven't caused a flood yet. not to say it can't happen but I'd be more concerned about a flaw in the plumbing or a bad bulkhead install than a problem with a exteral pump.

Going to skip the whole sock thing. If I need to polish the water at any point I can do it another way.

I will set it up for a fuge and give myself the option. still may not use it but I will at least have the option.

Build should be starting on this tank in the next few weeks. Just a few more pieces of equipment to pick up and then off to the races. I will keep you guys informed.

[hobogato]

if you need a pump that is quiet, these two are nearly silent and both push about 1200 gph:

sicce 5.0

blueline velocity t4

i have had both on my tank - started with the blueline but changed to the sicce because of the amount of heat that the velocity put into the water. the pumps are so quiet that the only sound coming from my tank is the pulsing hum from the tunze wavebox.

[cobraden]

Great info! I will look into the Sicce since for me a big reason I like external pumps is to keep the heat out of the water.