nickLP Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I just came back from my LFS. I was having a conversation with a dude there n' he was like "WHAT?! why are u gunna put live sand it your refugium? " I was under the impression that live sand was essential for a reef tank sump. What do you guys think? I also have questions about carbon and filter socks. For a 30g reef tank , does anybody recommend using (or not using) carbon? or filter socks? >(or both in combination) Link to comment
nickLP Posted December 31, 2010 Author Share Posted December 31, 2010 {filter sock+ chaeto} {live sand / live rock} {protein skimmer} {return Pump} what do you guys think of the design? Link to comment
Kazooie Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 Use sand and carbon. Not sure about the design, I'll let others comment on that. Link to comment
bitts Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 skimmer then fuge with return last. if its a must to run carbon best used in a reactor. Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 thanks for the suggestions. UPDATED SUMP DESIGN: ( sorry for bad drawings ; i cant draw to save my life) Link to comment
cruiZe Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 consider the water level at each baffle, I had mine drop one inch from chamber to chamber. Also remember drainback from power outage Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 true, baffle heights in the drawing are WAY OFF due to my lack of drawing ability. Scratch the first baffle before the skimmer 8-9" baffles , decreasing the height from left to right to control water height and to have water move from one chamber to the next without overflowing the chamber. again sorry for the drawing Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 Now as far as sand goes, is there any particular advantage to having / or NOT having sand it the refugium? Link to comment
cruiZe Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 That last drawing will work. I drew up a few different designs before I got what I wanted. I even drew on the glass full scale as a mock up before i made the baffles. Sand in the fuge area is good. Sand in the pump? not so much Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 lol woops! edit edit edit. Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 not much room in case of a power outage & back drain dont you think? Link to comment
ajmckay Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 +1 calculate the flow-back volume in case of power outage. Installing siphon breaks can help reduce how much flows back. Overall though I think the last drawing looks fine. I'm going to have a sandbed in my sump. It's going to be a display sump. Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 anybody know why people prefer not to use sand ? any real reason behind this or just strictly personal preference? Link to comment
bitts Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 the argument against sand tends to be one of laziness & misunderstanding. dsb's are the most efficient biologic filter available. how ever there limitations are normally quickly exceeded by the average hobbyist. resulting in the classic's. it a nutrient sink or there tickin time bombs. in a natural sediment bed it takes around 3 years for the bioturbation to completely turnover the top 10 cm. if you keep this in mind, you can see why most with out an understanding of there function could have them become problematic. Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 2, 2011 Author Share Posted January 2, 2011 gotcha. thanks for the info Link to comment
bitts Posted January 2, 2011 Share Posted January 2, 2011 oh as to the sketch of that sump. its a 40b set up for a tank with only 1.5gallons of back flow, from the overflow & plumbing. the return chambers size is limited to prevent flooding, by burning the pump out if it should get that far. still its like 7X18x18 holding about 9.5gallons. Link to comment
nickLP Posted January 3, 2011 Author Share Posted January 3, 2011 the build so far ... Link to comment
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