Add a sump???

[will_adams1088]

Hi all,

This is my first time posting here on Reef Central. Although, I've been looking and following along for several years now. I'm hoping that I can get some opinions from you guys about what I should do with my 18 gallon reef tank. I'm just now getting to the point where I can start doing the upgrades on my tank that I've always wanted to do, but I'm not sure exactly what, or how, I should do things. I currently have a Reef Octopus 18 gallon reef tank (Display and filtration compartment are 16 gal and the tank also has a 2 gal ATO compartment). I absolutely hate the filtration system that I've got going and want to make it much better. My question is if I should add a DIY media basket to my existing filtration compartment, or if I should add a sump. I'm leaning toward a sump because the Reef Octopus nano skimmer that came with the tank has never really worked well. That is another piece of equipment that I want to upgrade and I don't think I can find another skimmer that will fit in the filtration compartment on the back. Any help or opinions would be much appreciated. I'm adding pictures as well to give you an idea of what I've got. Thanks!

 

[gregrocks79]

Sweet tank! I have a 12 gallon tank and I added a sump/fuge and couldn't be happier! Not only are you adding water volume for a smaller tank, but you're also opening yourself to more options.

 

[will_adams1088]

Thanks! Thats kind of what I was thinking too. If I add a sump I can add a nicer skimmer and maybe a media reactor. Does the fuge help out a lot? How did you add the sump? Did you put it under your display? I'm trying to figure out the best way to do this. Because of the fresh water compartment on the back, I can't us a simple hob overflow. I guess I will have to drill the tank?

 

[will_adams1088]

Anybody else have any suggestions on how I should go about adding a sump? Can't do a hob overflow because of freshwater reservoir. Should I drill the tank? If so, where should I drill and what fitting should I use that will make the system the quietest?

 

[gregrocks79]

It's a lot easier than you think. This was my first sump and I can't believe I didn't do em earlier. I got the eshopps nano HOB overflow and the eshopps RS75. I noticed a difference right away! My tank stabilized and now everything is thriving and ive noticed growth. Got the hob down the back of my fluval edge and here's how it looks...





I have chaeto in the Tupperware. Going to wait for it to get nice n dense and then let it float around. I have no sock cuz that's just a poop factory and I've got a clean up crew in there to get all the detritus. I also noticed a nice explosion in my pod population

Hope this helps

 

[Jon B]

If what you are using now is working, why change?
I would only add the sump if you are trying to fix some kind of problem in your current system.

 

[will_adams1088]

Well that is why I want to add a sump. What I currently have going isn't very good. The skimmer has never functioned well and it's very difficult to get water flowing through my chemical media. If I add a sump, it opens me up to adding a better skimmer and maybe a media reactor.