Hello everyone

[refonpit]

Just thought I would post a note to say hello. I enjoy reading all the info and have a few questions myself. I cant seem to get the nitates down in my aquarium. I just converted from a cannister to a sump. The only thing in my sump is a protien skimmer, thermometer and a return pump. I really dont have a lot of room because i bought a bow front and only allows me to put anything in the bottom 10in. wide or less. The protien skimmer only allows 400 gph. Should I have gotten a skimmer that would allow more gph? I do routine water changes with bought water(ugh). What else is needed in a sump? Should I put a powerhead in there? It has an odor. Any info would be appreciated

 

[sjdyer]

Tell us a little more about your setup. Like tank size what kind of fish you have. Make and model of your skimmer. Are you feeding once a day or more and what do you feed?

 

[Annarae]

Just out of curiosity ...how strong is your return pump? and how far does the water have to travel annnnnd what diameter is the tubing your using?

and you know, Hello, my name is Anna.

 

[refonpit]

Hey thanks for the reply! I have a 72 gal. bowfront. I have 4 damsels, 2 clownfish, 1 tang, 1 dwarf lion and a recently purchased triggerfish. Varios snails and crabs that the triggerfish is now eating. I have some mushrooms and polyps. Also I have a colt cauliflour, 2 bubbletip anenomes and a taro tree that looks like it is dying. I think the triggerfish took a chomp out of it.
the protien skimmer is a "C-Skim 1200" with a flow rate of 400gph. The return pump is a rapids pump that has a 1000gph. the tubing I'm using is 3/4 on the return. It has to travel maybe 4 ft. to keep the sump from emptying out I added another sypon hose with a adjustable valve. I feed my fish twice a day. Thinking of getting rid of trigger, he is just a mess. Nitrates hitting 80

 

[refonpit]

This tank is 7 months old.

 

[dadyoj21]

make sure your skimmer is tweeked in good and you are getting a fair amount of skimate. I am not too familiar with this skimmer, but a good skimmer really helps.

you could add some live rubble rock to your sump to help if the room is there

buying water i remember those days, gets expensive over time especially if doing regular water changes. Everyone has different opinions on this. I try to do 10% a week.

Personally i would cut back feeding to once a day. Get rid of the trigger if I could catch him. Im guessing the taro tree is a leather and if it is stressed or dying could be releasing some bad stuff.

A major water change could help bring things back down, but wont solve the problem.

Just some of my thoughts

 

[sjdyer]

Your skimmer should be big enough for your system. Are you getting tea colored skimate from it? If you are feeding the Trigger and lion frozen food twice a day I would cut back to once a day. Triggers and the lion can make alot of waste if you feed alot. How often do you due water changes?

 

[ade]

Welcome to the club. There are a bunch of great people here in the valley, we are not as active as we used to be but when we do get together we have a great time.
IMO the return pump you have is a little too big for the size of you system you could feed your skimmer and still have enough to use it as a return pump. What Kind of trigger do you have? some are reef safe a lot are not.
I am free most days after 4pm and there are also a lot of other guys that would be willing to come by and gice you our 2c. The best thing I have found is try to look at as many other tanks and see and ask how the best way they have found things have worked for them.

Ade

 

[ktnjer]

Chaeto in the sump did wonders for my nitrates

 

[vetdog]

Welcome!!

 

[ade]

Go Skins.

 

[refonpit]

Appreciate all the advice. I do 20% changes every two weeks. I have cut back to one feeding a day on the lion and trigger.
I had an overflow problem with the sump. The return pump obviously wasnt working, so all the water drained into the sump and out on the carpet. Probably lost 20 gal. or so. I dont like walking around barefoot with water squishing between my toe, not to mention all the wiring. I lost 2 power strips.
So at the moment Im not all that worried about the nitrates. (I got had to do a major water change
Has anyone else out there had a problem like this? Also the aquarium keeps tilting. I had to put 2 floor jacks and it still looks as if it has tilted even more. I did assemble this thing on a load bearing wall. Im sure the water saturation in the floor is not going to help.
All in all I can see why this can get to be an obbession

 

[ade]

IMO I would cut back to once a week on the lion, you can killa lion fish by overfeeding. What kind of water are you using? tap water or ro/di. If you are useing tap water there is a good chance that is your source of your nitrates. Do you have an overflow box? does your return have a hole drilled in the pipe just below the water line so that it stops draining on loss of power or pump. Always best to do a power loss test and mark a water line so that you know not to over fill your sump. Is the tank sitting on carpet? What kind of stand do you have and is it possible to anchor it to the wall? Pictures sometime help of give us a better understanding of your setup.
I can swing by anytime to give you my 2c if you want just say the word.
Ade

 

[refonpit]

Nitrates are at 0. Tah-dah!!!! Because of the over flow Ive changes a good 40% of water. I buy my water at Wallyworld. Next on my list is either better lighting (i have compacts now) or ro unit. Thanx for the advice on drilling a hole in the return line. I have a pic somewhere on here. My stand is wooden. I have a boyfriend that is building me a better one. One that I can actually put something under. How in the world would you go about bracing to the wall? I might take you up on stopping by. Im a postal employee, getting ready to go into 'THE SEASON" My hours are pretty much 6am till 5:30pm at the moment. What part of the lake are you located? I'm in Mt Pleasant, pretty close to Hardy. I REALLY appreciate all the help.

 

[Virginia Reef]

If you had an overflow because the return pump quit, you need a bigger sump. A very important part of the sump is to handle water returning from the tank in the event of a power outage or a pump failure. There should be enough capacity in your sump to handle a complete shutdown.

If you don't have this capacity and the power goes out you may burn up a pump if the power returns and you don't have as much water in the system as you started with.

BTW, Ade is one of the "go to" guys in the area. He's a great resource.

 

[ade]

Help

Help

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13831329#post13831329 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by refonpit
What part of the lake are you located? I'm in Mt Pleasant, pretty close to Hardy. I REALLY appreciate all the help.

Thank you for your compliment Paul. I would like to think that all the wasted money I have spent over the years might help someone else.

I live by Scruggs rescue squad I go home Via Mt Pleasant sometimes, just give me the heads up and I can swing by. You are also welcome to come by and take a look at our tanks if you would like. You never know I might sway you into getting some poison arrow dart frogs. Tying to get more people into frogs. Side Bar.

Ade