sump / refigium questions

[Krazy]

So I got my 90 gallon tank...

it came with a tidepool 2 sump , no biowheel or w/e...

and it also came with an amircle sump 24length x 12width x 14 high.

Question is, is either of these sufficent for the 90? also how can I set these up for the skimmer/algae growing area/ mag drive pump for the return ???

I'm a bit confused here with this part, I have all my plumbing hooked up but I want to baffle one of these or get a 20 gallon long or something, I'm totally lost on what to do, I just want it to filter right and be worth it. I'd like to use what I have...

The skimmer is a berlin turbo classic and my return is a mag 9

overflow is on the left of the tank, return is on the right ...

 

[Lakeside518]

In my experience i have found it hard to convert a wet/dry sump to a fuge. I have a ProClear sump that i have been using. Samething as an amiricle sump.

I removed the bioballs & added LR and macro in its place. It still has the foam block, drip plate and media filter. I use a clip on light w/ 75w fluorescent bulb. It works for now but to me not exactly practical. Its a temp. fix for now. Even with the sump as full as i can safely run it, there is an inch of air space below the drip plate. Which creates splashing noise.

Best thing to do is build your own sump. Was Petco having the dollar per gallon tank sale? Its prolly over?

 

[Lakeside518]

In my experience i have found it hard to convert a wet/dry sump to a fuge. I have a ProClear sump that i have been using. Samething as an amiricle sump.

I removed gthe bioballs & added LR and macro in its place. It still has the foam block, drip plate and media filter. I use a clip on light w/ 75w fluorescent bulb. It works for now but to me not exactly practical. Its a temp. fix for now. Even with the sump as full as i can safely run it, there is an inch of air space below the drip plate. Which creates splashing noise.

Best thing to do is build your own sump. Was Petco having the dollar per gallon tank sale? Its prolly over?

(Laptop froze) Sorry double post

 

[michaelg]

You would need to create some baffles to make a fuge area in the middle, with water coming in and exiting from protected/baffled areas. depends on how big it is, or if it is just easier to use a glass tank.

 

[monti-mike]

I had the set up u'r talking about and i found it never really enough room if u put all u'r equipment in or around the sump just good for all the equipment and stuff too bad you couldn't ad a 10-20 gall tank for fuge have a lot more work area and even a place to frag a cora lor too if you so liked, not saying the Amircle is bad just SmalL......

peace
milke

 

[Krazy]

I got a 20 gallon long that a friend was going to use for fresh water fish, convinced him to give it to me, haha !!!

so I went to home depot and bought some acrylic sheets... and some ge silicone 1 door and window, the 100% non mildew kind !


can anyone lead me to a link to show me how to baffle this bad boy up?? and my last question is, do I need a fitting on top like the wet/dry's ?? if so What can I use and where can I get it? I would love to have this ready for saturday or sunday...

Thanks,
Keith


PS: what should the water level be in this thing ??? that is the most confusing part of it all..

 

[monti-mike]

The water level will balance on its own should be a little more then all the equip. needs no no air pockets and just enough if a gallon or 2 eveorpates u wont be sucking airwich could be very bad for the pumps.....a

It depends too if u are adding constant fresh water like on a float switch or kalk at night or what really the set up is and all its specs........

peace
mike



check out this guys web site give u an idea but not exact for u, just do alot of research thats the best i can say..
www.melevsreef.com/55g/55sump.html

 

[gary greguire]

I use a plastic basket to hold my macro and just let the water flow threw the sump and basket. No need for baffles that way.

The level of the water in your sump will be determined when you get it set up and running then shut off the power and make sure it dosen't overflow..

 

[Krazy]

well I have a 20 gallon long and pieces of acrylic... I'd like it to be 3 chambered... First chamer would be the water coming OUT of the tank and that shall hold the skimmer pump, chamber 2 I want to hold sand and macro algaes, and the 3'rd chamber to house the algae filtered water and the water that's be cleaned from the skimmer and of course the mag 9 to pump it back to the tank...

I think I know what I'm doing with the baffles, I need 1 high, 1 low, 1 high.. that kinda thing if you understand me...

 

[reefD]

heres mine set up a while ago. has 4 chambers.

 

[Krazy]

nice pic !

I made 3 chambers on my 20 long, I siliconed it all earlier today, tommorow night I'll water test it to see if my sloppy silicone beads held ...

I will snag a pic tommorow

 

[reefD]

im not experienced in the precise levels of filtering nutrients but with basic observation macro is the most sufficient. ive had many tanks with skimmers but when macro is added things get ballanced 4 sure . with that i feel that everything that can be filtered mechanically or chemically(skimmer) is not as effiecient as natures macro. so i figuired that the skimmer being further from return area would decrease any micro bubbles, i set the macro area last as it would absorb anything yje skimmer and rubble does not. i also have a few deco clams in baffle 2 (from left) for nitrate absorption. the macro grows fast and happy in this set up. ill get a pic of it presently asap. its a jungle!lol. in any case im not sure whats best placement between skimmer and macro. macro first? skimmer first? not sure but this is my experience setting the skimmer first in line.

 

[reefD]

i got really sloppy with mine. no worries as long as it doesnt leak ...that stuff makes no difference(sloppy or neat). pretty beads are never seen as well as sloppy bead lines. lol

 

[michaelg]

Keith, I personally have always like having a refugium seperate from the sump. the flow that goes through my sump isn't necessarily the best for a fuge. and I don't have to worry about algae getting in pumps etc. I agree is is hard to fit it all in unless you have a pretty big tank. I also like sand in my fuge. I also like being able to easily look into the fuge and make it a display in and of itself, so not having it under the tank works for me. but then again, I'm still relagated to the BASEMENT!