Sump setup

[bryanb85]

Can anyone tell me if this setup is even close to what it needs to be? 75 gal tank, octopus 110 and rs75 sump. Ive got my tank filled and just put my dry rock in...any advice, tips, or answer would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[oscarinw]

I think the baffle layout makes it so that the level would drop on your first chamber due to evaporation. Skimmers are finicky when it comes to water levels so be vigilant about that. Also your heater appears to be there and that would be my first concern. A dry-running heater might be one of the major catastrophe culprits in aquarium systems. I would move it to the non-level-dropping section.
Ideally the section that drops its levels would be the return section and it would be where you place ATO and dosing functions... If that's how the maker of your sump intended it to work, then you might be using the sump in the wrong flow direction. Just maybe...

 

[Jritter02]

How come no live rock in sump?

 

[bryanb85]

I dont have any live rock in my system. Im very new to the hobby and it seemed to be horror stories with live rock. My sump is very small and crowded as is, not much room for anything else in there. Im probably all kinds of wrong in my sump area :/

 

[DamonG]

The water level is to high and that's why your skimmer level will fluctuate. If you lower the water level overall (green line) to the top of the baffle(blue line is level and red line is where it should be because it will spill over into the 2nd area), then, where your return pump is, that chamber(3rd and right most) will fluctuate instead. You can later add a top off of you want. I would put the heater somewhere in the yellow area, that way, it will never run dry. Be sure to check your skimmer depth and make sure it's submerged to that depth in the the first (on the left) chamber. In the little heater area, you can put a bubble sponge but just keep an eye on it and when you do water changes, be sure to wring it out in the saltwater you pull from your tank.

I have a small sump too and it's interesting being creative with small areas.. Lol


Oh, and if you want at some point, you "can" add some rubble rock in the same chamber as the skimmer (that eggcrate is your friend and you can section things off. Just be sure to have enough flow through it all..

 

[DamonG]

I don't know if this helps at all, but hopefully you will see what I'm saying. Mine is a little different because it doesn't go over and under, but modification is the name of the game.. Oh and let me send one more of where I put my tiny fuge area..
It looks different now from this picture..


I had to create a tray fir my skimmer because the builder makes that chamber deep, but you very well may not even need a tray. But it depends, the skimmer will dictate this..

 

[DamonG]

this is that little middle section in the first picture. I fabbed a sponge holder out of crate..

 

[bryanb85]

Damon, i am completely blown away by the amount of help you have shown me. From drawing lines on my pic to the knowledge of the topic! Says a lot about your character.

As far as my heater, can it be fully submerged?

 

[bryanb85]

Also what ATO do you use and how much?

 

[bryanb85]

 

[bryanb85]

 

[bryanb85]

Sorry about the pictures, using my tablet. Just wanted to show water clarity after 2 days from putting in my rock. Very cloudy??

 

[DamonG]

Lol, no problem.. Sorry I stepped away (been sick all day and had to eat). Ok let me look at your pictures. But on the ato, I actually am going the economical route this tank. I have a Tsunami ato(50 bucks sounds great to me), and an aqua lifter feeding it.

And, I'm just an average fish tank person like yourself honestly.. Let me check out your pics and then I will reply..

 

[DamonG]

Damon, i am completely blown away by the amount of help you have shown me. From drawing lines on my pic to the knowledge of the topic! Says a lot about your character.

As far as my heater, can it be fully submerged?

Hmmnn, about your heater, I cannot make it where it is. If it a submersible, then yes, but if your not sure, then I would error on the side of not. But as far as the cloudiness, it depends on what had been done. Because, if you added the rock unrinsed, and added sand, and then let it do it's thing, it very well could be just film on the glass. But, if after two days of everything running (pumps, skimmer, etc) and it's still that cloudy, I can't say I've run into that. Simply because it should have settled out. Should have.. Let me look again. I didn't take a screen shot with my phone this time.. Lol


Edit: yes , run your hand across the front just to see if it's film. It is easier with your tank lights on. I thought I saw a fill line (when your filling the tank with water, and then have to grab another run. The water sits for a few and creates a full line), which is usually indicative of the sand /gravel and rock dust had settled out and the film just remains..

 

[bryanb85]

I rinsed the rock before adding to the tank which had sand and water already in. Just kicked on my lights for the first time and wiped the glass and sure enough theres a film on the inside. While cycling/curing should i leave lights off?

 

[bryanb85]

My heater is fully submersible but the damn thing is so long i can only angle it from top to bottom to get the whole thing under water

 

[DamonG]

I rinsed the rock before adding to the tank which had sand and water already in. Just kicked on my lights for the first time and wiped the glass and sure enough theres a film on the inside. While cycling/curing should i leave lights off?

That is simmering I have tried to do, but failed miserably multiple times (always actually, lol).. I'm not quite rem3mbering the theory on that, but I think it was to save bulbs(t5) and cut down on nuisance algea growth. But the thing is, some things, a lot of things are dependent on light. So if turn mine on, for only the evening hours when I'm home during cycle at least for testing and tinkering around. It just, and maybe just me, gives me a chance to get into a groove with a new system..

 

[DamonG]

My heater is fully submersible but the damn thing is so long i can only angle it from top to bottom to get the whole thing under water

Lol, actually, this is something I just learned today.. If you have the room, put it in the overflow box. You, of course have to watch it/remember when you cut the power of your return pump, but my concern was with it touching the bottom of the glass box.. My heater is 13 5/8" and it worked out great.

Stop your pump to check the water level after the syphon breaks before plugging it in. But that was a nice, handy tip from my lfs guy!