Uniquarium/built in sump help

T

timmmmeh

New member
Hey Guys,
I'm new to saltwater and I picked up a 55 gallon Uniquarium tank a few weeks ago. It's the kind of tank with a built in sump in the back. I've been reading and learning from this site and talking to a couple of people. So far I've been told that the bio balls are bad for nitrates and that those sumps are not adequate for saltwater. I really like my tank and do not want to re-do everything. I was told that I should just sell it and buy a new tank, but I jsut want to see if there's another way to go about it. I was wondering if there is a good way for me to do some simple plumbing without having to drill the tank so I can run another sump for a protein skimmer. Sorry for the newbie question, but I want to make sure that the tank is good enough for some fish before i move on. Thank you in advance. Any other advice for a newbie would be greatly appreciated.
 
Depends if you are only keeping fish only then the bio-balls are fine but for corals replace it with liverock rubble (small pieces of liverock) and use strong lighting but back to the sump, since it is already there why do another one? Does the skimmer fit because if it does no need for another one but uniquariums are nice but i can't find it and want more space in my tank but don't sell it unless you have problems with it and can you post a pic that would help. Also a word of advice for you saltwater=stability which means keep your temp and parameters stable and you'll have a successful tank.
 
As of now I'm planning on fish only, but I want to be able to some day add a little bit of corals. Just thinking ahead and planning for the future. The back of the tank is too small for a protein skimmer right now, that's why I want to run another sump for that reason. They did have a protein skimmer that came along with it, but it's a really really poor one. I will try to post some pictures when I get the chance. I was thinking for running a pump from the sump in the back to another sump underneath the tank. Then have live rocks and a protein skimmer there, with another pump to return the water back to teh tank. Is this a good idea? Or is there a better way?
 
The sumps primary purpose is to hold equipment and increase the water volume. The more water that you system will hold the more forgiving the system will be as far as water stability. You have lots of options If you want to get creative.
If you want to add an additional sump then I would plan to drill the tank and you could use the existing space as a refugium if you wanted.
They also make hang on skimmers for people without sumps. I'm not sure of the quality because I've never used one.
 
Instead of drilling, would a pump work just as well to bring the water from teh tank to the sump? I have the tank set up already and i want to stay away from drilling if possible. Thanks
 
No a pump will not work. Next time you should do you research before making major purchases. You could consider a an over the back overflow but I wouldn't ever use one. If you ever get lazy for a couple of days you will flood your house.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12463849#post12463849 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
No a pump will not work. Next time you should do you research before making major purchases. You could consider a an over the back overflow but I wouldn't ever use one. If you ever get lazy for a couple of days you will flood your house.
Click to expand...

How would a hang-on overflow flood your house? They work just like drilled overflows.

Also, to the OP: post a picture of your setup. If it's like the all-in-one nano- and Bio-cube aquariums, it'll be fine for your purposes.
 
Thank you for the help styndall. Here is a picture of my tank right now.

IMG_6506.jpg


I tried to find a picture of the back, but this is all I could find. It's a pretty small picture. The overflow comes from teh right side of the picture, then goes through the chambers where the bio balls are, then to the pump and back into the tank.

uniquarium.jpg


Lastly, here is a picture of the overflow section of the tank (from top view). There are two sections and one section is about 3.5" x 5" for a protein skimmer. The skimmer it comes with is a really really cheap one that doesn't work. I don't think a decent protein skimmer will fit in that area, hence the need for another sump and also spot that's easier to access for maintenence. I've seen a couple threads on hang-on overflow, but have been told that it won't work, but I don't see why not. I'm just trying to figure out a good way to do the plumbing and such so I can have a better sump (with live rocks instead of bio balls) jand a protein skimmer so I can have a couple of corals in the future. Thanks for the help and advice.

IMG_6508.jpg
 
That setup actually looks pretty good. Pull the bioballs out of the back chamber and replace them with little bits of live rock. If you can fit a light over that chamber, you could add some chaetomorphia to help with nutrient export and algae control. You could get a skimmer to hang on the tank or look out for a small one that would fit in the back chamber. If you stay on top of your water changes, you might not even need a skimmer - I keep corals just fine, and I've never skimmed.

If you do want more space for a larger sump, a hang-on overflow (Lifereef is the brand people tend to trust, since it works via siphon and without a supplemental pump) would be fine. You could cut the false wall from your tank, too, giving you more display space.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12463878#post12463878 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by styndall
How would a hang-on overflow flood your house? They work just like drilled overflows.

Also, to the OP: post a picture of your setup. If it's like the all-in-one nano- and Bio-cube aquariums, it'll be fine for your purposes.
Click to expand...

loose the syphon because you don't keep the water topped off and see what hjappens.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12464281#post12464281 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
loose the syphon because you don't keep the water topped off and see what hjappens.
Click to expand...

They can't lose syphon. If the pump fails, the box just equalizes. Read about the siphon-only overflow boxes on melevsreef.com (or ask him, he's here frequently) or draw yourself a diagram. You'll see how they work.

Edit: check out this image from melev for a visual demonstration:

refugium.gif
 
Your smoking crack. I'm not going to go thru the trouble of doing a diagram of what happens when the syphon breaks but the remaining water in the return area overflows the tank.
There is a reason that most will opt for reef ready. If Over the back was so safe then it would much more common then it is.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12464397#post12464397 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by styndall
Take it up with Melev and the laws of physics.
Click to expand...
I would be you Melev uses a reef ready tank and not over the back.
Wanna bet ???
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12464443#post12464443 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
I would be you Melev uses a reef ready tank and not over the back.
Wanna bet ???
Click to expand...

Stop derailing this thread. This is an outside issue. Read about weir boxes, tube overflows, and siphon principles, or argue with me via PM. The New to the Hobby forum isn't for this sort of argument.
 
Well maybe you should look in the mirror :)
I'm not arguing. I'm just saying that over the back is asking for a flood. If you disagree then you don't know what your talking about. It's quite that simple, especially when your telling a rookie that over the back is the same as having a reefready or a drilled tank. It is not!!!
Is it possible to design a tank with over the back that will not flood. Yes it is.
Is it possible that most over the back's have to potential to flood big time. Yes it is.
Do you know the difference?? Absolutely not, or you wouldn't be giving this guy poor advice. :(
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12464540#post12464540 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Playa-1
Well maybe you should look in the mirror :)
I'm not arguing. I'm just saying that over the back is asking for a flood. If you disagree then you don't know what your talking about. It's quite that simple, especially when your telling a rookie that over the back is the same as having a reefready or a drilled tank. It is not!!!
Is it possible to design a tank with over the back that will not flood. Yes it is.
Is it possible that most over the back's have to potential to flood big time. Yes it is.
Do you know the difference?? Absolutely not, or you wouldn't be giving this guy poor advice. :(
Click to expand...

I know the potential, and I know the difference, and often, a HOB overflow will be a better choice than trying to drill and established tank. Having an external overflow isn't asking for a flood - having a poorly-designed or -setup HOB overflow is asking for a flood. Having a poorly-designed and set-up anything is asking for trouble. You probably do know what you're talking about to some extent, but in this particular case, an external overflow is a viable option, and may even be the best, depending on the OP's desires.

I know the difference, and I want to give the OP as much information as possible so he can make an informed decision. Your opinion may differ, but you're not offering any reasons for it. You may, however, go back to mocking me and telling me I smoke crack. If you do, though, keep in mind that it's "you're" not "your."
 
LOL, Now your a grammer teacher too??
You speaking with a forked tounge young grasshoppa. The external over flow can be with or without a drilled tank. Without a drilled tank is asking for trouble. The reason of flooding was given because the sypon was broken when the top off water was neglected. It's an accident waiting to happen. Re-read the posts and you will see. I still think you a crackhead :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

E
Getting back into the hobby
Replies
11
Views
459
Uncle99
Uncle99
A
New to saltwater
Replies
3
Views
204
Acetaprofen
A
K
Seeding Marine Pure Gems
Replies
6
Views
320
SantaMonica
S
L
Lighting Advise for 36 x 18 SPS
Replies
7
Views
558
Uncle99
Uncle99
M
Back to this wonderfull hobbie after 10 years
Replies
4
Views
312
griss
griss
Back
Top