what to put in sump opinion

[brettinteriors]

Doing a 40gallon customer sump(DIY). Slightly modified version of this with a larger are for live rock
http://www.melevsreef.com/55g/55sump_right.jpg
This is the new tank in another color(factory pic)
http://www.aquavim.com/MV_180_hc_F106_f.jpg

Many have told me that DSB in tank tend to produce high nitrates so I am going to avoid this in my display tank. Is it beneficial to put a DSB in the fuge area of the sump?


PS. I love this forum and want to thank the Tucson SW community.

 

[aquaph8]

IMO there's nothing wrong with deep sand beds in DT or sump as long as you understand how they work and don't disturb them. I personally don't like rocks or sand in my sump. I like clean sumps with lots of movement and a big Skimmer. I keep 2 powerheads in my sump to keep everything from settling and give my Skimmer a chance to get it. A section for macro algae is always a good idea too.

 

[Mr. Right]

You can put a DSB in your sump but I’d make sure it can be removed. Put in a container that you can remove if it becomes a problem.

 

[savageAJC]

do sumps with macro make that much of a difference?

 

[brettinteriors]

IMO there's nothing wrong with deep sand beds in DT or sump as long as you understand how they work and don't disturb them. I personally don't like rocks or sand in my sump. I like clean sumps with lots of movement and a big Skimmer. I keep 2 powerheads in my sump to keep everything from settling and give my Skimmer a chance to get it. A section for macro algae is always a good idea too.

Hmm, I better ad a power head to my current sump. Makes sense about the detritus collecting without enough agitation. I have noticed some buildup in my Chaeto

 

[Bifferwine]

I would not go without chaeto. It's the best de-nitrifier, IMO.

 

[xpertrifle]

I have a DSP and planted a few mangroves in it. They grow like crazy and the nitrates are down to nothing. The power head is a good idea. In mine i get that effect with the chaeto and other macro algae floating on top in the first chamber where the devider is; Creating a circuler flow with the main tank drain and an external skimmer. I also dont have sand in the first chamber.

 

[aquaph8]

do sumps with macro make that much of a difference?

I think this depends on the system. Depends on bioload, (how many fish, how much you feed em), how well your algae grows and how much you harvest. If your macro is taking in nitrate and phosphates and your harvesting it by the handfuls then it works great. If your using biopellets or dosing vodka and already have low nutrients then it wont grow much and you'll have nothing to harvest and wont remove any nutrients. There's many ways to accomplish the same goal, many see Chaeto as a more natural approach. I like to keep a little in my sump just to give pods a place to kick it.

 

[sillygoose]

Another benefit to having macros in your fuge is that you can time your lights so that the fuge is lit when the DT is not. By having those guys photosynthesizing down there, it keeps pH more stable than just having your whole system dark at the same time.

 

[itsmateo]

I would not go without chaeto. It's the best de-nitrifier, IMO.

Do you Still have Chaeto growing non stop?

 

[Bifferwine]

Do you Still have Chaeto growing non stop?

Sure do. I sell about 30 bags per month on Ebay. And my fuge still seems to be full all the time. I can't complain -- my nitrates are always at zero though.