Sump Design Questions

[coryjac0b]

I am in the process of setting up a new system after been being away for about 3 years. I had to tear down my previous tank due to its age.

I am going to set up a 130-150g tank with a 55g sump. I prefer not seeing anything in the display and have more flexibility with a sump and also the added water volume is a plus. I plan on keeping south/central american cichlids.

So my question to you is: Is this sump design adequate to the current practices or is there something newer/better that I could incorporate or consider incorporating in to it?

-cory

 

[DN328]

You'll likely get varying opinions for not enough chambers, to no chambers are really needed. I like having chambers, and your sump design looks fine to me (it's actually similar to how mine is so I'm bias).

One design change however, is having more than just one drain pipe down to the sump. If possible, you should consider Herbie or Bean Animal type drains (a lot of information on the forum and the web in you're not already familiar). You can then incorporate the design for pipes going back to your sump's mechanical filtration.

 

[ragin_cajun]

This is a great sump for a marine tank. If you're growing coral, and you need a place to raise pods for fish to eat, and a chamber with constant water level for a protein skimmer, this sump will do you.

For CA/SA fish, you don't need a bubble diffuser, you don't need a refugium, and you don't need baffles to clean around, and you MIGHT be able to fit enough filter socks in your sump that you don't need a drip plate, either.

 

[coryjac0b]

So its possible to just have a a bunch of filter socks and rotate them out every so often and that would provide adequate filtration? My previous tank was saltwater tank so I guess that's why the design reflects that I guess. I tried copying the Aqueon Proflex design as well with the "bubble diffuser"

This is a great sump for a marine tank. If you're growing coral, and you need a place to raise pods for fish to eat, and a chamber with constant water level for a protein skimmer, this sump will do you.

For CA/SA fish, you don't need a bubble diffuser, you don't need a refugium, and you don't need baffles to clean around, and you MIGHT be able to fit enough filter socks in your sump that you don't need a drip plate, either.

 

[Brian Rodgers]

I can not wait to see this build out

 

[ragin_cajun]

Cory --

scroll through my build thread. it has pics of my sump setup.

Also, search here for "JC1119 SA/CE" and you'll find HIS build thread -- it's really well done.

And, here's a video with my sump/plumbing setup.

 

[duanes]

Although refugiums are thought of as only salt water, I like them for fresh water tanks.
I especially like raising shrimp and plants in them, and believe (just as in salt water) these more primitive(?) animals help tp break down waste products so they can more easily be used by bacteria and plants. The shrimp also occasionally are swept into lines to the tank and become snacks for my cichlids.

I also use fractionation on my cichlid tanks,and fresh water ponds, and contrary to popular belief, if done properly work well on fresh water tanks, removing DOC, free floating algae, and even pathogens from the water column

 

[Brian Rodgers]

Cory --

scroll through my build thread. it has pics of my sump setup.

Also, search here for "JC1119 SA/CE" and you'll find HIS build thread -- it's really well done.

And, here's a video with my sump/plumbing setup.

Very well done. That is beautiful craftsmanship. Extremely well thought out and engineered as well. Kudos to you. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[coryjac0b]

Cory --

scroll through my build thread. it has pics of my sump setup.

Also, search here for "JC1119 SA/CE" and you'll find HIS build thread -- it's really well done.

And, here's a video with my sump/plumbing setup.

I gave your build and JC1119's build thread a reading. Both great looking setups. Is your filtration keeping up with your bio-load and inhabitants? I like to stay by the keep it simple saying, but I also want something that is going to work long term as the bio-load increases and tank matures.

Although refugiums are thought of as only salt water, I like them for fresh water tanks.
I especially like raising shrimp and plants in them, and believe (just as in salt water) these more primitive(?) animals help tp break down waste products so they can more easily be used by bacteria and plants. The shrimp also occasionally are swept into lines to the tank and become snacks for my cichlids.

I also use fractionation on my cichlid tanks,and fresh water ponds, and contrary to popular belief, if done properly work well on fresh water tanks, removing DOC, free floating algae, and even pathogens from the water column

That was my thinking as well duanes. My previous tank was a 210g saltwater and I had a connected 30g refugium that seemed to help a lot processing waste products. It was really just a non turbulent area for pods to grow and chaetomorpa to process ammonia and nitrates out. I read about people putting skimmers in freshwater tanks or koi ponds that have a lot of proteins in the column and it working good. Do you have any pics of your fractionation setup?

 

[ragin_cajun]

Cory --

Here's a link to my youtube channel. Tanks been up almost 2 years, all kinds of Vieja and Amph's been in and out it. Water's clean, nitrates stay low, no ammonia spikes.

I don't have any stingrays, but I know some Ray keepers here use the same sump set up I have and like it. Rays are a pretty big bio-load.