Need some help...

[Bean Jonkus]

Hi all, I recently purchased a new to me 8x3x2 acrylic aquarium manufactured by Tenecor. It has 2 overflow boxes both drilled with 3 holes. I am new to sumps and was wondering if someone could help me in the right direction. I have a general idea of how things work and what I want to do. but id like some clarifications and maybe some advice regarding set up in general and if anyone knows anything about my specific tank or the company Tenecor as it seems they are now out of business that would be great.
from what I am understanding I will need to separately plumb both overflow boxes into the sump, each overflow box having a normal drain, a return pipe, and then an emergency drain positioned just over the overflow height? I plan on having a freshwater set up so will I need a protean skimmer? I am thinking of either doing a 110 or a 150 gallon sump depending on what I can get my hands on, does that seem to be a sufficient size for this large of a tank?
Thanks in advance

 

[tlindsey]

Hi all, I recently purchased a new to me 8x3x2 acrylic aquarium manufactured by Tenecor. It has 2 overflow boxes both drilled with 3 holes. I am new to sumps and was wondering if someone could help me in the right direction. I have a general idea of how things work and what I want to do. but id like some clarifications and maybe some advice regarding set up in general and if anyone knows anything about my specific tank or the company Tenecor as it seems they are now out of business that would be great.
from what I am understanding I will need to separately plumb both overflow boxes into the sump, each overflow box having a normal drain, a return pipe, and then an emergency drain positioned just over the overflow height? I plan on having a freshwater set up so will I need a protean skimmer? I am thinking of either doing a 110 or a 150 gallon sump depending on what I can get my hands on, does that seem to be a sufficient size for this large of a tank?
Thanks in advance.

wednesday13
jjohnwm
duanes

 

[Kayden]

Hi all, I recently purchased a new to me 8x3x2 acrylic aquarium manufactured by Tenecor. It has 2 overflow boxes both drilled with 3 holes. I am new to sumps and was wondering if someone could help me in the right direction. I have a general idea of how things work and what I want to do. but id like some clarifications and maybe some advice regarding set up in general and if anyone knows anything about my specific tank or the company Tenecor as it seems they are now out of business that would be great.
from what I am understanding I will need to separately plumb both overflow boxes into the sump, each overflow box having a normal drain, a return pipe, and then an emergency drain positioned just over the overflow height? I plan on having a freshwater set up so will I need a protean skimmer? I am thinking of either doing a 110 or a 150 gallon sump depending on what I can get my hands on, does that seem to be a sufficient size for this large of a tank?
Thanks in advance

View attachment 1560187

Sumps are pretty dang easy, Depending on the amount of holes in the overflow box that changes what you need. If there are three holes in each box then I would plumb it - Full Siphon - Emergency Overflow - Return -

This full siphon with emergency allows the tank to be silent, Gate valves are the preferred method of setting these up and they are easier to allow the perfect amount of water through but I have done ball valves. All you want to do is adjust the valve until there is no gurgling from either pipe.

However I see one of the boxes has some holes in it. It is a possibility that the previous owner only utilized one box or used one box for overflows and the other box for returns. This may require some tweaks to your plan but I would need more pictures to be sure.


Protein skimmers do not work on freshwater tanks and therefor are not necessary. As for your sump size it depends on the type of media you plan to use. If you are just wanting some filter socks/floss and lava rocks or ceramic media the sump only needs to be large enough to accommodate your heaters and return pump. I have had buddies run 300 gallons off 55 gallon sumps. 110 will be plenty. However if you are wanting a "planted" sump or K1 media this changes the size requirements to as large as you can fit.

One thing i would be sure of is to keep your sump level low. In the event of a power outage sometimes sumps will overflow, so more volume prevents this from occurring. A good way to test this is to fill your tank all the way and turn off the return pump. Note the water level with it on and off.


Good luck with this setup and be sure to post updates!

 

[duanes]

Most fresh water aquarists do not use Protein skimmers, I have and they work well, but..I gave them up when converting 80% of my sumps to planted fresh water refugium.
Run both the overlow boxes by gravity to the sump , the sump can be below the tank, on a lower floor, or like I do beside the tank, at a just low enough to make use of gravity. Its a personal choice.
Use baffles in the sump or not, I do not. Again a personal choice.

My main cichlid tank left, sump right.
You can fill a sump with biomedia, but again personal.....
The population of benifcial bacteria is not detemined by volume of media provided, but by fish load (food to microrgamism ratio)).
In my sump, about 20% of the 125 gal space hold biomedia, and mechanical media, the other 80% is for plants.

In this system there is never ammonia, never nitrite, and undetectable nitrate.

Although I do regular water changes, I have not vacuumed in about 2 years, because the plants constantly use the fish waste, that is further broken down by a population of shrimp that live in the sump/refgium.

.
I consider the 180 gal main tank a bit over crowded.

 

[duanes]

By the way, it is a myth the protein skimming does not work on fresh water.
I converted my tanks DIY fractionation unit to a pond I had, and as you can see, it worked rather well, on freshwater.

 

[shern]

Most fresh water aquarists do not use Protein skimmers, I have and they work well, but..I gave them up when converting 80% of my sumps to planted fresh water refugium.
Run both the overlow boxes by gravity to the sump , the sump can be below the tank, on a lower floor, or like I do beside the tank, at a just low enough to make use of gravity. Its a personal choice.
Use baffles in the sump or not, I do not. Again a personal choice.
View attachment 1560193
My mai tank left, sump right.
You can fill a sump with biomedia, but again personal.....
The population of benifcial bacteria is not detemined by volume of media provided, but by fish load (food to microrgamism ratio)).
In my sump, about 20% of the 125 gal space hold biomedia, and mechanical media, the other 80% is for plants.
View attachment 1560195View attachment 1560194
In this system there is never ammonia, never nitrite, and undetectable nitrate.
View attachment 1560196
Although I do regular water changes, I have not vacuumed in about 2 years, because the plants constantly use the fish waste, that is further broken down by a population of shrimp that live in the sump/refgium.
View attachment 1560197
.
I consider the 180 ga main tank a bit over crowded.
View attachment 1560198

Micro ecosystems in the sump tank is something I've been meaning to try. what types of shrimp are those?

they kind a look like Tahitian prawns because of their claws to me, but I'm unsure

 

[duanes]

The shrimp ae Macrbrachium, cought here in the rivers of Panama.
I prefer the smaller individuals, te larger ones are very predatory.
They come in a variety of colors here, wild caught.

most are caught small, but we netted one that was about 10". put it in the main tank. and it immediately started eating my 4" catfsh.



The smaller ones do a better job of eating detritus, in the sump.