Changing over to a new sump

[eww]

I am finally changing over to the new sump Todd and I built so I can fit the new SWC Mini S skimmer in. I am currently running a DSB in the fuge with Chaeto, Grape Caulerpa, Mexican Caulerpa and Halimeda macros. Everything is loaded with pods. I am thinking of going with no sand in the new sump for more water volume and easier clean up. My question is does this sound like a good idea? If so can I just put the macros in the new sump floating about or do they need to be anchored to something? Again if so what do they need for anchoring?

Thanks in advance for the input.

 

[luisse25]

i have no sand in m sump...and my small chaeto is just floating in one of small chamber...i put all rubble rocks in my sump too....more water volume is best imo...plus u can just suck/vacuum all detritus in the sump easily..

 

[returnofsid]

The little bit of added water that you'd gain, by not having sand, wouldn't be near as advantageous as a DSB, which helps with denitrification.

Either way, Macro Algae would not need to be anchored.

 

[Krish]

I agree with Sid on the anchoring as it isn't necessay IMO especially on the chaeto which is said to do better tumbling. As for the sand, personally I don't like sand in sumps so I personally wouldn't use it, but maybe that's just me. Rather have a sump I can see the bottom of incase in needs cleaning as they do get really dirty. JMHO

 

[eww]

HMMM... differing thoughts... :?: We have a dsb now and in six months have never cleaned it. As a matter of fact we have never cleaned the sump or skimmer (except the collection cup) period. It's hard to get into and with all the thick macros its hard to get to the dsb too. That's part of why i was thinking no dsb. We do have a hair algae issue in the DT but have put some extra work into cleaning detritus off the rocks, scrapping surfaces we can and siphoning when we do water changes recently that it seems to be reducing it. The recent cyano we had has also subsided. A lot of these outbreaks I have finally marked up to a new tank (6 months). Lighting is good. All water parameters check out except I know the PO4 can read 0 with all the algae in the tank and it is still present. We have added a yellow tang and it is working on nibbling stuff. We are also thinking of adding a lawnmower blenny in the next few days. The sea hare we added a couple of weeks ago got tangled up in the elegance and died a couple of days later . All CUC seems to dwindle shortly after adding them and those dang guys add up after a while.

Any more opinions on this change over?

 

[DonW]

You dont really clean a dsb. If its just a small area of a sump with the dsb it probably wasnt doing much if anything at all anyways. Same goes for the macro. Chaeto does do better tumbling around but it may be worth your while to skip both and just have a nice clean sump.

Don

 

[eww]

The current sump is a 30L tank so it has a 36" x 12" footprint. The new sump is a custom acrylic DIY unit with the same footprint (it's all we can fit in the stand). The fuge/dsb area is about a 14" x 12" area. Total system water cap is about 80 gal. So you think no sand or macros at all?

 

[DonW]

The current sump is a 30L tank so it has a 36" x 12" footprint. The new sump is a custom acrylic DIY unit with the same footprint (it's all we can fit in the stand). The fuge/dsb area is about a 14" x 12" area. Total system water cap is about 80 gal. So you think no sand or macros at all?

I'd skip it, keep it clean. 14x12 isnt enough area to make the work worth while. May macro if you needed the extra pods for a manderin or something, if no i'd go bare.

Don

 

[eww]

No Manderin yet but I don't know about the future. Interesting. It definitely sounds a lot cleaner. It wouldn't need any light then as well would it? It sounds like it could also be a great place for grow-out and holding tank for fish and corals then, with the proper lighting of course.

 

[Krish]

Just to give you an idea of what develops in a sump, take a look at the picture below. I had a bare bottom tank and bare bottom sump and here is what I siphoned out of the sump after one week. Imagine what accumilates over time! I've always been successful with keeping un-detectable nitrates running bare bottom systems with high flow and never had any algae issues except when I first got into the hobby when I was as dumb as a worm :lol: I'm with Don on this one, but once again, my personal opinion. What works for me may not work for you, but tossing out some ideas.