issues

[NaH2O]

Great post, Reed! There are many successful tanks without sumps. I think Reed has posed a good question....what benefits are you looking at gaining with the addition of a sump? Another thought I had was if your sump is out in the openness of your room and not enclosed in a stand/fish room/etc.....it runs the risk of being "toyed" with by people that should have their hands off. My sump is going to be locked up, so my 2-1/2 year old doesn't dump a box of cereal, for example, into it (or whatever she may think of putting in it).

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

lol on the overflow. I didn't know. And on the sump, I need a place for more rock. And I can make a makeshift cover for the sump. But other than that I might not get one. Just keep talking and I will intake.

 

[mattseattle]

need a place for more rock? your tank doesn't look like it has enough rock. my 55 gallon has probably close to 90 lbs of live rock in it.

in my sump i have my heater and my skimmer as well as return pump.

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

Yep I don't have enough rock, I need more rock.

 

[NaH2O]

I agree matt. There is lots of room in the tank for more live rock (unless you don't like the look of a tank with a lot of live rock?). It will provide more hiding spaces for your inhabitants, more biological filtration, and you may get some cool hitchhikers, too.

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

so how much do you think I need? I think that the rock I have is for a 30 gal. Thats all I know.

 

[NaH2O]

a general rule of thumb is at least 1-2# per gallon.

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

I am not a birght one. So how much do I need? I think I have enough for a 30 gal tank.

 

[mattseattle]

don't say you are not bright. don't put yourself down.

in my 55 gallon i have about 90 lbs. of live rock.

do you have a filter or skimmer on your tank? or you using live rock and sand as your filter?

in your sump you can put live rock rubble and all. that is a great place for pods and all to reproduce.

 

[NaH2O]

don't say you are not bright. don't put yourself down.

I couldn't agree more!

on a 55 gallon (I believe that's what you have) You would need (following the "rule of thumb") at least 55 pounds of live rock. So about 25 more pounds than your current situation. Mattseattle posted a couple of good questions, and has some good advice!

 

[mattseattle]

thanks Nikki

 

[DonW]

If you can come up with actual dimensions, I'm sure someone could just build you one. That size should be quick easy and inexpensive.

Don

 

[mattseattle]

That is true.

1st he needs to determine why he actually needs a sump.
2nd how to get the water to the sump - either via overflow or building an internal overflow
3rd how large of a sump he needs to accomodate the drainage from the main tank plus normal water volume

So if you can answer my previous questions maybe we can help you out. Do you currently have a skimmer? what are you using for filtration? what are your long term plans for the tank? fish only or corals or?

if you built a large enough sump you could add a skimmer down there, or put live rock rubble, or a deep sand bed, or other choice for filtration. also place your heater and other things that you don't want in your tank.

hope our information is useful.

 

[cdeakle]

and you may get some cool hitchhikers, too.

Or some really not cool ones that will mkae you pull all of your hair out and tear your tank apart to get them out!

 

[NaH2O]

Ssshhhh....I was trying to be positive It is true, sometimes there are nasty hitchhikers, too.

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

Yes I have a skimmer. I also have some LR. both fish and corals. I have a 3 to 4 inch sand bed. I have some plants. 4 hermits, one hitched snail. two main poowerheads, three dinky ones. 200 watt heater. There. 55 gallon tank.

 

[mattseattle]

and it's a hang on skimmer or how is it currently plumbed to your tank?

ok, guess my next question is - what else do you need help with? you still didn't answer the other questions I asked so I'm assuming we've helped you? any other questions you want to ask?

 

[MonthOLDpickle]

I don't know what to ask....I was told I needed..must have..a sump. The skimmer hangs and has a surface attachment. I have it on full during the day. I got my water tested. Low ph. BUffing it once a week. What else? besides putting more LR in my tank?

 

[mattseattle]

you don't have to have a sump. many tanks run successfully without one. i like mine just cause it's extra water volume, keeps my skimmer and heater out of my main tank.

i would add more live rock to your tank to help with the filtration process. what is your pH at? do you have your water tested or are you testing it yourself?

 

[reedman]

You don't have to have a sump. I'm a prime example. A sump is a nice place to put the unsightly equipment to keep the main tank looking clean. If you don't mind your heater and skimmer being in or hanging on your tank you don't NEED a sump.

That said, a sump adds extra water volume and provides a more stable environment because of the added volume. If you add a small sump you are adding it to put the heater in it, not to add stability.

From what I have gathered from this thread, I would recommend adding some LR to your main display and put off installing a sump. Add the rock slowly and see if that solves some of your problems. In the mean time, keep checking your parameters and make sure you try to maintain a stable environment.

Don't get caught up in the "you have to have this to be successful" thing. There are a whole lot of ways to successfully have a reef tank. The key is patience and stability. Try it and you'll see.