55 gallon sump design for Afr Chichlids. Yes or No?

[CichlidZ67]

110 predrilled acrylic African Tank with 55 glass underneath. I also have a 29 glass, but figure more water the better. Trying to use what I've had in storage rather than sell it cheap online. Please comment on my design! I have both tanks and can buy a diy sump kit fairly cheap on $Bay. Everyone recommends filter socks for freshwater it seems. Thanks in advance!

 

[twentyleagues]

Yeah that would be fine. Add a little more bio. Put heater in last chamber.

 

[CichlidZ67]

Yeah that would be fine. Add a little more bio. Put heater in last chamber.

Is it ok that flow enters bio from bottom and what would you use as bio? My tap is 8.0-9.0 so I probably don't need to add buffering? Thx for the help

 

[twentyleagues]

Lava rock, bio rings, matrix, what ever. Lots of scrubbies. I don' think it matters where the flow comes from.

 

[CichlidZ67]

I'm all for adding stuff, but if pot scrubbies have 3 times volume of bioballs won' more be overkill? Lastly and I'll leave ya be Do I need air stones or power heads for the bio-refugium area? I have 2 old school penguin 802's that still work.

 

[twentyleagues]

Not a necessity. Air will help keep your media aerobic. But with the sump setup it should be fine. You can't have to much surface area for bio though. I'd put as much as possible and keep it available for other tank setup, ie hospital, quarantine, new tank, breeder.......

 

[CichlidZ67]

Not a necessity. Air will help keep your media aerobic. But with the sump setup it should be fine. You can't have to much surface area for bio though. I'd put as much as possible and keep it available for other tank setup, ie hospital, quarantine, new tank, breeder.......

Am I on the right track with the 55 gal sump or use 29 gallon to siphon with a canister? Confusing opinions!

 

[twentyleagues]

Run the 55. I keep a bioloaded canister running off my sump too, just in case I need a quick cycled filter for like I said before, hospital, qt, or whatever. You could just put extra bio material in the sump too.

 

[CichlidZ67]

Run the 55. I keep a bioloaded canister running off my sump too, just in case I need a quick cycled filter for like I said before, hospital, qt, or whatever. You could just put extra bio material in the sump too.

Thanks!