Actual cost of simple sump for 20gal?
- Thread starter Moloch
- Start date
Props on the laundry bags to jCardona, again.
Also notice the smaller compartment runs off to the large one.
Keeps you from having to top off every day.
I would flip it around and put the pump in the other side.
Also notice the smaller compartment runs off to the large one.
Keeps you from having to top off every day.
I would flip it around and put the pump in the other side.
I have a feeling I'm going to need more filtration on the 65
You really need a test kit so you do not have to rely on feelings, but have real water quality to guide you.
the 65, it stays pretty cloudy as is and my stock is still young & quickly growing.
Pretty much as above, test the water for ammonia/nitrite.
Cloudy could be a number of things.
How old is the tank?
Was it ever clear?
I've been thinking just grab an ac70 and be done with it.
For sure the easiest route.
No reason you couldn`t get one, have it running while you work on an overflow/sump set up.
You wouldn`t have to install the system untill you have it just the way you want it.
Who knows, after running the AC70, you might find you don`t really need a sump at all.
$0.02
You really need a test kit so you do not have to rely on feelings, but have real water quality to guide you.
the 65, it stays pretty cloudy as is and my stock is still young & quickly growing.
Pretty much as above, test the water for ammonia/nitrite.
Cloudy could be a number of things.
How old is the tank?
Was it ever clear?
I've been thinking just grab an ac70 and be done with it.
For sure the easiest route.
No reason you couldn`t get one, have it running while you work on an overflow/sump set up.
You wouldn`t have to install the system untill you have it just the way you want it.
Who knows, after running the AC70, you might find you don`t really need a sump at all.
$0.02
KaiserSousay;4547629; said:
I have the API liquid kit...My ammonia rises a bit sometimes but for the most part stays either at or just over zero...it doesn't drop fast enough after a spike to make me feel safe though. The Nitrites I've been having a real problem with, and the nitrates I haven't even bothered testing much considering the problem with nitrites.
To sum up a long/bad story, I got myself into a pickle and had both my 20 & my 65 in a cycle at the same time. The 20 was already established when I set up my 65 and was going to be a growout/temp tank while the 65 got up & going. But I (like an idiot) changed the filter on the 20 in the middle of it without considering the need to seed BB into the new filter etc etc. So in the middle of the nitrite spike before the ammonia was even dropping at a reasonable rate I added my fish. About a week or 2 after that I decided to use Stability since my nitrites STILL weren't dropping at all. So I did that for a week and its still just about in the same spot. All together the tank has been up for about a month now, maybe closer to 3 weeks.
The water hasn't ever been really clear consistently. I do at least 25% wc a week, and I have been doing closer to every other day 20-30% with Prime dosing to control the levels.
Basically the 'feeling' I'm going off of, is that my 'real' water quality levels aren't dropping like I think they should be (especially after a week of Stability, which everyone says works great), my visible water quality isn't where I think it should be, and I don't really see much sign of improvement. I think before too long I'm going to pick up an ac70 and be done with it.
yeah those laundry bags come in so handy! after a few months though I ended up removing that little compartment because it made it too difficult to reach in and change the filter socks. I don't have any after pics, but it ended up looking like the sump on my 57g, just a filter sock hanging from the inlet pipe and the laundry bags full of media.ar0wan;4547576;4547576 said:Props on the laundry bags to jCardona, again.
Also notice the smaller compartment runs off to the large one.
Keeps you from having to top off every day.
I would flip it around and put the pump in the other side.
The water hasn't ever been really clear consistently. I do at least 25% wc a week, and I have been doing closer to every other day 20-30% with Prime dosing to control the levels.
Sounds like your just going to have to WC your way through the cycle.
Also sounds like you have a pretty decent handle on what went wrong and what you need to do for your fish.
Me, I would concentrate on the cycle and put off anything else untill that was out of the way.
Like I said before, with all you have going on now, you might be much better off with the AC70 than doing a sump build.
Good luck.
Sounds like your just going to have to WC your way through the cycle.
Also sounds like you have a pretty decent handle on what went wrong and what you need to do for your fish.
Me, I would concentrate on the cycle and put off anything else untill that was out of the way.
Like I said before, with all you have going on now, you might be much better off with the AC70 than doing a sump build.
Good luck.
Yeah thats where I'm at. I am changing the sand today...I think the playsand isn't doing my filter any good especially in the long run...probably not THE BEST of ideas, but I'm going for it.
Either way I go I'm planning on waiting until my levels stabilize and it seems like I've made it all the way through the cycle. I'm still holding out hope that once all that is through the BB will take care of the water clarity, I just have a feeling that thats not going to be the case. We'll see. Hopefully its only another week or two of constant water changes
If it doesn't clear up I'm adding an ac70 for now.
Either way I go I'm planning on waiting until my levels stabilize and it seems like I've made it all the way through the cycle. I'm still holding out hope that once all that is through the BB will take care of the water clarity, I just have a feeling that thats not going to be the case. We'll see. Hopefully its only another week or two of constant water changes
If it doesn't clear up I'm adding an ac70 for now.
You know, there is a plus side to the condition of the 65.
Right now, the bacteria are finding all the best spots to anchor and grow. If you don`t disturb the tanks interior much, a great deal will establish in the tank.
There are a number of benefits to having a large, healthy bacterial presence in the tank.
You can muck about with your filters without fretting over disturbing the bacteria.
Your filters can be stuffed full of mechanical media that could make your water crispy clean.
My 55g runs with the overwhelming bulk of it`s BB in the tank. My filters, a Mag HOT250 and Penguin350B, are set up to clean the water, not to host bacteria.
The Mag runs the micron cartridge only. I change it weekly since single digit micron pores tend to plug up. A 12 hour soak in a bleach/water solution cleans it right back up. I have 2 cartridges so one is always in service, while the other gets cleaned and airs out.
Was a bit leery of this little filter, but it has preformed admirably.
The Penguin uses 6X9 scotch brite pads, 4 of them, to trap out gunk. These are swapped out weekly also. They don`t trap as much as the micron cartridge, but do an acceptable job. The bio wheels are used for the extra oxygen they provide. They get a good rinse in hot, tap water weekly.
Total time is short of half an hour and is done during the weekly WC.
So, whats the point ????
Point is, you can have a successful, healthy tank without a huge amount of bio specific media sitting in a sump.
Right now, the bacteria are finding all the best spots to anchor and grow. If you don`t disturb the tanks interior much, a great deal will establish in the tank.
There are a number of benefits to having a large, healthy bacterial presence in the tank.
You can muck about with your filters without fretting over disturbing the bacteria.
Your filters can be stuffed full of mechanical media that could make your water crispy clean.
My 55g runs with the overwhelming bulk of it`s BB in the tank. My filters, a Mag HOT250 and Penguin350B, are set up to clean the water, not to host bacteria.
The Mag runs the micron cartridge only. I change it weekly since single digit micron pores tend to plug up. A 12 hour soak in a bleach/water solution cleans it right back up. I have 2 cartridges so one is always in service, while the other gets cleaned and airs out.
Was a bit leery of this little filter, but it has preformed admirably.
The Penguin uses 6X9 scotch brite pads, 4 of them, to trap out gunk. These are swapped out weekly also. They don`t trap as much as the micron cartridge, but do an acceptable job. The bio wheels are used for the extra oxygen they provide. They get a good rinse in hot, tap water weekly.
Total time is short of half an hour and is done during the weekly WC.
So, whats the point ????
Point is, you can have a successful, healthy tank without a huge amount of bio specific media sitting in a sump.
Why rinse your biowheels? They don't really do much for mech filtration but they can be great for BB, so I don't see the point in rinsing them? Also I can't imagine bleaching my filter media and putting it back in my tank.
Otherwise sounds cool. Right at the moment I don't have a whole lot for BB to grow on. I just did a 100% sand change last night, other than the sand I have one driftwood root & a few rocks (3 piled up into a cave). I should be receiving a nice large piece of manzanita before too long and I'm hoping to attach some plants to that. So there will be more space, but still not a whole lot.
On the plus side, the water seems clearer after changing the sand. Still a bit cloudy, but it looks cleaner. I'm hoping within the next week or two my filter will catch up the cycle will complete and I'll be good to go without adding another filter.
Otherwise sounds cool. Right at the moment I don't have a whole lot for BB to grow on. I just did a 100% sand change last night, other than the sand I have one driftwood root & a few rocks (3 piled up into a cave). I should be receiving a nice large piece of manzanita before too long and I'm hoping to attach some plants to that. So there will be more space, but still not a whole lot.
On the plus side, the water seems clearer after changing the sand. Still a bit cloudy, but it looks cleaner. I'm hoping within the next week or two my filter will catch up the cycle will complete and I'll be good to go without adding another filter.
Do Not do this.