So I decided to get back into salt, I have 120 gallon for the main tank I also have two 50 gallons I could use as sumps, my question is what is the best sump contents and setup? I was thinking of taking the two 50s and making them into a L shape so the tower can be a wet dry filter. Also was thinking of drilling them and connecting them and having one as mechanical and a skimmer and heater then it flows to the second which would be bio media live rock or anything that would work. I want an octopus as the pet but I need a sump that would work incase that idea falls thru and I do just fish. I do not plan on doing a reef tank
Best sump setup for saltwater
- Thread starter Jag586
- Start date
Typically speaking, you don't need to worry about the wet dry filter for salt if you have enough life rock. And that just means a bunch of good, porous rock - since it will all become live.
So think of your sump as mainly for mechanical and chemical filtration type needs.
There's no wrong order for the sump, but you want to start with your filter socks at the end with the drain lines. Put the skimmer and heaters in that first or second chamber - and use baffles to make sure the water is forced down and up...which helps with microbubbles.
The rest of the space is just there for whatever fun stuff you want to do. A refugium can fit into a chamber nicely....reactors...heaters...etc. etc. etc.
There's a ton of flexibility there but you want mechanical up front so you don't clog the rest of it and then just have fun. Baffles are your best friend for separating chambers and forcing water down through stuff.
So think of your sump as mainly for mechanical and chemical filtration type needs.
There's no wrong order for the sump, but you want to start with your filter socks at the end with the drain lines. Put the skimmer and heaters in that first or second chamber - and use baffles to make sure the water is forced down and up...which helps with microbubbles.
The rest of the space is just there for whatever fun stuff you want to do. A refugium can fit into a chamber nicely....reactors...heaters...etc. etc. etc.
There's a ton of flexibility there but you want mechanical up front so you don't clog the rest of it and then just have fun. Baffles are your best friend for separating chambers and forcing water down through stuff.
So, I could technically do a 50 gallon, start with filter socks, then up and down some fine filter material ending in a large area with a heater and skimmer then be done or connect to another 50 full of extra live rock? Then pumped back to tank. What is the rule of thumb for live rock to gallons? Sorry for the questions last time I had a salt tank it was 50 gallon tank with 55 lbs of live rock and a canister filter. So the whole sump on a salt is new to me
Yeah that's basically the most common setup. People will also usually put another set of baffles to create a third chamber for the return. So you'll end up with a big second chamber which you can put whatever you want in.
Keep a few things in mind - once you're up and running it's a serious pain to try and add space. So if you have the option to go bigger, there's no harm in going bigger. Remember to calculate your flowback volume for when the return is turned off. You need the sump to have enough open space to hold all of the water that will flow back down....so don't make your first baffles too tall.
For live rock - I mean, you can't ever have too much...but it just depends on what your stocking/feeding plans are. Typically speaking you would want at least 100pounds in your tank, if not closer to 150.
You could always just put a bunch in the display and then if/when you need more fill up that second chamber. With no reef you aren't going to be adding much additional equipment, but I could see a carbon reactor or something...so space is always good.
Keep a few things in mind - once you're up and running it's a serious pain to try and add space. So if you have the option to go bigger, there's no harm in going bigger. Remember to calculate your flowback volume for when the return is turned off. You need the sump to have enough open space to hold all of the water that will flow back down....so don't make your first baffles too tall.
For live rock - I mean, you can't ever have too much...but it just depends on what your stocking/feeding plans are. Typically speaking you would want at least 100pounds in your tank, if not closer to 150.
You could always just put a bunch in the display and then if/when you need more fill up that second chamber. With no reef you aren't going to be adding much additional equipment, but I could see a carbon reactor or something...so space is always good.
Not quite understanding - 4in wide baffles are pretty small. Your best bet is to create a large open space with a baffle at the end that will make the water push down and through the entire chamber. Does that make sense? So the water pours over into chamber two - then the next baffle is a couple inches off the ground at the other end of the chamber. THen you need another baffle after that for the water to spill over (helps with microbubbles etc).
Does that make sense?
Space between baffles is wasted space - so don't worry about putting a ton in there. Just separate the chambers enough, and try to force water down & up through them.
Does that make sense?
Space between baffles is wasted space - so don't worry about putting a ton in there. Just separate the chambers enough, and try to force water down & up through them.
Ah much easier.
You don't want to do the first one - that is way too limiting. You're going to wish you had open space later in tank life.
The second is the way to go - and you're going to get great flow through the rock. Don't forget that you're pushing a ton of water through this thing, so there is current and water will be flowing through and around the rock.
I would put a full set of baffles after the skimmer just to kill microbubbles. So a down and an up.
The big second chamber is good...no matter what you're planning now, you want the flexibility to change plans later without ripping out your sump and redoing it all.
You don't want to do the first one - that is way too limiting. You're going to wish you had open space later in tank life.
The second is the way to go - and you're going to get great flow through the rock. Don't forget that you're pushing a ton of water through this thing, so there is current and water will be flowing through and around the rock.
I would put a full set of baffles after the skimmer just to kill microbubbles. So a down and an up.
The big second chamber is good...no matter what you're planning now, you want the flexibility to change plans later without ripping out your sump and redoing it all.