Fresh water sump setup help

[Cle_utv]

Hello, and thanks for any help in advance. This is my first post here, and I'm very new to fish keeping, and as of today extremely new to fresh water stingray keeping. With that being said.

Im in need if some help. I bought a 300 gal tank for fresh water rays (currently in a 90 with a fx6). This seamless sump came with the tank and stand. It was a salt water tank. The more I look at it, the more it seems like a nightmare to even make work, but I think that's just because I don't know what I'm doing. The medium size sump to the front left in photos was used a refugium. I dont even have a clue what use it would be for fresh water (ideas?). One person said fill it with k1, someone else said pond matrix, someone else said plants.

Also the huge box the drop tubes go into is so high & close to the stand the previous owner didn't use socks. I want to, i have the 2 brackets for socks and ordered some along with sheet/roll of polyester from the store for mechanical filtration, but it looks like a nightmare to change frequently because of the limited height in there.

The middle part has baskets in it, I assume pick my favorite biological media for here? (Can someone tell me what they believe is the best)

The 3rd, or right most area I assume is where I will put my heater and??

I have never done a sump tank before and need some help. The external pump is 1275GPH. While seeking possible help, a local fish store told me to ditch the external pump, go with internal (he was trying to sell me an aquatop) Then said I should ditch it all. Showed me an acrylic sump. Then I called him out on it being way too small for a 300 gallon ray tank, and it clearly stating for up to 100 gallon tank. And he kinda derailed the convo then. Cool guy but I just don't think he knew how to assist with the setup I have and photos I showed him. Stand is 48x45x34 (tank is a cube)

Tomorrow I have to cut the pipe thay connected what was the refugium and what I'm calling last chamber (where the pump pulls water from) and then I can remove it all to clean all the gunk out. And will reinstall it with a union there. Then I have to install the new bulkheads in the tank and make new piping to connect it all, including the stand pipes and stuff (old had to be cut out, he built it and with the limited clearance wasn't built for removal)

Lastly I need to buy a uv sterilizer, just want one to keep algae down. Thinking the aqua uv 25 watt. Again local fish store had a aquatop 36 watt only rated for 500 gallons for 226 when the aqua uv I've heard good thing about and is around 320.

Thanks again and sorry for the long winded post.

 

[tlindsey]

Hello, and thanks for any help in advance. This is my first post here, and I'm very new to fish keeping, and as of today extremely new to fresh water stingray keeping. With that being said.

Im in need if some help. I bought a 300 gal tank for fresh water rays (currently in a 90 with a fx6). This seamless sump came with the tank and stand. It was a salt water tank. The more I look at it, the more it seems like a nightmare to even make work, but I think that's just because I don't know what I'm doing. The medium size sump to the front left in photos was used a refugium. I dont even have a clue what use it would be for fresh water (ideas?). One person said fill it with k1, someone else said pond matrix, someone else said plants.

Also the huge box the drop tubes go into is so high & close to the stand the previous owner didn't use socks. I want to, i have the 2 brackets for socks and ordered some along with sheet/roll of polyester from the store for mechanical filtration, but it looks like a nightmare to change frequently because of the limited height in there.

The middle part has baskets in it, I assume pick my favorite biological media for here? (Can someone tell me what they believe is the best)

The 3rd, or right most area I assume is where I will put my heater and??

I have never done a sump tank before and need some help. The external pump is 1275GPH. While seeking possible help, a local fish store told me to ditch the external pump, go with internal (he was trying to sell me an aquatop) Then said I should ditch it all. Showed me an acrylic sump. Then I called him out on it being way too small for a 300 gallon ray tank, and it clearly stating for up to 100 gallon tank. And he kinda derailed the convo then. Cool guy but I just don't think he knew how to assist with the setup I have and photos I showed him. Stand is 48x45x34 (tank is a cube)

Tomorrow I have to cut the pipe thay connected what was the refugium and what I'm calling last chamber (where the pump pulls water from) and then I can remove it all to clean all the gunk out. And will reinstall it with a union there. Then I have to install the new bulkheads in the tank and make new piping to connect it all, including the stand pipes and stuff (old had to be cut out, he built it and with the limited clearance wasn't built for removal)

Lastly I need to buy a uv sterilizer, just want one to keep algae down. Thinking the aqua uv 25 watt. Again local fish store had a aquatop 36 watt only rated for 500 gallons for 226 when the aqua uv I've heard good thing about and is around 320.

Thanks again and sorry for the long winded post.

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Welcome aboard

duanes
twentyleagues

 

[duanes]

Can you show pics of the tank where the bulkheads are? To show in a general way how it is to be hooked up?
The way I see it now, just looks like random pieces without a clue to direction.
Sometimes one needs to see the entire system to judge how it should work.
The external pump looks good.
The PVC fitting look good.
Don't start hacking away before knowing the works.
Maybe you need to contact the previous owner to get a general direction.
If it worked well before, for the previous owned, it will probably work that way for you.
I use a refugium on freshwater tanks and find them very useful.
Why complicate things at this point by adding a UV.
Figure out how it all fits together before adding more, and if its even needed at all.
UV is only good at reducing planktonic algae (green water ), it doesn't prevent algae growing on the glass, if that is your intention.

 

[Cle_utv]

Can you show pics of the tank where the bulkheads are? To show in a general way how it is to be hooked up?
The way I see it now, just looks like random pieces without a clue to direction.
Sometimes one needs to see the entire system to judge how it should work.
The external pump looks good.
The PVC fitting look good.
Don't start hacking away before knowing the works.
Maybe you need to contact the previous owner to get a general direction.
If it worked well before, for the previous owned, it will probably work that way for you.
I use a refugium on freshwater tanks and find them very useful.
Why complicate things at this point by adding a UV.
Figure out how it all fits together before adding more, and if its even needed at all.
UV is only good at reducing planktonic algae (green water ), it doesn't prevent algae growing on the glass, if that is your intention.

He went over with me how it worked and what I have to cut to get it out to clean. The original owner is who cut the stand tubes and everything with me there so I knew how and what to replace. I want the uv sterilizer because he had one, and it's piped with an extra ball valve for one. He just didn't include it.

 

[Cle_utv]

The bulkheads are in the back left hand corner. Here's photos of the whole tank. The water drops down into the sump in that largest back left sump box

 

[twentyleagues]

K1 is a little more "use intensive" then standard media but it really does a job on ammonia. You will need to stop it from flowing into the next chamber, a lot of people use porite foam. You will also need to ensure it is constantly rolling either with add air or flow. You could still use that center section as a fresh water refugium. Plant can help control nitrate. I agree with duanes the external pump is good. I also agree the UV is not needed and probably won't really help. But if you want it go for it.

 

[Cle_utv]

K1 is a little more "use intensive" then standard media but it really does a job on ammonia. You will need to stop it from flowing into the next chamber, a lot of people use porite foam. You will also need to ensure it is constantly rolling either with add air or flow. You could still use that center section as a fresh water refugium. Plant can help control nitrate. I agree with duanes the external pump is good. I also agree the UV is not needed and probably won't really help. But if you want it go for it.

Well I found a good deal on a aqua UV 40 watt locally new. So I bought it. Guess I may or may not see if it was a waste of money. But it was what a few others recommend.

Also here is a top view from how they sit exactly under the tank. The one with 4 holes I will run socks, but have no clue what other type of mechanical filtration to use becauae it's so huge. Also because the water comes out of it from the top. The baskets I will put bio media (have seachem matrix for the trays) and will run blocks or open to other suggestion in the rest of the spot around the trays.

Still debaiting what was the refugium, run k1 or open to other ideas or plants?

 

[Cle_utv]

Oops here's the photos

 

[twentyleagues]

Well I found a good deal on a aqua UV 40 watt locally new. So I bought it. Guess I may or may not see if it was a waste of money. But it was what a few others recommend.

Also here is a top view from how they sit exactly under the tank. The one with 4 holes I will run socks, but have no clue what other type of mechanical filtration to use becauae it's so huge. Also because the water comes out of it from the top. The baskets I will put bio media (have seachem matrix for the trays) and will run blocks or open to other suggestion in the rest of the spot around the trays.

Still debaiting what was the refugium, run k1 or open to other ideas or plants?

It depends on what you are worried about ammonia or nitrate. While plants will remove some of both they require other elements to remove either also. Not all plants are equally good at removing either also. Some are better at using nitrate some are better at ammonia. Floating plants leaves exposed to the air are typically the only ones good at using either as a "food" source, duck weed, water lettuce, frog bit, will those work good in your situation I'm not sure. Hornwort, val, Pennywort, wisteria, are good nitrate removers that work well in the water. Obviously the best way to control nitrate is water change. With rays most people are most concerned with ammonia.

 

[Cle_utv]

It depends on what you are worried about ammonia or nitrate. While plants will remove some of both they require other elements to remove either also. Not all plants are equally good at removing either also. Some are better at using nitrate some are better at ammonia. Floating plants leaves exposed to the air are typically the only ones good at using either as a "food" source, duck weed, water lettuce, frog bit, will those work good in your situation I'm not sure. Hornwort, val, Pennywort, wisteria, are good nitrate removers that work well in the water. Obviously the best way to control nitrate is water change. With rays most people are most concerned with ammonia.

So I honestly am not sure what to be most concerned with? But the big sump seems to only be for socks and more water volume. The next chamber will have filter floss top tray followed with bio in the other trays and rest of the area. Then it will flow into the last chamber that the pump sucks from. I think I'll put a plant or two there and my heater. The other tub will get k1. Here's is what I'm thinking? Not sure if it will work well or not