NEWBS-STOP OVERTHINKING SUMPS!!!

[davenmandy]

Before this thread goes completely downhill, my 2 pennies:

Thanks for posting OP. You are right, people newer to the hobby get freaked out by the idea of sumps. It looks complicated to them and turns them off. If I had a 180 gallon tank appropriately stocked I wouldn't hesitate to do this setup, it would probably eliminate a lot of maintenance, good on you for posting.

I do believe, however, that this will only work for lightly to medium sized tanks and stocks. As much as I like the idea of keeping it simple, higher bioloads and larger fish (quantity and size), as well as larger feedings will likely result in this setup falling short. I do believe more efficient (or you can call them complicated) filters are required for the hardcore hobbyist. One should also consider if they want their water gin clear or do you mind a small amount of haze? Do you have enough substrate to sacrifice some media? How attached are you to your fish? How expensive are they? Do you need more room to run multiple pumps? Can you build off of the current filter?

I don't think there is one right answer, but if I were to setup a tank for my dad to try to get him into the hobby for example I would definitely go with your setup first and build on it if needed.

boldtogether: framcosco has you on this one buddy. Why don't you build a 5000 gallon tank and see how this simple setup will work out for you?

 

[framcosco]

And yet again, the thread has been derailed into a pissing contest about some pseudo science behind sump design being a" make or break" factor in the average aquarium.
OP didn't start this thread to get armchair commentary on what constitutes a "proper" sump design. Seriously, beating this dead horse completly kills the example of the original post. "Newbs" are going to read this thread and leave even more confused...with nothing but a few clever remarks to reference later.

I don't think this thread has been derailed in any way shape or form..... it is an extension of the original thread topic...... if we were to keep it within your likes the conversation would have ended at "cool sump design"...... and that's it. I think people reading this can get a lot out of it...... no one here is saying one design is "proper" and one isn't.... please re-read this thread..... I think peoploe here in general appreciate different views as it is a forum....... certainly much more appreciated than YOU ARE BORED..... heck you bored?? why keep coming to this thread???? ..... and lastly, I really don't see anyone arguing...... we are sharing opinions based on experience and some not so much......

 

[dmopar74]

This sump design is not intended to be and end all for all sumps. This is to give an idea to those that seem to be intimidated on hoe to build a sump, but one would assume that if you have no idea on how to design a sump than you probably shouldn't be running a jdm tank anyways at this point in your hobby.

Does it work? Yes
Can you house 10 rays with it? Probably not
Etc etc etc...

 

[boldtogether]

I don't think this thread has been derailed in any way shape or form..... it is an extension of the original thread topic...... if we were to keep it within your likes the conversation would have ended at "cool sump design"...... and that's it. I think people reading this can get a lot out of it...... no one here is saying one design is "proper" and one isn't.... please re-read this thread..... I think peoploe here in general appreciate different views as it is a forum....... certainly much more appreciated than YOU ARE BORED..... heck you bored?? why keep coming to this thread???? ..... and lastly, I really don't see anyone arguing...... we are sharing opinions based on experience and some not so much......

I keep coming back because you keep quoting me and drawing me back. I did clarify as to the wording and "bored" was the wrong word. I don't and didn't want to get into a drawn out back and forth with someone and their opinion. It just seams that the two camps are in a pissing contest to make their word the last. I have no beef with anyone on this thread, but I certainly won't tuck my tail and agree with everything somebody says on a subject. Nobody knows everything. The spirit of the original post is getting clouded with a bunch of conjecture...and yes, I believe the thread has been derailed to accomodate these responses we are throwing back and forth.
I respect everyone here. From the guys with the pennies-on-the-dollar sponge filters to the guys with thousands invested in K1. The OP just made it quite clear...this is an example of simple. Some people don't like simple. No need to get all huffy because someone is equally passionate about the hobby and willing to disagree.

 

[boldtogether]

Before this thread goes completely downhill, my 2 pennies:

Thanks for posting OP. You are right, people newer to the hobby get freaked out by the idea of sumps. It looks complicated to them and turns them off. If I had a 180 gallon tank appropriately stocked I wouldn't hesitate to do this setup, it would probably eliminate a lot of maintenance, good on you for posting.

I do believe, however, that this will only work for lightly to medium sized tanks and stocks. As much as I like the idea of keeping it simple, higher bioloads and larger fish (quantity and size), as well as larger feedings will likely result in this setup falling short. I do believe more efficient (or you can call them complicated) filters are required for the hardcore hobbyist. One should also consider if they want their water gin clear or do you mind a small amount of haze? Do you have enough substrate to sacrifice some media? How attached are you to your fish? How expensive are they? Do you need more room to run multiple pumps? Can you build off of the current filter?

I don't think there is one right answer, but if I were to setup a tank for my dad to try to get him into the hobby for example I would definitely go with your setup first and build on it if needed.

boldtogether: framcosco has you on this one buddy. Why don't you build a 5000 gallon tank and see how this simple setup will work out for you?

I believe it was said before and I don't remember who said it but it went, " sump design doesn't have any bearing on the nitrogen cycle"....maybe @Pharoh...I have to say that even systems as large as 5,000 gallons could benefit from the example shown by the OP. My experience comes from over a decade in a waste water treatment plant and I can tell you with all certainty that SIMPLE is the golden standard whether you treat 20 gallons or 20 million gallons a day. The nitrifation process is the same. I'm not even arguing that big setups need big treatment...my point is coming from a standpoint of not confusing simple with inadequate.

 

[USMCSS]

I'm not going to read every bit of this thread but all I can say is simple is the best compared to complex. I used to have a custom 270 which I kept 2 leos, 3 motoros, and a 3ft black arowana all with a home made sump I built for roughly $100. I bought one of those plastic storage containers you get at walmart along with a small 3 shelf plastic storage bin. Got a used mag 9.5 off ebay for around $50. Bought a back of lava rocks and some tubing from home depot. Already had some cheap filter pads, the kind you cut to size. Drilled holes in the shelves of the cabinet thing and filled the bought shelf with the lave rocks. Both first and second shelves with the filter padding, set shelf in storage bin, and hook and boom, in business and my water stayed immaculate with that many large fish in it. Another plus side was since I was keeping rays, I could keep my heaters in it as well not to mention bags of other media for a couple weeks to use for new tanks.

This setup worked for over 2 years til I sold it all due to military deployment.

 

[USMCSS]

OH, I also think there just really needs to be seize fire and an agree to disagree. This page has already been way to quiet lately so when I come here to learn, the last thing I care to see is an aquatic civil war! Just drop it already cause in my eyes, you're all wrong at this point.

Just my $.031794837

 

[slippery slimecoat]

Call me crazy, but these are the types of threads that keep me coming back to MFK. People who are passionate about the hobby discussing different opinions on a particular subject. As someone who's about to set up my first sump soon, I got a lot out of this thread.

 

[predatorkeeper87]

I keep coming back because you keep quoting me and drawing me back. I did clarify as to the wording and "bored" was the wrong word. I don't and didn't want to get into a drawn out back and forth with someone and their opinion. It just seams that the two camps are in a pissing contest to make their word the last. I have no beef with anyone on this thread, but I certainly won't tuck my tail and agree with everything somebody says on a subject. Nobody knows everything. The spirit of the original post is getting clouded with a bunch of conjecture...and yes, I believe the thread has been derailed to accomodate these responses we are throwing back and forth.
I respect everyone here. From the guys with the pennies-on-the-dollar sponge filters to the guys with thousands invested in K1. The OP just made it quite clear...this is an example of simple. Some people don't like simple. No need to get all huffy because someone is equally passionate about the hobby and willing to disagree.

This guy...I like this guy.

My 2 cents! I can see both sides of this argument but as previously stated if you have ammonia and nitrites in your system then its in all of the tank water...so if you have the habitat/space for bacteria to grow and consume said components then pushing the water through the media in a specific direction should be neither here nor there...NOW if you want to talk mech filtration then baffles and wet/drys etc are absolutely necessary if your end goal is to catch more crap...literally.

 

[boldtogether]

Call me crazy, but these are the types of threads that keep me coming back to MFK. People who are passionate about the hobby discussing different opinions on a particular subject. As someone who's about to set up my first sump soon, I got a lot out of this thread.

Hey Crazy!! Haha!! Seriously, this is why I keep Monster on a bookmark in my phone..
simple little threads that evolve. But I hate arguing about something that both sides are passionate about...and we all are very dedicated to our hobby....spice of life right?
I don't have any social media anymore but I kept MFK....because I will never stop keeping fish and aquariums.