Overflow/Sump question for Planted Tank

[House 64]

I recently purchased a 3'x3'x2' cubed tank with a built in center (rear) overflow. I would like to make this a planted tank but not sure how the overflow will work with a CO2 system. Will the overflow/sump and other plumbing cause the CO2 to off-gas and not be as affective? What can I use in the sump (rather than Bio-Balls) to minimize oxygenation of the water and maintain the CO2? Should I use a "Sock" used in most reef applications? Thanks.

 

[Euge]

I wouldn't recommend using an overflow with a planted tank especially if you are using CO2. theres really not much you can do to minimise the gas exchange

 

[House 64]

I wouldn't recommend using an overflow with a planted tank especially if you are using CO2.

Well.... the overflow is built-in, no way around that unless I don't fill the tank up to the overflow. I'm trying to determine how to utilize a sump in this application to minimize the loss of CO2.

 

[racialfish]

I have a sump on my high tech planted 75 gallon, so long as you have pressurized co2 you are fine, all I did to make up for gas exchange was bump up co2 to make up for what is lost, I've had the 20lb tank for going on 6 months and i got it half full and the guage still showed a lot of gas left.

 

[WyldFya]

I have a sump on my high tech planted 75 gallon, so long as you have pressurized co2 you are fine, all I did to make up for gas exchange was bump up co2 to make up for what is lost, I've had the 20lb tank for going on 6 months and i got it half full and the guage still showed a lot of gas left.

You can do this, but it is a big waste of money. Also, co2 tanks will show over 400 psi up until there isn't any pressure left, at which point it will drop very fast.

 

[GJC]

You can do this, but it is a big waste of money. Also, co2 tanks will show over 400 psi up until there isn't any pressure left, at which point it will drop very fast.

Yup, my old 5lb bottle would show full for a long time, then in a couple days empty.

 

[racialfish]

How is it a waste of money? co2 is cheap as far as I'm concerned and if you can't pay 10 bucks a year to refill then don't get pressurized, co2 is a small factor compared to the great filtering etc. that a sump provides

 

[mgamer20o0]

your going to want to seal it up as best as possible. i would get the biggest co2 tank you can fit also. your going to be pumping in a lot of co2. you can try a low light planted tank. no co2 needed. even some medium light plants can do fine with no co2.

 

[WyldFya]

How is it a waste of money? co2 is cheap as far as I'm concerned and if you can't pay 10 bucks a year to refill then don't get pressurized, co2 is a small factor compared to the great filtering etc. that a sump provides

When CO2 refills cost $20, and you run a sump and are running a 20 lb bottle every 3 months.

your going to want to seal it up as best as possible. i would get the biggest co2 tank you can fit also. your going to be pumping in a lot of co2. you can try a low light planted tank. no co2 needed. even some medium light plants can do fine with no co2.

I agree. But ever low and moderate light plants still need some co2, even if you aren't injecting. I'd personally stay away from a sump. A canister can provide just as good of filtration if you get a unit that houses as much media.

 

[saltydog_1]

keep the flow to and from your sump turned down and use a standpipe in your overflow box so the water dropping in it isnt dropping all the way down a properly stocked planted tank does not need a large turnover you can utilize powerheads within the tank if you would like more circulation