Starting to think about the sump

[Charney]

I have a fish room thread running somewhere. Its been a bit since I posted there but things are coming a long. I am hoping to have the stands built soon. I am starting to think about the filtration. I am pretty new to using sumps overall
I have two 250g and want to pick up a 300g. I will filter these tanks together.
There will also be two two tier stands with about 400 gallons each. The main media will be K1. I am going to start off each system with swirl filters. If I use a swirl filter by K1 do I need to use filter socks?
Also originally I was thinking of running one big sump to filter the two racks of about 800 gallons. Think I would be better off having an individual sump for each rack? If there is ever an issue that will be more manageable.
Also what should my goal be for water turnover?

 

[ragin_cajun]

I would separate the sumps for the racks. I had to medicate a large tank with Nitro and Metro, and it was a big deal. More water, more meds, more money. And if you have some kind of outbreak, you'll want to isolate fish from teh rest. But, on the other hand, if you plan to spend on a high end UV, that greatly lessens your risk.

I don't know too much about K1, but I'd recommend you keep a sump as simple as possible. Sump implies big tanks with big fish, lots of mess, unless you're doing saltwater. So keep your sump as maintenance free as you possibly can.

 

[Stang725]

I agree that sharing a sump is going to cause headaches if you ever need to medicate or do something to one tank that the other might not need... but obviously its cost vs. utility....

I use filter socks and a small section of large-pore foam in my sump to catch stuff from the tank and to catch stuff before it goes to the return pump from the plants I keep in my sump. Just be mindful to keep a few socks on hand so you can swap them out and clean several at time... Also make sure you go with larger socks and not the tiny 4" x 8"... as they clog pretty quick if you have any kind of bio-load or messy eaters.

I have 6" x 12" and I can clog 1 in about 5-7 days with about 1800GPH going through it. (clog meaning it fills up 2" over the waterline inside the sock and starts to overflow)

 

[gangster]

Charney k1 is easy. And effective.
YOu need filter socks to catch the waste before it enters the bio,(k1), in this case.
FIlter socks are the best. get a good half dozen. You can just toss them in the wash with no soap and do a few runs. Clean. Ready to use again.

My sump drains into socks, then i have a divider/baffle, then it goes to a huge section of k1. Lots of air stones with huge air pumps. 110lpm on a 130g sump. I have about 3cuft of k1 in this chamber. Then another baffle then the return pump.

 

[Charney]

thanks for the input. With these large setups do you just use one return pump? Do you keep a spare in case there is an issue?

 

[ragin_cajun]

I have a 125 gallon sump. It has no baffles at all. It has 4 filter socks, I change them all out once a month. I have 4 bags of pond matrix in the sump. And I have 2 Laguna Max-flo 2400's. I also have a powerhead in my sump, pretty big one, that keeps the water in the sump moving all the time. I have a fresh water drip and small drain with a standpipe. I have 2 heaters. And I have a rubber ducky floating in the sump for good luck. That's it-that's my sump.

I don't clean it. I don't vacuum it. It's as clean as the tank is. I don't keep fish in it. I don't put plants in it.

 

[Charney]

I have a 125 gallon sump. It has no baffles at all. It has 4 filter socks, I change them all out once a month. I have 4 bags of pond matrix in the sump. And I have 2 Laguna Max-flo 2400's. I also have a powerhead in my sump, pretty big one, that keeps the water in the sump moving all the time. I have a fresh water drip and small drain with a standpipe. I have 2 heaters. And I have a rubber ducky floating in the sump for good luck. That's it-that's my sump.

I don't clean it. I don't vacuum it. It's as clean as the tank is. I don't keep fish in it. I don't put plants in it.

thanks. do you have a picture? would especially like to see your stand pipe for drip over fow?

Also what do you think the best way to set up my 250 would be. I plan on stacking them. Should I have the top tank drain into the bottom and then into the sump and return to the top or have each drain and fill separately?

 

[shookONES]

I don't run any mechanical at all in my K1 sump and have no issues. My 2262 has some pads and Efhimech and my water is invisible. Fluidized media does a very good job of breaking down solid waste IME

 

[ragin_cajun]

I would drain each tank into the sump and have a return line from the sump to each tank. I'd prolly even do a separate sump for each tank. No way I'd drain the top tank into the bottom tank then bottom tank into the sump.

I'm outta town this week, but I'll get some pics/video of my sump when I get home.

 

[ragin_cajun]

Charney....

Here's a video showing my sump....

The blue hose sticking in the cage of one of the pumps is the drip line. Heaters are on the right side of the sump behind the filter socks. The overflow/drain/standpipe is on the left side of the sump. This video shows the display tank, too.