Sump Help

[fishrmann2]

So I've never delt with sumps before... I have always used canister filters.. I got this as a freebie throw in when I bought a bunch of tanks from a guy. I have no idea how to set it up or how much it's worth. I really like the FX5's.. So maybe I can trade someone if its worth that much or if I can get some guidence of how to set this up, maybe I'll use it on my 180.. So please help me in figuring this out.. Thanks in advance!

 

[Valous]

nice got that for free. I would say it needs a good cleaning but the hardest part about sumps is the plumbing. The good thing about sumps is that they can hold alot of bio media if you over stock the tank, and also help have a higher water volume. With that said I would read the sticky on building a DIY overflow and start there. what size tank will this sump be for?

 

[fishrmann2]

I know it needs a cleaning.. debating if I wanna do it or sell it as is for cheap.. lol I'm not sure if I want to use it yet.. never have and don't know if I wanna venture into this yet..

The things I am wondering about are the spiral (green capped thingy) and the empty spaces (one round, one divided rectangle).. Is there supposed to be an air pump hooked up somewhere?

 

[BadOleRoss]

It's actually a pretty nice sump for the price! It looks like the water will enter at the 2 filter plates and then fall through the bio media and then on to the pump. You will need a prefilter of some sort or place a filter pad over the plates. I have no idea what the 2 round things are.......nothing I have ever used.

 

[davidtcb1]

Looks like you could take the round cylinder-type things out and simplify things a lot, having just your pump and a heater, etc. over there. Not sure what those are for either. It's probably designed to be used with two inlet tubes from the tank's overflow, one above each plate. I'd probably remove the rolls of filter media and use a sheet of something similar in the drip plates for mechanical, then fill the rest of the chambers below with bio balls, pot scrubbies, etc. This would be a great sump for a large overstocked tank as stated above given all the potential room for biological and mechanical filtration. Good free find!

 

[fishrmann2]

Thanks for the help so far guys! That spiral green top thing is drivin me nuts.. It must be for salt water or somethin...

So would you use this set up on a 180 or go with an FX5?

 

[davidtcb1]

I would do what you are most comfortable with. If your tank isn't drilled for a sump, I'd stick with the canister.

 

[fishrmann2]

So then I gotta ask this question... Whats this thing worth?

 

[davidtcb1]

Well, considering everything would likely have to be re-worked minus the drip plates and the box itself, I probably wouldn't pay more than $50 for it.

 

[zennzzo]

That tall thing looks to be a protein skimmer, I believe an air pump hooks up to the protein skimmer too.
The spiral black things are floss sandwiched between the black mesh plastic, they work great as mechanical filters...

Alot of cleaning and you'll still have a dated salt water sump...sell it for 50 bux to somebody who knows what to do with it, as is,
or
clean it up and ask $75.00