Sump? What?

[jcardona1]

nah,it's sole purpose would be to add wet/dry. So I probably don't need that then?

If you use ceramic media, you'll have more surface area than you will ever need. What's important to remember is that bacteria will only grow according to your bio load of fish. Simply adding more media won't mean you'll grow more bacteria, as it's already balanced with your fish. If you add more fish, then more bacteria will colonize.

 

[Carefree_Dude]

So, the more fish I have, the more bacteria, but i'll need enough stuff for that bacteria, correct? How many rings should I toss into this 55 gallon i'm using for a sump? Or a better question, what is the minimum amount; i can always add more later, when I have more money. I see you can buy them in 1 liter containers.


Also, how do water changes work when you use a sump? Is there like a certain water level your tank/sump gets to and you just top it off, or do you have to actually take water out?

 

[jcardona1]

Yes that's right; more fish means more bacteria will be needed. As for how much you need, that is still a mystery to me. I don't think anybody really knows, that is why everybody over does it, better safe than sorry! If you buy something like Seachem Matrix, then they usually tell you how much you need. But with DIY media or stuff like generic ceramic rings, it's kind of a guess game I suppose. Odds are though, with a 55g sump you'll have more than what you need.

With a sump, that water level in your tank will always be fixed, since it needs to reach the overflow then go down to the sump. As water evaporates, you'll see the water level in the sump decrease. When the level gets too low, I add water to the tank. The extra water automatically flows down to the sump, causing the level to rise.

For water changes I turn everything off. This causes a few gallons of water to drain down to sump, until the water in the tank clears the lip of the overflow box.

 

[Carefree_Dude]

So for water changes, you just do what is currently in the sump after you turn everything off? How often do they need to be done if you have a sump?

 

[jcardona1]

No, I do my water change from inside the tank. I personally change 50-60%. Water changes should be the same, regardless what type of filtration you have. Using a sump doesn't mean you can do less or smaller water changes.

 

[cichlid2006]

So for water changes, you just do what is currently in the sump after you turn everything off? How often do they need to be done if you have a sump?

When I do waterchange i turn everything off and, like Jose states, water does go back into the sump through the return pipes and also the extra in the tank that is above the overflow height. All that water must go back to the sump. Your return line(s) will become a problem if they are lower than your overflow height as they will syphon water back to the sump, this is where you would ordinarily use non-return valves.

However, if you want to; you can make a spray bar to fit over the return line(s) and this can be made so the holes are higher or level to your overflow height. This negates the need for extra equipment that will need serviced/replaced over time and chances are they will fail you at some point like most equipment does. If you don't need them then it is one less thing to go wrong.

The way to avoid flooding is to fill your tank to just before the tipping point, the point at which water goes over the overflow and into the sump.
Then fill your sump to the required level, remember that water chemistry is more stable in larger volumes. I suggest filling up the sump to around 3/4 full. When filling your sump you need to take the water volume that all your pipes will have and what it will take for your tank level to topple over the overflow. If you don't you will end up running your pumps dry or with them partially submerged and taking in air which reduces the life of the pump and makes your system less efficient.

You are then ready to start the pumps, the sump level will go down initially as the pipes need to fillup and the water level in the tank needs to topple over the overflow and fill the outlet. It will find equilibrium and should run smoothly if you have done everything correctly.

A system with a sump needs regular maintenance like any other system. Sumps are like any other filter and need cleaned out every so often.
Remember to ensure your overflow can flow faster than your pumps or you will flood your floor.

 

[Carefree_Dude]

will putting carbon in a sump have any effect?

 

[prskiller]

Excellent thread. Thanks to jcardona1, I'll be doing a sump in that fashion. I like easy, I like simple and it works. Like EVH said just give me a guitar with 1 pickup and 1 volume knob, simple and effective. Thanks

 

[cichlid2006]

will putting carbon in a sump have any effect?

The purpose it is used for by most hobbiests is to remove medication after treating for a disease.
Some use it to remove unpleasant smells from the aquarium but all they are really doing, most of the time, is covering up an issue that really should be addressed before it cause too many problems.
It can also be used to remove some chemicals from the water, for example tannins, but it is this property that has led it's constant use to be linked to hole in the head disease. Some believe it takes too many trace elements from the water which causes erosion in the fishes sensory pits, however there is no conclusive proof as to the cause of HITH yet.

 

[dannieman]

jcardona1 how often do you replace the socks? im actually thinking about making a sump just like yours cause you make it look so simple lol