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05-11-2007, 02:25 PM
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#1 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 75
Karma: 7
 |  New to sump...PLEASE HELP !!
I am setting up a 55g sump for my 210g FOWLR. It will eventually be a reef tank once I upgrade my pc lighting to MH. My question is this, what do I use for filtration? Do I just put something in the fuge part like cheato? I plan on putting in live sand or mud and some LR rubble. My skimmer is a Berlin XL, two 300 watt heaters and I will be running a mag 18 pump. Right now I will only have about 100lbs of LR and 100 lbs of live sand in the tank itself and I was concerned that wasn't enough for filtration. Will I still need some kind of mechanical filter? I have read so many differing opinions and ways to set up a sump with bio balls etc etc that my head feels like it is about to explode !! My LFS guy was supposed to come help us plumb the tank to the sump but he is so busy he can't get away. Please help a total nimwit to sumps not screw it up. Thanks !  | 
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05-11-2007, 02:37 PM
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#2 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 43
Posts: 3,939
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IMO, you have enough sand and live rock for your tanks success! If anything, you could add more live sand, but I would decline your decision to add more live rock for water movement and decreased detritus accumulation. Too much live rock covering up your substrate will increase detritus etc. into your substrate through advection or diffusion also...
As for the mechanical filtration is concerned, I would not worry about it as you should be fine with the skimmer (which actually is your mechanical filtration) and the anaerobic and aerobic bacteria associated with your rock and sand(biological)! A chemical filtration would also be beneficial(ie. carbon and phosphate remover) IMO!!!!!
Take my advice and don't use the bio-balls!!!! Live rock with macroalgae, mud and live sand(refugium/sump) is your best bet! bio-balls are nitrate creators unless you want to clean the bio-balls frequently to remove detritus, uneaten foods etc. _________ 125gal.w/Mag9.5 return(dual megaflow)>Mag7 pump Aqua Cev180skimmer.Wave2k Hamilton Reefstar(2)250watthqi(mh)pend.a Yellow, Naso Tang Red Lip Blenny Percula Clown Demoiselles Niger Trigger F. Wrasses Ceriantharia Orn.Shrimp and Stars Hermits Queen Conch asst. snails> Stars Zoos shrooms Montipora Brains Gorgonians Favia Turbinaria(large+small polyp) Acropora Xenia Tridacna (CroceaMaximaSquamosa) Leathers <35+75gal.reef tank as well> 
"IF THE PHONE DOESN'T RING...IT'S ME"  jb  | |
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05-11-2007, 02:59 PM
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#3 (permalink)
| | Spanish Shawl Nudibranch
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 75
Karma: 7
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Thanks so much for the help coral ! You said chemical filtration. How would I do that ? I'm sorry to sound so stupid but this is my first sump and I am trying to get everything right. | |
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05-11-2007, 03:15 PM
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#4 (permalink)
| | Giant Squid
Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Meriden, Connecticut Age: 43
Posts: 3,939
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Add carbon in a filter media bag or phosphate reomver and add to your tank! | |
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05-20-2007, 11:01 AM
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#5 (permalink)
| | Torch Coral
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Paul/Woodbury, Minnesota Age: 50
Posts: 1,181
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For your refugium use a variety of macro algae, especially Ulva (lettuce algae) which grows in sheets very fast and can be fed to your fish like sushi nori. You want some fast growing algae to help remove excess nutrients. Cheato is slow growing. _________ 75g reef with Nova Extreme 8 bulb HO T-5 lighting, refuge, Remora skimmer, DSB, Seio powerheads, Acro's, LPS corals, assorted zoo's & mushrooms, Yellow Tang, Maroon Clown, Blue Cleaner Goby , Cleaner, Fire and Sexy Shrimp, Coco Worm, T.Crocea Clam, Derasa Clam
120g FOWLR, 260w Orbit power compact lights, Remora Pro skimmer, 30g DIY Sump/Refuge, DSB,Seio Power heads, Powder Blue Tang, Purple Tang, Flag Fin Angel, False Eye Puffer, Copperbanded Butterfly and a Moorish Idol  | |
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