What should i put in my sump?

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 09:38 AM

hi all,

after some research i got confused what i should put in my sump.....at the moment im running a 130l

inside i have a protein skimmer, white wool, ceramic cylindrical white pellets and a black sponge...do i have to much or too little?

I also have 13kg of live rock in the aquairum (not in the sump)

is my setup ok?

Recently finished the cycle and added 3 fish

thanks all

MidwesternTexan · 02/27/2016, 09:40 AM

no wool or sponges. Build or buy an Algae Truf Scrubber- Way better and WAY cheaper in the long run- Trust me on this one, do you trust me? ;-)

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 12:04 PM

should i? hahah thanks

JohnnyHildo · 02/27/2016, 01:22 PM

coming out of freshwater i also felt like the sump needed media to function properly. as of right now my sump has a single carbon pad and on top of that another bag of loose carbon across the spot where filter socks can be used. otherwise... skimmer, heaters, ato and return pump.

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 01:44 PM

is putting live rock in the display tank enough or is it better to put some more in the sump? i have 12kg in 110litres of water. thanks for ur reply john

JohnnyHildo · 02/27/2016, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seanbugeja

is putting live rock in the display tank enough or is it better to put some more in the sump? i have 12kg in 110litres of water. thanks for ur reply john

if my tank were that size i would be comfortable with the amount you have.

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 02:02 PM

thanks

hkgar · 02/27/2016, 02:13 PM

Putting live rock in the sump is not necessary if you can get all you need in the DT. I think most who put rock in the sump do so in order have a less cluttered display. I personally like a lot of rock.

All I have in my sump, which is in the basement, are 3 heaters and the pump for my external skimmer. I do have a ATS but it is suspended above the sump.

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 02:24 PM

thank hkgar...will removing my floss cause an amonia or nitrite spike? my tank just stabilized from the cycle..thanks

hkgar · 02/27/2016, 03:22 PM

I'll let you do the math, but it looks like you have about 24 lbs of rock in a 34 gallon tank. You should go for 1 to 2 lbs per gallon. Maybe about another 8 - 10 kg. More rock allows for a higher bio load as it can house more bacteria.

seanbugeja · 02/27/2016, 03:46 PM

Can I put dry rock in the sump and let it seed itself there? Don't want to risk another amonia spike

hkgar · 02/27/2016, 03:57 PM

Yes. Once you have 0 Ammonia and 0 nitrites just go slowly in adding live stock as your bacteria level grows as you add bio-load. Bacteria only increase as more "food" for them becomes available. Your current rock amount will support a low level of bio load, so you only need to add additional rock as you increase load.

02/27/2016, 09:38 AM	#1
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	What should i put in my sump? hi all, after some research i got confused what i should put in my sump.....at the moment im running a 130l inside i have a protein skimmer, white wool, ceramic cylindrical white pellets and a black sponge...do i have to much or too little? I also have 13kg of live rock in the aquairum (not in the sump) is my setup ok? Recently finished the cycle and added 3 fish thanks all

02/27/2016, 09:40 AM	#2
MidwesternTexan Average Joe Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: A Texan, in Franklin, WI. Posts: 594	no wool or sponges. Build or buy an Algae Truf Scrubber- Way better and WAY cheaper in the long run- Trust me on this one, do you trust me? ;-) __________________ 180g Reef- 75+ different Corals; 14 fish; DIY Coast to Coast Overflow 3 x 120W Full Spectrum/Dimmable LED's 125g DIY sump- Reef Octopus nw200-6540B - 40B FT- ~320gallon system total DIY Large ATS Current Tank Info: 180g- C2C overflow- 125g sumpk 40B FT; Lots of Coral- mostly sps

02/27/2016, 01:22 PM	#4
JohnnyHildo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 669	coming out of freshwater i also felt like the sump needed media to function properly. as of right now my sump has a single carbon pad and on top of that another bag of loose carbon across the spot where filter socks can be used. otherwise... skimmer, heaters, ato and return pump. __________________ 120G Standard - 40G Sump. Apex - DOS - ATI Current Tank Info: Acros - Zoas - Palys

02/27/2016, 02:13 PM	#8
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Putting live rock in the sump is not necessary if you can get all you need in the DT. I think most who put rock in the sump do so in order have a less cluttered display. I personally like a lot of rock. All I have in my sump, which is in the basement, are 3 heaters and the pump for my external skimmer. I do have a ATS but it is suspended above the sump. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

02/27/2016, 03:22 PM	#10
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	I'll let you do the math, but it looks like you have about 24 lbs of rock in a 34 gallon tank. You should go for 1 to 2 lbs per gallon. Maybe about another 8 - 10 kg. More rock allows for a higher bio load as it can house more bacteria. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

02/27/2016, 12:04 PM	#3
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	should i? hahah thanks

02/27/2016, 01:44 PM	#5
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	is putting live rock in the display tank enough or is it better to put some more in the sump? i have 12kg in 110litres of water. thanks for ur reply john

02/27/2016, 02:02 PM	#7
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	thanks

02/27/2016, 02:24 PM	#9
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	thank hkgar...will removing my floss cause an amonia or nitrite spike? my tank just stabilized from the cycle..thanks

02/27/2016, 03:46 PM	#11
seanbugeja Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 138	Can I put dry rock in the sump and let it seed itself there? Don't want to risk another amonia spike

02/27/2016, 03:57 PM	#12
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Yes. Once you have 0 Ammonia and 0 nitrites just go slowly in adding live stock as your bacteria level grows as you add bio-load. Bacteria only increase as more "food" for them becomes available. Your current rock amount will support a low level of bio load, so you only need to add additional rock as you increase load. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels