Michigan Cichlid Association

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: RichE on September 29, 2013, 01:58:37 PM

Title: another sump question
Post by: RichE on September 29, 2013, 01:58:37 PM
If doing a over flow box on a 6ft 125 will a 29 gallon tank be enough of a sump, if I am also running a fluval 405 full of bio media? Trying to work with what I have on hand
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: lilscoots on September 29, 2013, 05:40:16 PM
I have a 29gallon sump on my 125.
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: danielratti on September 29, 2013, 07:18:02 PM
Sumps are for bio media. What have a canister that will take you 30 min to clean when you can use a sump and just spend 1 min chaning the pad.
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: lilscoots on September 29, 2013, 07:52:28 PM
Load the sump with the bio media and the canister full of mechanical filtration if you're looking to maximize the usefulness of each.
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: RichE on September 29, 2013, 08:15:51 PM
Load the sump with the bio media and the canister full of mechanical filtration if you're looking to maximize the usefulness of each.
I figured with the extra filtration of the canister filter it wont hurt but only help, so would you suggest just foam and pads in the canister?
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: lilscoots on September 29, 2013, 08:55:05 PM
I would if I had a canister which I don't but they seem to be good at polishing water which is why I thought running mechanical in them.  My 29 gallon sump is pretty empty as far as bio media goes and handles the 24 haps I have in there without issue...I've cleaned my sump twice in six months only because I moved the tank twice and it was easier to move without water.  I shake the bags of ceramic rings in old tank water once a month or so.
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: danielratti on September 29, 2013, 09:33:15 PM
use a sponge as a prefilter in your overflow clean it every week. will help with the filter pad and keeping the sump clean.
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: RichE on September 29, 2013, 11:42:44 PM
Thanks for the help guys, I found a diy set up I am going to build, I am going to take my time and make a stand and sump, so this will be a on going project but i want to be careful and do it right so I dont break another tank:)

i am going to go with a over flow box and a spray bar on the return
Title: Re: another sump question
Post by: four_by_ken on September 30, 2013, 02:03:04 PM
Thanks for the help guys, I found a diy set up I am going to build, I am going to take my time and make a stand and sump, so this will be a on going project but i want to be careful and do it right so I dont break another tank:)

i am going to go with a over flow box and a spray bar on the return


Just make sure the spray bar can out flow the max your pump can provide... dont forget about some clogging happening in the future also.