Rubble

[Mike389]

I am using rubble in my sump to decrease the amount of bubbles in my tank.... The return water crashes onto these small pieces of live rock and decreases the amount of turbulence. My question is would this cause an increase in nitrates?? the rubble is submerged under water but some of it is out of water where the return water is crashing on to them... I can send pics for a better understanding just pm me thanks

 

[thirty5]

I am not a a fan of rubble in a sump.... I feel that it will just gather detritus. Why not just use a filter sock? Will get rid of the splashing while catching the detritus.

IMO the rock may cause increased nitrates if you get the buildup.

 

[Mike389]

im using a sump that use to have bioballs... so a sock wont rele work.

 

[thirty5]

I guess without making it work. But there are ways around it. I assume that you are using the type of sump that has a cover over the area of the bioballs/rubble. You don't need that cover. Take it off, and then just get a filter sock hanger and stick your drain hose into the sock.

I like my sump to be all water used just as a place to have pumps and equipment. The filtration IMO should be in your tank and fuge.

 

[Brando457]

Just hit the sump with a pump when doing water changes and you'll be fine

 

[Mike389]

heres a link to a sump very similar to mine
http://www.pro-clear.com/images/wetdrypro/pro200wd.jpg
but i have it modded so its connected to another 20 gallon long

 

[Mike389]

in this rubble i have things living as well like pods, amphoids, star fish etc.

 

[Mike389]

blasting it with a pump is a great idea thanks brando

 

[thirty5]

I just looked at the pic of the similar sump. So it appears as if you are using the bioball area as like a fuge (sorta). Why not just put the filter pad over it like it would have been with the bioballs, then just clean that out every few days.

 

[Mike389]

i have a light on it with macro algae... light doesnt pass through

 

[Mike389]

what if i put like hermit crabs in with the rubble?

 

[Mike389]

they could eat the detritus

 

[rkaragozler]

send me a pic,

 

[Mike389]

i sent them rich

 

[thirty5]

I was just gonna ask for a pic.. Can you post it so we can all see it. Seems like you have a lot going on..

 

[rkaragozler]

He is having a hard time posting pics give me a sec.

 

[thirty5]

Hard to tell how the water is getting into the sump. That water is really pouring in it seems...

 

[rkaragozler]

I am waiting for 2 more pics, but from these pics it looks like you have too much water in the sump and its going over the last baffle, the wet dry are not made to have the water go over the baffle but under.

 

[thirty5]

Oh that water is flowing out of the top of the BioBall Chamber???

 

[rkaragozler]

If you take a look at his post that shows his sump look alike. the last baffle is almost at the top. the water in that sump the water level seams to be only 4-6". If any one want to know the way a wet dry works is the water flows thru a sponge filter first to catch most of the ditritus, then water gets distributed over a piece of acrylic with holes in it, this allows the water to trickle over the bio balls. about 1/3 of the bio balls are submerged in water, from their the water will travel thru the sponge filter and make its way to the return pump.