How Effective Is The Tidepool Sump ?

[Patti]

Hi there,

Have any of you used the Tidepool sump set up or similar commercial sumps ? I don't have room under or beside my tank for a DIY one, and my husband feels more secure with a store bought piece of equipment.
My tank is 66g,4 inches of live sand, 90ish pounds of live rock.
I am planning on putting my SeaClone skimmer in the sump too, since it isn't doing a darn thing by itself. If I put the skimmer in the sump, Do I still need a pump in the sump for the return. I am new to the sump idea so please pardon my lack of proper terminology. And would this be very effective ? I know there are cheaper ways of going but my husband is suggesting this as my Christmas present, so I just want to research and hear others experiences before we buy.
Thanks In Advance For Time,
Patti

 

[Mouse]

I hope you didn't just say SeaClone. I would get a decent skimmer first, something with a Venturi and a needle wheel or an HSA skimmer. Seaclones are realy bad although if you fancy some DIY check out the boards for the SeaClone conversion diagrams. It explains how you can get the seaclone to work by dropping in an air line and shortening the central tube, if you manage to do all that without irreperably breaking it then you might have a half decent skimmer in the end, but you would be much better off with a proper one, not a CPR Backback before you mention that skimmer either. Ask around, the products available to me in London are very different but the principles are the same.

 

[Patti]

Yup, SeaClone

Product choices here in Manitoba,Canada are quite minimal. I've had the Seaclone running for about a month now. I had to completely tear down my tank a month ago to add 70lbs of sand and to move the tank away from the wall to accomodate this SeaClone, Which doesn't appear to be doing anything at all. I have read the threads on improving this skimmers efficiency by hacking it. I would hate to have to do that though. I mentioned my disappointment to my dealer and he said there isn't much I can do, but he then showed me this new sump made by SeaSystems (I think), and I could add the skimmer to it.
What do think the results of this set up would be ? Would I still have to purchase the overflow that comes with this sump or would the SeaClone skimmer take it's place as the overflow, also would I still have to purchase a pump, or would the SeaClone take it's place too ? And would this sump and skimmer be more efficient than just a skimmer ?
Thanks Again,
Patti

 

[31-2c]

Patti

Try this website:
http://www.petsolutions.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/fwetdry.htm?L+scstore+qmnw8826ffa3a2a3+1006201447

and take a look at the Aqua Clear Pro Series. This comes with a skimmer that is much better than what you are using now. It is not top of the line like some have mentioned, but it does very well in my opinion. This unit comes with everything you will need as well. Including the overflow.

 

[Patti]

Thanks for the link, and for the info

The sump my local dealer had shown me looks very similar to the Aqua Clear Pro, but without the skimmer. It also comes with the bio balls and floss,tubing and overflow for $350.00 canadian. You don't think adding my SeaClone to it would work as well as the Aqua Clear Pro with the skimmer included ? It's a shame I just spent $150.00cdn on this damn useless skimmer, and to blow another $350.00 on a sump with adding the SeaClone to it and still have it not work would be enough to make me give up. Even if I have to put the Seaclone in storage I still have to spend $350.00 on one or the other, I just want to choose one that will definately work well this time.
Thanks Again, I Really Appreciate It
Patti

 

[FishHead1]

I don't know what $150 cndn equal is US dollars, but if it's more the $5.00 you were ripped off Canadian style!
Do yourself a favor and buy a good skimmer over the internet. I don't think internet retailers will care about shipping to Canada.

 

[Patti]

$150.00 cdn = $94.46 us
You don't have to rub it in

Now that I know this skimmer is a piece of kaka, I am aiming towards a sump/skimmer combr something that will be oomphie. I'm actually getting a little discouraged at this point.

 

[Enkidu]

If you're looking for sump/skimmer combos (i.e. sumps and skimmers that were designed with each other in mind), consider the ETSS sump with an ETSS 500 skimmer. www.superskimmer.com

If I were you though, since you already have that seaclone, just modify it like somebody mentioned before. Then throw it in any old sump tank you can find. The only thing you really have to worry about is getting a sump with big enough holes in the top for you to set your skimmer in.

For my sump I used a 40g acrylic tank that I bought used. Luckily for me the holes in the top were big enough for my EV150, but I was fully prepared to open up the top a little if I needed to. I glued some baffles in it and now its good to go. Sump Pic

The skimmer is sitting on an acrylic stand I made.

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Enkidu ]</p>

 

[Tigers]

Patti,
I don't think anyone has answered your original questions so here goes.
A sump is nothing more than a container which will allow you to add additional water volume to your system. The benefit of this will be increased tank stability because of the added water and high turnover rate. A sump also provides an area for you to place heaters, skimmers, etc... off of your main tank. You will have to purchase a return pump as well as an overflow box in order to get the water back to the tank and down into the sump. Some comercial systems like the one posted come with everything included . However, you could probably do a little research on sumps, set-up your own design, and save a little money.

Next, just by placing the seaclone, or any other skimmer for that matter in the sump, is not going to increase its effectivness. It is still operating the same way only in a different place. While the Seaclone is not the best skimmer out there, with a little easy modification you can greatly improve its production. Just do a search on "seaclone modification" and you will find more than you could ever want to read about how to do it.

All that being said, you should keep a replacement skimmer high up on your "next big tank toy purchase list"

it just does not have to be done right now. Especially as it sounds like you don't really have a high bioload in your tank.

Finally, don't give up it gets better.

 

[Tigers]

Patti,

I currently use the Tidepool 2 and if I knew then what I do now I would not have bought it. After a nine month battle with green hair algae I removed the biowheel from the Tidepool. While all the hair shortley disappeared,

so did all the inhabitants of the tank

Now the Tidepool is nothing more than a container. I have my skimmer, heater, return pump, and probes in there with live sand in the compartment where the biowheel used to sit. Also, I think the Tidepools (1 and 2) are 26 inches long so that would not fit under your current stand.

I don't know anything about the system posted so I can't tell you much about its effectivness. I can tell you that I, as well as most would recomend that you remove the bioballs it comes with as they will only lead to more work in the future. If you don't rinse them regularly they will become a nitrate, thus bad algea factory. With your current LR and LS you should be just fine as far as biofiltration is concerned.

Finally, you could always add more LS and some caleurpa to the sump, but this is certainly not a requirement. If you do decide to do this all you would need is a cheap under the cabinet flourescent light fixture with a grow bulb and some plexiglass to make the different compartments in the sump. Again very easy to do and the Caleurpa would help out the Seaclone with nutrient export thus giving you more time before it needs to be replaced.

Remember the LFS is not the only place to get advice, especially because doesn't seem that every piece of advice given is geared towards you purchasing another product they sell. Always check out advice on the boards before you purchase. You can get several opinions or answers from those, who have tried what you are thinking, and are not trying to sell something. Then just find the way that will work best for you. HTH

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Tigers ]</p>

 

[whirley]

it's in my .sig...

whirley

[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: whirley ]</p>

 

[Patti]

GET OUT !!!

Winnipeg is the only place that I go to for supplies !
I know of 3 shops in Wpg.

Here's my history.
I have an 80g saltwater fish only tank that has been stable for 4 years and haven't lost a fish in that tank since.Damsels even lay eggs in there every 13 days. Which I am in the process of setting up a rotifer culture for.I set up my 66g reef just over a year ago, and have always had brown algae problems.
1. Aardvark Pets- At the time of my reef set up,This guy wanted to me to buy all 'raw' live rock which I managed to avoid,he sold me my first skimmer (Lee's Type), and told me I only need enough sand just to cover the bottom of the tank floor.One month ago I had to tear down my entire tank to add 70 more pounds of sand, some base rock, and to accomodate this new SeaClone skimmer to supposedly replace the Lee's. I put all fish in my existing 80g. Set up temporary quarters for all corals, aerated live rock in rubbermaid buckets while the new sand dust settled over the next 2 days.Also aearated and heated about 35g of the original tank water to re add to lessen water shock on fish and corals. After things were back to proper temp, and all dust had settled, I re acclimated the fish and corals. In the next 2 days, I lost my Yellow Tang, my Regal Tang,all snails,a very healthy Pagoda, Toadstool, Kenya Trees, and many more. I actually cried, If I hadn't listened to the guy at Aardvark at the time of set up this whole catastrophe could have been avoided.

2. The Fish Gallery- Where I got my Seaclone, this is the new skimmer to replace the Lee's type from the first shop. Big disappointment there too,but very nice fellow to deal with,and everything has been fine with him until this skimmer.

3. Bird and Aquarium - Never could talk to this fellow right from the start of purchasing the tank.

So you can see why my spirits are quite dampered right now, and no body carries any product that I hear and read about.I am so happy to hear of Saltwater Connection in Winnipeg, and I can't wait to give them a call, and possibly pop in and see what they have to offer.
Thanks, You've Given Me Some Hope

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I also just got off the phone with my SeaClone fellow, and he doesn't sound too interested in hearing about my disappointment, I asked him what brand of sump it was that he showed me the other day and it is a SeaLife. Our conversation was very short as he was kind of busy, I think he knew I was gonna lay into him about this skimmer.So it looks like I will have to modify it without hacking it to pieces.
So now the question is, sump or no sump, or just get a kick ??? skimmer ? What would you do ? Also since I have lost practically all my soft corals and am left with a few hard corals. I am considering all this an opportunity to focus on only hard corals, or as a new beginning. All I have for lighting though is 4- 48"VHO on an 18" deep tank, with 4" of gravel, or would that make it a 14" deep tank ?I truly feel like I'm starting over from scratch. I'm not adding any new life forms until I get all my filteration down to a T though. I also need to know if there are any small algae eating fish other than the Tangs I just learned aren't appropriate for a 66g tank.
What would you do ? Sump? No Sump? Hard or Soft Corals?
Sorry for the long read

Have A Great Night !
Happy Thanksgiving !
Patti
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Whirley ?
Does that mean you've experienced the SeaClone too ? LOL
My husband swears that one day he's gonna pile all the crappy microwaves, cd players, VCR's,etc, in the middle of one of our fields, get drunk, and drive over them with one of the tractors. I will gladly toss in the SeaClone

Thanks Again All Of You !
Patti

 

[Patti]

Thanks so much for writing,
You've helped clarify many points I've wondered about

Making our own sump is out of the question as my husband is only supportive if there is a company to warranty and take responsibility for any carpet damage, etc, along with our insurance of course.
Another delema is that my stand is a Hagen pro stand and will only allow for a 19" by 13" sump.
You mentioned that one of the above mentioned commercial sumps may do the trick. Were you meaning the Aqua Clear Pro Series ?
I am going to see if my dealer will take this Seaclone back towards something else, I just don't know what all he can get his hands on and since he is the one that suggested Seaclone to me, and this was months after I have asked him if there was a way to add a sump without drilling my tank. 1 month after I buy the Seaclone he shows me this new sump and overflow.This extra expense could have been avoided and put towards the proper piece of equipment in the first place.
So, you mean with a sump, I don't have to have a heater in my main tank ? That would be nice too.
Do you need to provide light for the algae in the sump too ?
Thanks A Bunch

P.S. Also thank you for the encouragement, I needed that

 

[delphinus]

HI Patti,

I'm going to jump in here at a late stage but I might have $0.000002 worth to add.

First of all I agree with everything Tigers said.

Secondly, you mentioned that you are in Manitoba. One of my favourite places to buy MO (mail order) is Saltwater Connection. Jayson, who runs this place, is in Winnipeg. I'd give him a call and see if you could pay him a visit and see if there are any ideas he can give you.

Last but not least. A sump is great idea for a tank if for no other reason than it lets you have a constant water level in your main display. When you lose water due to evaporation, the level in the sump will go down and not the main tank. It's also a good place to add your freshwater topup. A cheap idea for a sump is is a 10 gallon tank, and something like a mag drive for the sump return pump (submersible pump). So all you need is some vinyl hosing and some rudimentary plumbing and you're off and ready. The only real expense that you will be stuck with is the overflow box (assuming you have a non-drilled tank). But do you need a sump? No, not really, it all depends on what you like and what's easiest for you. Bottom line is, whatever works, works. Ask seven different people how to do something and you will get seven different answers. Each one is right, and none is right.

Don't worry, it does get better and it will start to make sense at some level. At that point you know you're hopelessly addicted to this hobby, and you realize that carpets are replaceable.