THE Ultimate sump?

[Anonymous]

One of the guys in our local club is starting a new business making sumps. I am going to replace my 50 gallon AGA sump with one of these. I want to design the collest sump on the planet!


Here is what I have now:

A small area for 2 return pumps. I have tried to squeeze a fry catcher in that spot, kinda cramped.

An even smaller cryptic area that is separated from the rest of the sump with plastic needle point mesh. It is completely dark, and I grow a lot of great sponge in it. Well, I used to anyway. Now, the mesh is pretty clogged and water does not flow through it anymore, it goes over...

A large spot where I used to keep a giant skimmer. I took out the skimmer and use that spot for my pink urchin, where I feed him rocks covered with expendable algae.

The largest area has a DSB, and a mangrove. I really do not need a DSB in my system. I have more of a need to remove PO4 than NO3, so the 3 I have in the tanks are more than enough, IMO. My NO3 level is alway zero when I check it....The mangrove is pretty pathetic. I was hoping for a cool houseplant, but I've actually broken the largest branch and it does not get enough light or enough spray mist from me. It is pretty neglected.

I also have a large filter sock for AC, which I really need because I have major Caulerpins. But, I also neglect to change it before it clogs and the AC usually flows into the dsb, so the level of the DSB is actually growing.


So, if you have unlimited room (my sump actually has it's own room, behind the main displays), what would you have?

 

[bleedingthought]

Hmm, with unlimited room, I'd have a sump large enough to house a prop section, a fuge section, a skimmer section, and a return section. The water would be distributed into each separate section ant they would drain into the return section. I would probably have it be about 72"x36"x18" but only have it filled about 10".

 

[mr_X]

Hmm, with unlimited room, I'd have a sump large enough to house a prop section, a fuge section, a skimmer section, and a return section. The water would be distributed into each separate section ant they would drain into the return section. I would probably have it be about 72"x36"x18" but only have it filled about 10".

my next tank will have my existing tank as my sump. i have already planned to use the 125 with 4 compartments- intake to house giant skimmer(asm g4x probably), second area(large refugium), third area (built up egg crate frag section), and 4th area for large return with mag12-18 or so. 1 current usa sundial halide pendant with actinic suppliment for frag section, and plain 65k light for fuge. :wink:

 

[Anonymous]

Well, thanks guys! What would you think of an area for an algae turf scrubber?

And, what about a dead space area for detritus collection?

 

[bleedingthought]

What's an algae turf scrubber? You mean to store one?

 

[Anonymous]

It's just a piece of mesh you place in the over flow return flow, and light it. Algae grows like crazy, removing nutrients. It has a draw back of making the water a bit yellow, so you must run AC freq, but I have to do that because one of my main displays is a planted tank with a caulerpin issue. But, pods seem to love them , even more than rubble rock?

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, so here is what I've come up with so far:

 

[Len]

The one thing I really like about my sump is that baffle slots. Here's a link to what I did (very simple)
http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=73074

Basically, I was able to add and position baffles in a way that totally eliminated any bubbles from my overflow and skimmer.

 

[Anonymous]

That is cool!

Ok, that is in! Thanks!

 

[ihopss]

my sump is like this, my intake is on the lift with one divider my baffle is on the right at my return and I have no problems with microbubbles in my display.If I had it to do over again I would not have made my return section as big as I did, I don't keep that much water in their,

 

[corallimorph]

Isn't a statement like "The ultimate sump" ..just like saying "the ultimate girl"...then posting a picture of her.
Most people woudn't agree..and you could get in arguments/disagreements until the cows came home, simply based on personal prefrances.
reef keeping is like love making, there are many ways to achieve the same results.
If I started saying that doggy style is the best way to do it ...wouldn't some of you dis agree?.....theese forums seem like a waste of everyones time.....go out and enjoy the sun!..get a life..I'm going outside right now!
how many hours of your life have been wasted at the f-n computer?

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think it matters if most people agree. It actually only matters what I think at this point, 'cause it's my tank, my basement, my fish.

As far as making love, I really think variety is best? Doggy style is OK, I quess, but I do like to see his face, watching him watching me?

I wish I could go out in the sun right now. I am code nurse (again) on an extra shift, so this hospital is paying me an ungodly amount to sit here and play on the computer waiting for some old guy to try and die so we can stick tubes in every orifice he/she has and then keep him/her on some really expensive life support for a few weeks. I do agree this is a waste of time, but hey, someone's gotta do it?

I am curious what you are doing while you are on the computer telling me how I should live my life?

 

[bleedingthought]

:lol: at both of you.

 

[Anonymous]

I guess i am going to build this myself. I've ordered the acrylic, I can pick it up tomorrow. This is an easy DIY project, if anyone wants to try it.

Here's the ideas I came up with after talking to you guys, and a few other forums.

http://web.mac.com/suzynrob/iWeb/Site 19/Sump Ideas.html

 

[Anonymous]

Acrylic is easy....

 

[Len]

How big is the sump? It looks pretty big!