View Full Version : New tank coming...but sump ?
stangnet
11-04-2002, 01:32 PM
The excitement mounts :D - getting a 150g 48x24x30 in the next couple of days - currently running a 33g oceanic with a canister ehuim filter. For the new one not sure if I want a sump/refuge combo or run seperate and what return pump to use - noise is part of the issue.
phistio
11-04-2002, 02:05 PM
Welcome to ReefLounge
personally i would go with a combination of a sump, and a refugium about 55 gallon sump, 29 gallon refugium...just my opinion...
good luck!
Irisservice
11-04-2002, 02:05 PM
Look it doing a Ecosystem 3616 sump filter.
http://www.ecosystemaquarium.com/index.html
But i would also add a protein skimmer the manufacter say you don't need it but i think it makes it run better.
Dual return pumps Thats the route that i would take.
Check this pump out
Mak IV Gen-X water pump 1182gph @ 5'…...more Price: $144.99 SalePrice: $129.99
http://www.customaquatic.com/customaquatic/index.asp#
HoopsGuru
11-04-2002, 02:34 PM
Ahhh....Miracle Mud, the greatest snake oil on earth.
Irisservice
11-04-2002, 02:52 PM
snake oil?
HoopsGuru
11-04-2002, 03:39 PM
Literally, "snake oil" is an old term labeled to traveling medicine shows that touted a product as a "miracle cure" for all kinds of things, when really it was nothing other than a common substance with no medicinal properties.
The term has been used on Miracle Mud by its critics as well. Until recently, the ingredients were a closely guarded secret by Mr. Ly Seng, the creator. The stuff has been claimed to be, well, a "miracle" for tanks in which you know longer need additives, a skimmer, etc....yet all your corals will thrive and so on. Too bad the same results can be achieved by having a DSB and dosing some iron (the miracle mud appears to be a fine silt clay and releases iron into the water....great for caulerpa) and removing your skimmer anyway (skimming in general removes beneficial food products from the water column). Miracle Mud strongly encourages water changes (which would be beneficial on a plain skimmerless tank as well) to keep up the water quality.
So really, my opinion is that it is just a big hocus-pocus product charging people incredible amounts of money for a product that is ridiculously simple.......plus they rape you yearly replacing the mud!
ssgibby
11-04-2002, 05:25 PM
I would look into the heavy duty rubbermaid stock tanks. you can get them in 50, 100, 150, and 300 gallons. I get them from a farm supply. THe 50 gallon tanks are about $55 and the 100 are about $60
Those rubbermaids are very cheap and good. personnaly I feel that sumps with just bio balls and a skimmer are not as all good as a refugima. MIRCAEL MUDF Rember when seeding a refugima. Whatever u do Good LUCK! :D
ssgibby
11-04-2002, 08:01 PM
If you are going to keep a "Reef" inverts and what not. bio balls are a bad idea.
That is exactly waht I was trying to say thanks for summing it up! 8)
ssgibby
11-04-2002, 08:03 PM
lol, no problem. Short and to the point :D
Pineapple House
11-04-2002, 08:11 PM
If you are going to keep a "Reef" inverts and what not. bio balls are a bad idea.
Yup, couldn't agree more. I use live rock filteration instead of the bio balls. This biological filteration is awesome, and will supply a good source for copepods and amphipods, as well as a variety of life. I find bio balls to be a n expensive waste of time and money. I would just add live rock in the chamber that the bio balls would be. Simple as that :-)
PH =)
ssgibby
11-04-2002, 08:33 PM
yea, what PH said :)
stangnet
11-05-2002, 11:55 AM
I'm glad for the info. I've never heard that about the bio-balls before. I was considering having both in the sump. First the bio's then next in line the live rock with DSB. Why are the bio's no good for the inverts ? This changes the design of my sump.
matrixnyc
11-05-2002, 12:27 PM
So
Bio Balls = Bad
Live Rock = Good
Now i have to take out my bio balls and change to live rock.
Hey, what if i had bio balls for a while, and no problems with them, is it still better to change to Live Rock?
Pineapple House
11-05-2002, 07:42 PM
Hey, what if i had bio balls for a while, and no problems with them, is it still better to change to Live Rock?
Yes! Live rock has much better biological filteration than the bio balls. Bio balls will tend to catch waste, and what happends to that waste?- It rots, creating nitrate. Same goes will un eaten fish food, etc. All that will just rot. I would never use bio balls, and for anyone it would be worth it to switch.
PH =)
Yes Chang i to lr immeendly :evil:
ssgibby
11-06-2002, 12:51 PM
If you are currently using bio balls, and your tank has cycled, removing them all at once would cause your tank to cycle again. The best bet is to remove them slowly. maybe a hadfull or so a week.
Mark Anderberg
11-08-2002, 05:46 PM
You may want to consider slowly removing the bio-balls over a 3-4 week period of time if you have been using them for a long period of time. Removing them all at once could possibly upset your water chemistry negatively.
MDA
andrewshafran
11-10-2002, 08:19 AM
Bio balls are fine if you are only keeping fish. However in a reef tank they only address half of the bacterial problem. Bio balls allow for the effective growth of aerobic bacteria. These critters are great for mineralization of toxic wastes...but they stop there.
The anerobic bacteria found in a DSB, refugium, or deep inside live rock complete the nitrogen cycle by coverting these mineralized nitro-compounds back into nitrogen gas which is released harmlessly in the atmosphere. :roll:
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