First Reef

[Matthew5664]

Putting together my first reef tank and still in the resurch and development stage. I'm making the stank to fit the recess beside my fireplace (Never used) and was thinging about a sump. Now I know the sump can go under the tank, gravity fed and pumped return however, is there anything to stop me putting the sump above the tank?? pump fed and gravity return?? As i fuiger out you wouldn't have to drill the tank just the sump. I'm liking this idea the more i think about it. Less bending down for maintance. Whats everyone throughts?

 

[bunjiweb]

One thing, is your fireplace in use? If it is then the location is going to be far too warm for a marine tank unless you use a chiller which would cost at least £300.
Marines and particularly corals thrive in lower "tropical" temperatures of around 23-24 degrees. The fish can handle higher happily, but corals do suffer alot if it is too warm.

Ben

 

[Matthew5664]

No the gas fire was condemed befor i moved in and sins then I've installed central heating (I'm a plumber) so the fire place is now just for show!

 

[Ed4567]

It would work, but you'd end up with a pump sitting in you main tank which might be hard to hide.

 

[Matthew5664]

I was thinking of using 2 smaller pumps??

 

[superman]

Just drill the main tank on the back side, and then you don't have pumps in the main tank. So in essence your main tank would be hooked up like a sump, and the sump will be designed like a normal show tank.

 

[Matthew5664]

See what you meen. However i was thinking along the same sort of lines. On one side of the tank you could have an overflow weir inside (about 1 1/2" where the water flows in) This houses the pumps at the bottom and is filled with eather LR or some mecanical fita media. The 'compartmen' is hidden bu the tank stand cladding so is only just visable from the side?

 

[amstar15]

where does the back siphon fall into play when there is a power outage? for me when I have a power outage i have it set up that the back siphon goes back down into my sump which is under my main tank. (i leave enough space in the sump and have a small hole drilled so the return will not suck water past a certain point but air, thus causing the back siphoning to stop) anyway if the sump is on top how would you stop it from draining back down into the main tank thus causing a small flood.

there maybe a way its just late and i really dont want to try and think of a way.. but just a thought.

 

[superman]

In order to keep that from happening I use one way check valves made by dolphin. I only use true union clear ones so I can see if it is in good working order, and also take it apart and clean it on occasion. Of course this is not 100% fail safe, but it is pretty darn good.

 

[Matthew5664]

Had not thought of that the one way check valves are a good idea. Though thinking about it if there is a power cut then no water will be pumped to the sump so no water would flow back and both tanks would remain full. being that the overflow is at the top

 

[Matthew5664]

Hopfuly this has worked and there is a picture of the sump idea? Is this ok?

 

[Matthew5664]

Also I'm a bit stummed about the skimmer I've read that you do need a skimmer and I've also read you do??

What would you recomend start with one the take it out if not needed or start the setup without and add if needed??

 

[superman]

Also I'm a bit stummed about the skimmer I've read that you do need a skimmer and I've also read you do??

What would you recomend start with one the take it out if not needed or start the setup without and add if needed??

I would recommend starting the tank out with one, they are an awesome form of nutrient export, personally would not run a tank without one. In my opinion if you use one you will never run a tank without one, it is amazing the gunk you can pull out of even a lightly stocked aquarium.

 

[andywg]

I concur, a protein skimmer is a very good nutrient export, particuliarly if you aren't running any form of macro algae.

 

[Matthew5664]

Been doing more reading and found a system knowen as the Ly Seng Ecosystem? where a prot skim is not needed? As I will only be keeping the mory hardy soft corale and maybe a cleanup crew plus 2 nemo! (things you do for love!) Dose anyone have any more info?