Freshwater Sump Desig & Ideas

[littleimp]

Here's what I'm currently in the process of setting up. It was going to be a marine tank but changed my mind due to running costs and set-up a smaller one so at the moment so i'm going back to freshies for my main tank, at least for the next 5 years anyways.

Ignore any marine equipment in these pics but just running a few ideas through as I've never had a sump on a freshwater tank before although I have plenty of marine experience.

Here's the sump.

I've also built a trickle inlet tower for the 1st section as pictured here.

And here's the main tank. The lights you can see are actinics but these have been replaced by plant lamps. See hood description next.

Here's the hood being built and as you can see I'm using pretty powerful power compact lighting for this along with 4 x 54w t5 plants.

 

[Spanerman]

Sorry but what are you asking?

 

[fatheadminnow]

I think you got a really cool/fun thing going on!

I like it!

-FHM

 

[littleimp]

Anyways back to the sump.

I'm going to use pre-filter pads & bio-balls in the 1st section.
2nd section is going to be more bio-balls.
3rd section I was looking into doing a large fluidised bed.
After that it would be carbon & then to the output pumps.

What do you think? I'm looking at a high-tec planted with CO2 and EI fertilisation which I'll does the teaspoon method dry straight into the 1st section of the sump.

Does anyone have much experience with freshwater sumps? Not a lot of info about them at all on the net.

For reference the sump tank is 48" long and the main tank 60"

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would eliminate the carbon, as it is not needed, and it looses it effect after about 3-5 days.

-FHM

 

[littleimp]

Sorry but what are you asking?

Sorry see below, didn't expect posts to pop up that quick and was just posting the rest of the project up and catching up.

I've never heard of a tank being run carbon-less in 20years of fish-keeping, please explain more as I thought the carbon soaks up impurities and helps with the yellow water syndrome?
Is this a new idea I haven't hear about?

 

[Spanerman]

Ahh ok, looks like it will work, but as above drop the carbon

 

[littleimp]

I'll stick filter floss in that section instead then as a final polisher. Have to get my head around this no carbon thing though.

 

[mattlee]

carbon is widely used in planted tanks and lasts longer than you think....

 

[fatheadminnow]

I would keep a bag of carbon handy, and in case of an emergency put it in your sump.

-FHM

 

[fatheadminnow]

carbon is widely used in planted tanks and lasts longer than you think....

Are you sure this is not a liquid carbon, like a fert?

We, maybe you are too, are talking about the activated carbon that come in the bags. They can only adsorb for so long until they are used up.

-FHM

 

[littleimp]

No worries, I have several kg of carbon and some filter bags perhaps I might use some of this too. I used to do this in my previous planted tank & replenish once a week.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well, if you replenish it once a week, then go ahead and add carbon.

-FHM