New To Marine And Have Questions

[GrayScale]

The skimmer works by creating micro bubbles inside the chamber. Due to the tension on the bubbles, the bad organic materials stick to the bubbles. When the bubbles get to the top towards the collection cup, they pop and the materials are thrown in. They make internal, external and hang on skimmers. Internals would go inside the sump, external could be placed anywhere(like an external canister filter), and hang on could be hung on the display or on the sump.

The sump, which is mostly divided into 3 chambers, sometimes more. Think of it as an external filter with media chambers except on a larger scale. 1st chamber is the intake, second chamber is most commonly used as a refugium with lr and some macro algae which helps reduce nitrates. And the last chamber is usually where the return pump is to pump water back into the main display. As said above, the sump can house unsightly equipment like your heaters, skimmer, reactors etc.... and it adds to the overall volume of the system. Water from the display drains down into the sump, passes through the chambers, and is then returned back to the main display via pump.

Technically, neither one of these need to be used but they help quite a bit.

Correct, if you didnt intentionally put them in there, they came with your lr. Post some pics and there are a lot of people to help identify if need be.

 

[lljdma06]

The skimmer works by creating micro bubbles inside the chamber. Due to the tension on the bubbles, the bad organic materials stick to the bubbles. When the bubbles get to the top towards the collection cup, they pop and the materials are thrown in. They make internal, external and hang on skimmers. Internals would go inside the sump, external could be placed anywhere(like an external canister filter), and hang on could be hung on the display or on the sump.

The sump, which is mostly divided into 3 chambers, sometimes more. Think of it as an external filter with media chambers except on a larger scale. 1st chamber is the intake, second chamber is most commonly used as a refugium with lr and some macro algae which helps reduce nitrates. And the last chamber is usually where the return pump is to pump water back into the main display. As said above, the sump can house unsightly equipment like your heaters, skimmer, reactors etc.... and it adds to the overall volume of the system. Water from the display drains down into the sump, passes through the chambers, and is then returned back to the main display via pump.

Technically, neither one of these need to be used but they help quite a bit.

Correct, if you didnt intentionally put them in there, they came with your lr. Post some pics and there are a lot of people to help identify if need be.

You beat me. Thanks... Meeting was overlong today.

 

[GrayScale]

 

[itobin]

Hi,

thanks for the detailed reply.

With the external skimmer does that also do the filtering or do i need a seperate filter aswell?

thanks

Ian

 

[GrayScale]

Hi,

thanks for the detailed reply.

With the external skimmer does that also do the filtering or do i need a seperate filter aswell?

thanks

Ian

The skimmer and live rock will be your primary source of filtration. Make sure you have plenty of flow from powerheads. Depending on the brand and the price I think some sell with its own pump but some you need an air pump.

 

[itobin]

oh ok, i thought they all came with pumps. Do you have any recommendations?

I think i will use a sump as it seems the best solution though im a bit nervous drilling the tank

 

[GrayScale]

oh ok, i thought they all came with pumps. Do you have any recommendations?

I think i will use a sump as it seems the best solution though im a bit nervous drilling the tank

You can buy tanks pre-drilled depending on your budget... Some lfs will actually drill it for you too for a price. only thing I can suggest is to have a look around for your equipment and read reviews. Hard to recommend items without knowing the budget. If you have questions about the item you can always ask here too.

 

[itobin]

ok will do, budget is not too much a problem but would obviously prefer to spend on things i dont need to.

thanks

 

[ALW]

I think i will use a sump as it seems the best solution though im a bit nervous drilling the tank

You don’t need to drill a tank to have a sump/refugium. Other options available are having either an overflow box or having a "hang on the back (HOB)" sump/refugium. With an overflow gravity sucks water from the tank into the sump with a pump returning it back into the main tank. HOBs are the reverse and work by pumping water into the sump with gravity making sure it returns back into the main tank.

 

[itobin]

ok im a bit confused.

How does the normal sump work then? is that pumped down and pumped back up?

Also where would you drill the tank?

I think if im going to do a nice tidy job then all the kit will be in the stand below

cheers

 

[ALW]

A drilled sump is when there is a hole drilled below the water line in your main tank that is contected to the sump tank via tubing. This results in a constant flow which uses gravity to pull the water down into the sump/refugium. A pump is used at the oppersite side of the sump which pumps water back into the main tank. Here is a quick pic to give you an idea:

 

[itobin]

hey,

good diagram

so in essence there isn't much different in a tank being drilled or using an overflow box? they both go into a sump and get pumped back up again.

Im guessing the overflow box just show more in the tank where as the drilled doesn't? With the overflow box or drilled isn't there a risk of flooding if the pump fails at the other end?

 

[ALW]

With the overflow box or drilled isn't there a risk of flooding if the pump fails at the other end?

Yes, but normally the sump has enough room to allow for excess water from a power outage.

 

[itobin]

ok thanks for this. Im definaltely going to go for a sump, i just need to decide on a drilled tank or just the overflow, hmm decisions.

 

[ALW]

There are a few different types of overflows.

http/aquatic-store.co.uk/marine/view/1449

http/www.swelluk.com/aquarium/fish-tank-filters-22/over-flows-87/aqua-medic-ofb-overflow-boxes-type1-2-2500-5000lph-459.html

or you can DIY one. Here is a good DIY video.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILS2Ep5_8h0