SUMP DESIGN REFORMS (LONG POST)

[supertech99]

I AM PLANNING ON ADDING A 10 GAL SUMP TO MY 10 GAL TANK, I KNOW THIS IS KINDA SILLY FOR THE SIZE BUT THE REASONS ARE BELOW:
1. INCREASED WATER VOLUME=STABILIZE CHEMICAL SWINGS
2. I WANT THE EXPERENCE FOR WHEN I START MY LARGER PROJECT
3. I WANT TO UNCLUTTER MY DISPLAY TANK
4. I WANT TO TRY REMOVING NITRATES IN DIFFERENT WAY

FIRST QUESTION IS: WOULD A 100-200GPH PUMP BE ENOUGH? (36 INCH RISE FROM PUMP TO TANK)

I KNOW THE 5XGALS=MIN. GPH BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GRAVITY REDUCTION IN FLOW?

SECOND QUESTION IS MORE GENERAL ABOUT MY SUMP LAYOUT, I WAS LOOKING FOR SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT THE DESIGN I HAVE PLANNED OUT. AFTER INTERNET RESEARCH I BELIEVE MY SCIENCE IS SOUND BUT SINCE I HAVE NO EXPERIENCE, I NEED TO LEAN ON YOU.....

I PLAN TO START WITH A PVC, DIY "WATER DIFFUSER" TO DROP THE WATER ONTO A SPONGE/FILTER SUSPENDED AT THE TOP OF THE FIRST CHAMBER TO CATCH BEBRIS AND ADD SOME AIR

UNDER THAT I WANT TO ADD SOME BIO-BALS OR SCRUBBIE PADS ALSO SUSPENDED IN AIR ON EGGCRATE ABOVE THE FIRST CHAMBER...BEFORE YOU ALL FREAKOUT! I KNOW ABOUT THE "NITRATE FACTORIES" BUT I WANT THIS TO PRODUCE NITRATES EARLY ON SO THAT THE REST OF MY SUMP CAN BE DEVOTED TO NITRATE TO NITROGEN GAS EXCHANGE.

THIS NITRATE/O2 RICH WATER WILL FALL INTO MY FIRST CHAMBER WHICH IS FILLED WITH SUBMERGED LR RUBBLE, MY HEATER, AND A CRUSHED CORAL/ARGONITE MIX THAT IS RATHER DENSLY PACKED. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY PROVIDE SOME NITRATE CONVERSION AND ADDED MINERAL STABILITY

THE SECOND CHAMBER WILL CONTAIN A 4 INCH LIVE SAND BED WITH SOME MACRO ALGE (UNDECIDED) AND MANGROVE SHOOTS. THIS WILL BE MY MAIN ATTEMPT AT CONVERTING THE NITRATES.

THE THIRD CHAMBER WILL HOUSE MY RETURN PUMP.

I WANT TO TRY TO KEEP THIS SKIMMER FREE ALSO (ON THE 10 GAL), THIS IS A FOWLR TANK NOW BUT IF THIS WORKS WELL TO CONTROL NITRATES, THE BIGGER PROJECT WILL HAVE CORALS.

SOOOO.......DO YOU GUYS THINK THAT I WILL CONVERT ENOUGH NITRATES TO MAKE THIS WORTHWILE?

WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

DON'T SPARE THE "IMO" POSTS, IAM MARRIED, IAM USED TO BEING WRONG! om :wh

FYI I HAVE 15 LBS OF LR IN THE TANK ALREADY AND PLAN ON KEEPING THAT IN THERE, BUT THE LARGER PROJECT MAY HAVE LESS THAN 1LB/GAL IN THE DISPLAY AREA AND HOUSE MORE LR IN RUBBLE IN THE SUMP

 

[TimSchmidt]

Well, I like your ideas but have no personal experience with this method. You will want a slow movement of water through the sump while maintaining the water movement IN the sump. So a small return pump and a power head just moving water (and the macro algae rolling slightly) in your sump may work nice.

Take a look at plenums and fluidized dense sand beds. they force water UP through the sand slowly to help with nitrate export.

I like the fact that is FOWLR so the nitrate won't be a huge issue. Go HUGE on LR to help with the anaerobic area

 

[supertech99]

I WAS THINKING THAT IF I GOT THIS UP AND RUNNING AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN CONTROLLING NITRATES THAT I MAY USE THIS SETUP TO ADD SOME CORALS, THE BIG QUESTION IN THIS IS HOW EFFICIENT IS THE SAND BED, MANGROVE SHOOTS, MACROALGE, LR RUBBLE IN CONVERTING THE NITRATES INTO NITROGEN AND HOW FAST. i KNOW THAT THE LR WILL DO IT BUT I WAS TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER (CHEEPER AND ECOLOGICALLY RESPONSIBLE) WAY TO ELIMINATE THE NO3. REALLY I WOULD JUST LIKE TO GET MY 10 GAL TO GO A WEEK BETWEEN WATER CHANGES WITHOUT A SIGNIFICANT INCREACE IN N03. I GO FROM 5PPM-15PPM IN ONE WEEK AND THATS MORE CHANGE THAN I WANT MY FISH TO GO THROUGH. (AND YES, OF COURSE I OVERFEED!)

GOOD CALL ON THE FLOW RATES IN THE SUMP, ANY IDEA ABOUT THE CONVERSION OF FLOW FIGHTING GRAVITY (I.E. 500GPH-XXGPH PER FOOT=XXGPH OF ACTUAL FLOW)

SHOULD I HAVE PUT THIS IN ANOTHER AREA TO GET MORE HITS?

 

[TimSchmidt]

There are good head pressure graphs on all powerhead boxes. Honestly you may do alright with a maxijet 1200. But you would probably need to supplement the flow in the display tank with a power head.

And, yeah this is probably not an ideal post for beginners area.