my sump, could i improve it

mossman604 · #1 05-01-2009, 06:03 AM

this is it

Myka · #2 05-01-2009, 06:05 AM

Slowly remove the bioballs 1/4 per week. They are a nitrate factory in the long run, and aren't beneficial to a reef. Otherwise it looks good. I'm happy to see you are smart and use two heaters instead of one. Of course I am assuming that have a combined wattage of 200-250w?

mossman604 · #3 05-01-2009, 06:06 AM

in between 17 and 34 there is also miracle mud i think, i just bought the tank and im rather new, thanks for the help

Madreefer · #4 05-01-2009, 02:32 PM

Looks good.

But I personsally I would not use the bioballs at all. What Myka said. Try live rock rubble instead. You should'nt have to use any type of sponge or filter media either unless you plan on cleaning it often, nitrate trap as well. Once it is up and running than you will know if you need that if there is microbubbles. So no skimmer?

mossman604 · #5 05-01-2009, 03:15 PM

i was wondering do people with skimmers have trouble with aptasia and mojanos

banditpowdercoat · #6 05-01-2009, 03:19 PM

Why would a skimmer lead to Aptasia troubles? No correlation. Skimmers just take the extra Proteins out of the water.

parkinsn · #7 05-01-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mossman604

i was wondering do people with skimmers have trouble with aptasia and mojanos

Skimming has nothing to do with aptasia or mojano's, its a natural part of reefing. They really dont do anything bad they are just a pest and hard to get rid of. I run an ER RS180 on my tank and i still have aptasia's although my pepermint shrimp are slowly getting rid of them.

mossman604 · #8 05-01-2009, 03:38 PM

the tank i bought was infested with mojanos i have the rock in a bucket about 100 lbs of rock, anyway he wasnt using a skimmer. just wondering if i got a skimmer would it help to get rid of them

Myka · #9 05-01-2009, 04:34 PM

No it won't. You have to use something like Joe's Juice or mix up some Kalk paste and use that directly on each one. They are a pain in the butt to get rid of. Some Peppermint shrimp will eat the smaller aiptasia, but won't touch the Majanos.

You don't NEED a skimmer, but I would highly recommend one for a novice reef keeper. It tends to buffer the mistakes you will make, by lowering the disolved wastes.

wickedfrags · #10 05-01-2009, 06:15 PM

A nice looking design, 7 baffles is always good.

I would also recommend losing the bio-balls. As noted above not required or recommended. In the chamber beside this (5") I would leave this clean/free of macro algae. Lastly, I see you have the return intake angled down - don't do this (as noted in the manufacturer instructions), pumps are not desgned to operate as vacuum cleaners. The design should work well for you.