I need some suggestions on what return pump i should use, it's going to be an internal in a 10 gallon sump returning it to a 20 gallon tank, i need to know what good GPH would be. Thanks!
What Pump to use as return
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That is unless you buy a larger pump on purpose add a "t" in the line with a ball valve after that to allow you to dial the water flow to exactly what your overflow will handle! simply plumb the extra water back to the skimmer section (or refuge if you put the pump in the middle section) and the excess flow allowes the water to pass thru the sump an extra time for added filtration.
Thanks! Im picking up the tank on Thursday along with everything else (Return Pump and other misc. items) I can't wait to get this all started..
Now, another question, sense im going to be moving everything from one tank, to another, whats the best way about doing this? I know to keep all the water, which i will be able to do cause i have a 50 gallon jug i can keep the water in, but is there any special way to move the coral, fish, lr, sand? Does this move completely mess up my cycle?
I think i may actually pass on the macro algae for now in the fuge., but still add some LR rubble and sand, whats the best way on doing this, does this benefit anything or am i wasting space? Also, what types of sand should i be using for the fuge, i noticed people use different levels with different grains. Thank you!
the only real way of moving is by using the good old buckets and tubs...fish wise, keep them in buckets of tank water...corals, keep submerged in water when removing from the tank and move the live rock they are attached to with them....live rock, stick it all in a tub filled with tank water..sand, personally, i would start off with a new sand bed and just save a few cups fulls to spread over the new sand to seed it...
Undoubtedly, you are going to experience a mini cycle, how big of a cycle will depend on whether your choose to use new sand or move the existing..Moveing the existing sand will cause a far bigger cycle to appear as you will be stiring all the crap and gunk up which has been locked away in the sand bed...hence my suggestion of using new sand...
can i ask what reason it is why you want to pass on the macro algae in the sump? just out of interest..
Yes, adding live rock rubble and a deep sand bed of about 6 inches is certainly, in my opinion, a great move forward. It benefits the system as it acts as a slow filter as water passes through the sandbed and live rock at a very slow rate giving the water far longer contact with the suface area..which also applys to the macro algae we have in there...there are many benifits of having a fuge configured as i have just spoken of and will all aid you in keep a more stable system...
sand in the fuge? Personal preference..some people just use reef grade sugar grain size, others have a mixture of different grades of sand grain...
hope this helps a little
Niko
Undoubtedly, you are going to experience a mini cycle, how big of a cycle will depend on whether your choose to use new sand or move the existing..Moveing the existing sand will cause a far bigger cycle to appear as you will be stiring all the crap and gunk up which has been locked away in the sand bed...hence my suggestion of using new sand...
can i ask what reason it is why you want to pass on the macro algae in the sump? just out of interest..
Yes, adding live rock rubble and a deep sand bed of about 6 inches is certainly, in my opinion, a great move forward. It benefits the system as it acts as a slow filter as water passes through the sandbed and live rock at a very slow rate giving the water far longer contact with the suface area..which also applys to the macro algae we have in there...there are many benifits of having a fuge configured as i have just spoken of and will all aid you in keep a more stable system...
sand in the fuge? Personal preference..some people just use reef grade sugar grain size, others have a mixture of different grades of sand grain...
hope this helps a little
Niko
Thanks Niko, that helps a lot. Well i wanted to pass on the macro algae for now because i did some research on it and i keep hearing if you don't grow it right, then all the nutrients get let go back into the tank. Well, i guess if i could get an opinion from one of you then i may still go ahead and go down that path, but it would help if i had a lot of information, basically instructions on how to keep it alive and when i know it needs to be cut ect., if theres a specific kind of macro algae (name), how much do i need, do i have to let it "cycle" of "grow" before i actually let it run, can it grow over the water level and still live, or will it die? Just things like that would help ALOT, thanks! Oh yes, and one other thing, is there any special critters i should be keeping in that area in the fuge to help anything out?
Also, the light thats going to be suspended over the refugium is a 5100k bulb, is that fine? Can you grow the cheato algae (probably not spelled right) and macro algae together? My main reason for this fuge is to benefit the tanks health and also stable the PH and lower the nitrates. Thanks!