Remora not skimming since addition of sump.

Hello,

Description:

I have a 72 bowfront tank. Right now it is a fish only tank that over a long period of time will be evolving into a reef. I just setup my sump 2 days ago. It uses a 29 gallon aquarium with 25 gallons of water fed by a HOB overflow box and currently pumped back to the tank by a fluval 405 canister filter until I can get my mag7. I am using a remora with a maxijet 1200. I know that the remora is only rated for 75 gallons and I have exactly 100 gallons of water volume but it is all I have right now and cant afford anything else due to a baby on the way.

Question:

So the sump has been running for 2 full days and my skimmer is still not producing any foam. Is this normal? Also, how many people think I can get by on just the remora with this setup?

 

You have a 29 gal tank for a sump and it holds 25 gallons when its running ? If thats correct then you have way to much water in the sump. All you want is about 5 inches of water in normal running mode. Now the skimmer is new ? It may be a week or so before you see any foam also they don't foam all the time set it per instructions and let it go..Did you add alot of new water to the system to fill the sump ? That may be a cause also .

 

Your remora is not working as well now because you have diluted your tank with the extra water. Give it a few days for the concentration of wastes to increase. I agree with Tangster, you have way too much water in your sump. You should have about 12-15 gallons of water in it.

FYI, you can increase the efficiency of your Remora by upgrading to a Mag3 or Rio 1400+ pump (425gph) vs 295gph for the Maxijet. You will get slightly more bubbles though. You can also use a Via Aqua 1300 (375gph) and minimize the bubbles.

 

You are correct on the 25 gallons, I wanted to increase the total volume of water. What exactly is wrong with having that much in there? I can lower it if it needs to be lowered but I have a check valve built into my plumbing so when the pumps shut off I dont get back siphon. The remora is not new, I pulled it off of another tank that I had when I moved my fish into this 72. I did add alot of new water with the addition of the sump. All 25 gallons were new. So it is just going to take a while for the proteins to build up in the new volume then?

 

A sump is not for increasing the system volume totally but more about moving the agitated water past the skimmer and keeping the oils and waste in suspension . If you want to increase volume then you need a refugium . Also how overflow from the main tank when pumps go off will you tank/sump hold the excess water ? 72 gallon tank will have about 6 to 8 gallons of overflow if it was reef ready.

 

Well, I just paid $50 for that 29g tank and I would be really dissappointed if I had to only fill it 5 inches high. Would it still be beneficial to me to leave it like it is and just consider it a sumpless tank with a refugium?

 

I have been researching some pages today I am starting to understand your logic. I have a few redneck ideas that may be able to make my sump follow proper sump theory at little or no additional cost. I will let you know.

 

Run your sump 1/2 full.