Replace sump

Good day!

Please can some one advice. I currently got a 30 liter sump for my 150 liter display tank.

The tank is now 8 months. Currently in the sump I got some gravel from a previous tank (about 2 inches deep) as well as ceramic rings in a stocking. Water parameters are fine and further no problem with the live stock - however I am considering to replace the sump with a bigger, let say 50 liter sump. My concern is now how to do it. It seems from articles I have read that disturbing the gravel in the sump and move it to the new bigger sump may cause a mini cycle! Please any advice on how this should be done will be appreciated!

 

It shouldn't be much trouble. Simply turn off your return pump/circulation from display tank to sump. Then remove old sump and add in the new one. You will need to replace the substrate in your refugium though so you don't stir stuff up in the old sand and accidentally cause a cycle.

What substrate do you have now? I would suggest a dry aragonite.

 

Is your sump under the stand? The hardest part will be getting the old sump out and getting the new sump in.

 

I have not yet buy any substrate for the new sump - the idea of aragonite / play sand to consider.
To get the old sump out and the new one in will hopefully not that much of a problem the overflow pipe can be removed for this.
Thanks for your feedback.

 

^That's good to hear (replacing mine was a PITA)! Now it's just taking one out and putting the other in. One thing to consider is when filling the new sump, don't start it up right away. Let the new sand settle so you don't return it into the DT.

Just curious as to why your upgrading. Adding a bigger skimmer? Bigger fuge?

 

Just a follow up on what Seano said - will the removal of the current sump and replace it with a new bigger one (with new sand) not cause a mini cycle because the new sump will now have to "mature"?

 

Evening, just a short feedback. I have installed the bigger sump a week ago and everything went well. The sump consists of three divisions - first where the Skimmer is placed (Berlin Airlift) the second where the sand etc is placed (transferred from the previous sump) and the third which hosts the return pump. I have noticed the last few days that the skimmer is not performing as it used to in the previous (smaller) sump. Any one who can advice why?

 

The skimmer might be performing differently because it is most likely sitting at a different depth of water than it was in the old sump. What exactly is "different" about the skimmer now?