What is the best order of things in my sump.

Discussion in 'Filters, Pumps, etc..' started by araleigh, May 1, 2013.

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  1. araleigh

    araleigh Plankton

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
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    11
    Location:
    Waycross, GA
    So I need to know what is the best order to put all of the following things that are in the list below. I will try to get a picture of my current sump uploaded in a day or so. Thanks

    Wet/dry with bio balls
    refuge
    protein skimmer
    UV sterilizer
     
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  3. Rarend99

    Rarend99 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Location:
    Northern California
    My sump setup goes skimmer/return/Refugium and has the uv sterilizer taking from the skimmer section.
    Bio balls with just hold nitrates and are a thing of the past for tanks nowadays, a beefy skimmer and Refugium will be more than enough
     
  4. Marshall O

    Marshall O Giant Squid

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    Location:
    Central MA
    If you have a 'fuge, I would get rid of the bio balls personally. If you can split the drain into the sump into two lines, you could do the 'fuge on one side, skimmer/UV on the other side, return in the middle. Otherwise, you could do 'fuge, then skimmer/UV, then return.
     
  5. araleigh

    araleigh Plankton

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    Apr 18, 2013
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    Location:
    Waycross, GA
    Thank you Rarend99 and Marshall O. I have a 90g FOWLR tank. My sump as of right now is set up as follows: polyfiber pad, carbon, bioballs, refuge, UV then returns to tank. I have a skimmer but it will not fit under my tank in sump(bought PS couple years after tank was set up). I am in the process of getting it working but my only option is to set it up per hanging on side of tank. I would rather it be in my sump but it will do for now.
     
  6. Todd_Sails

    Todd_Sails Giant Squid

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    Location:
    A Texan in S.E. Wisconsin
    PS
    Fuge
    Somewhere in there UV filter
    return pump

    NO wet/dry w/bio balls, filter pad (unless cleaned often- still wouldn't use it)
     
  7. araleigh

    araleigh Plankton

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
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    Location:
    Waycross, GA
    Okay thanks. So my main problem with changing the order in the sump is that it is very hard to get to the sump under my 90g tank, the sump is a 30 long I think. Friend of mine that did own local pet shop made it for me about 8 years ago. Let me try to upload picture again of my sump.
     
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  9. araleigh

    araleigh Plankton

    Joined:
    Apr 18, 2013
    Messages:
    11
    Location:
    Waycross, GA
    I also have a used 65g that I am in process of setting up, I have everything in tank and been running for about 2 months, just been running with hang on the side filter(marineland penguin filter) that I had in storage until I can set up my sump up and runnning this weekend or first of next week. It came with a wet dry filter, PS, UV sterilizer. So everyone would recommend for this tank no wet dry/bio balls or carbon and just a sump with refuge on 1 side, return in middle, and PS then UV on other side? Correct?? And also what macro would everyone recommend in my refuge?