WMAS Discussion Forum : New design for a sump http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:41:25 +0000 Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:51:24 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=73454 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[New design for a sump : With this project finished I am...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578665&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578665 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 28 2014 at 8:51am

With this project finished I am ready for a new one. so if anyone is interested in a custom sump let me know]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:51:24 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578665&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578665 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : well this project is finished....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578664&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578664 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 28 2014 at 8:50am

well this project is finished. it holds water like a champ. we decided not to do the mirrors for a couple of reasons. a couple of people mentioned that the silver could corrode into the water leaving trace metals in the tank. so I was going to mount them on the outside of the glass on two of the sides. but paul wanted to be able to look in to the sump from the side. so we could have put one piece on the back side, but at this point I don't think that really would have done much haha. so we went without the mirrors. but I would still like to try to find a way to make that work. anyways here is the tank all full of water and ready to go.






This sump was under $100 and I think a great deal for him and a fun project for me]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2014 08:50:38 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578664&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578664 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : Ok just got a few of the baffles...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578422&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578422 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 23 2014 at 12:08pm

Ok just got a few of the baffles installed this morning. its actually starting to look like a sump.

]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2014 12:08:58 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578422&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578422 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : That&#039;s good to know crazy....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578408&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578408 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 22 2014 at 8:39pm

That's good to know crazy. I will probably have to mount the mirror on the outside so it doesn't come in contact with the water. ]]> Sat, 22 Nov 2014 20:39:36 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578408&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578408 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : I would be sure to completely...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578328&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578328 Author: Krazie4Acans
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 21 2014 at 10:41am

I would be sure to completely seal the mirror from the salt water. The surface on a mirror that allows the reflection of light is actually a layer of silver applied to the glass. Allowing salt water to get to the edge of the mirror would allow the salt to erode the silver from between the glass and the black paint that usually coats the back (you see this all the time with older bathroom mirrors). That silver layer being dissolved into the water column is adding heavy metals to your tank that we have tried so hard to make sure never make it into our tanks. That's just a thought I had on it. Krazie
]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2014 10:41:17 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578328&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578328 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : Regarding biowheels, if you heard...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578324&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578324 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 21 2014 at 9:05am

Regarding biowheels, if you heard Jerry's presentation about the filtration at Scheels, you'll notice the same principle of Ammonia and Nitrite conversion is used in those systems. If I recall, there was no mention of Nitrate levels because fish are not bothered by Nitrate.

The reason mirrors aren't used? 
A good reflector around the light source focuses the useful light down upon the Macroalgae in the most beneficial way. The small amount of twice reflected light outside of the focal area doesn't make any significant difference.

The reason ATS(algal turf scrubbers) are not used more often?
A well set up Refugium with ample room for LS and Macroalgae does the same job in a simpler way. An ATS requires more complicated plumbing and extra space (see pic below), space which is at a premium inside an aquarium stand. The KISS principle is always useful. 

Are you wondering why I believe that an ample amount of LS and Macroalgae is important? Why have I said nothing about filling a sump/Refugium with LR?




This WMAS Members tank is from >10 years ago. It was ahead of its time. There were animals and algae growing there like none other in it's day. Notice the DSB in both the display and the Refugium? It was Utah Oolitic Sand. Very little dosing was done, yet stony coral and calcarous algae were prolific. The ATS is the bright area above the Refugium tank. It's a long shallow trough. I believe a similar effect could have been much easier to achieve by using a longer/larger Refugium with a submersible pump suspended above the sand bad, near the water surface. The pic I've shared below is one I took the same day. It has been used frequently in WMAS literature.

Aloha  Hug


]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2014 09:05:10 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578324&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578324 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : Thanks Mark. that&#039;s the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578321&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578321 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 21 2014 at 7:36am

Thanks Mark. that's the kind of discussion I was looking for. I wasn't sure why they used the biowheel so much so that was good input.

New idea
4. I have seen on the interweb that some people use algea scrubbers. I have been watching some youtube videos and I think I could make one myself. wondering if anyone has used one of these? thinking I could incorporate that into the sump some how.


Edited by backwards32 - November 21 2014 at 7:41am]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:36:05 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578321&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578321 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : backwards32 wrote:3. I went...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578310&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578310 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 20 2014 at 11:02pm

Originally posted by backwards32 backwards32 wrote:

3. I went to the salt mixer Friday night and John for SA was talking about how they use a large amount of biowheels on their systems. they are all just powered by the flow of the water. so I have been thinking of a way to incorporate a biowheel into the inlet if the so it can have the same effect.
Not a good idea. Biowheels are for fish only systems where there is no LS or LR. We call them "Nitrate factories" because they process Ammonia and Nitrite which would be harmful to fish, but they do nothing for the final step in the process, changing Nitrate into Nitrogen gas and water. The effect of high Nitrate levels is, of course, problems for invertebrates, including coral, yet fish thrive. 

The best sump/Refugiums have plenty of LS and Macroalgae and maybe a little room for a skimmer if that is your choice. FYI, linked in the WMAS Reefkeeping Tips is a thread regarding the basics of Refugiums.

Aloha  Hug

P.S.
When listening to a guest speaker, it's important to consider their background and knowledge base. John Carberry is a self-made materials engineer/entrepreneur with a B.S. Degree in Literature that is helping run his son's company. He knows relatively little about reefkeeping.
]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2014 23:02:43 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578310&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578310 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : I&#039;m interested to see how...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578306&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578306 Author: Jdreeves
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 20 2014 at 10:24pm

I'm interested to see how the mirror idea works out! I wonder why it hasn't been done before because it totally makes sense...]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:24:39 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578306&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578306 <![CDATA[New design for a sump : Ok I got the perimeter finished...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578304&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578304 Author: backwards32
Subject: 73454
Posted: November 20 2014 at 9:09pm

Ok I got the perimeter finished and it is looking really good. this tank has gone a lot better then my past sumps. I am definitly getting better at this. Here are some pics





]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2014 21:09:04 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=73454&PID=578304&title=new-design-for-a-sump#578304