ReefyCane's 30g Showcase Showdown!!

[fatman]

Your right in regards to the the PVC pipe, bag, sump, skimmer and Pump. The charcoal and phosban should be in contact with the water after the skimmer and before the pump. The skimmer is most efficient at removing dissolved organic compounds, you do not want to fill the pores of your charcoal with organics that can be removed by skimming. Leave the charcoal to removing what it can that the skimmer does not remove. Both will work best that way and at the least expense. Same goes for your phosphate remover. After the skimmer before your pump. Put them in seperate bags as they have different life spans. Iron based phosphate removers will not leach phosphates back into the water when full so can stay in the tank longer than quickly clogging charcoal. Typically carbon is not run continously but as needed or for a few days once a month. Charcoal is known for leaching phosphates into tank water so use small amounts. Something in the line of 3-4 tablespoons per fifty gallons is plenty. It is often used more when/if you have macro algae and large fish loads. Try to find plastic hose clamps instead of stainless steel.

[ReefyCane]

So I am kind of confused, what is the purpose of the white bag where my overflow connects other than removing large particles of waste?

Also, since I have no compartments where do I place the skimmer and pump?

Also, do I just thow bags of phosguard and carbon in the sump? Do they just sit on the bottom?

Thanks,
RC

[Alexander]

well you don't necissarily want to throw them in the bottom of the sump. there should be direct flow of water flowing through it.

[fatman]

That is all the bag (filter sock) is for, trapping detritus (junk), that and cutting down the sound of the water caused by its velocity, it will also remove micro bubbles caused by the falling water. Higher the tank the higher the velocity, generally. They sell fancy brackets and holders for them but they are not needed.
Have your sump inlet at one end of your sump tank, the skimmer in the middle and the pump at the other end. Put bags with your charcoal and phosban between the pump and the skimmer discharge. You do not need to use large amounts spread it out in your bags and just the water coming in contact with it (flowing over and around it) -passively- will be good enough. If you need them bad enough that you need to worry about maximum efficiency you have problems that need to be dealt with or you will become dependant on the charcoal and phosban, which is not good husbandry. You want to use them as kickers not as a primary filtering method. Baffles are really nice in a sump and increase its functionality. Not necessary, unless you have micro bubble problems from your skimmer, but it does make it a lot easier to observe/maintain proper water levels which have to be watched due to evaporation which will raise your salinity levels. You can also put your heater in your sump so you do not have to look at it in your display tank. If you reach the point of needing a Phosban Reactor or a fluidized bed filter for your charcoal you are definitely flowing your water through your media and belong to a group of aquarists I would not care to be a part of. That is a club of either uninformed or just bad ........... never mind.

[Bifferwine]

Originally Posted by fatman

Doc, Biffer is a very intelligent woman, I definately do not doubt her capabilities, so I take it that comment was/is a joke. I missed it, I guess.

No, Doc isn't kidding. I'm basically a tard when it comes to DIY.

[fatman]

Well Biff, you do have numb nuts, or what ever his name is. You can do the thinking and maybe he can do the doing. I guess. As long as you always remember money goes into tank, money into tank, money into tank . . . money into tank! My 120 gallon tank maybe half the size as yours , but it has over three times the holes, for what ever that is worth. I can drain my tank faster in case of fire! Well maybe something else is more special about a lot of holes. It could leak more, and faster. You would not believe how big three inch holes in a tank look. Really big!

[Doc]

herfert

-Doc

[ReefyCane]

Originally Posted by Dr Marco

herfert

-Doc

What??

[Doc]

Originally Posted by ReefyCane

What??

sorry ReefyCane. inside joke. those who knew it, got it. Message sent. My apologies for using your thread for such comments

-Doc