Fluvial filter sump conversion

[leon1972]

Hey guys. I keep getting told I don't need my mechanical filter. That I am fine with just my hob skimmer and I don't need my sump. I want to start getting some coral sometime shortly and was wondering what I shoud turn it into. My sump is just a basic fluvial filter. There is an egg crate bottom and I was thinking maybe chaeto under that and something lse on top of the egg crate. If anyone has any ideas on what I should do with this think feel free to chime in!!! N

 

[little_fish]

I would put a refugium into the sump

 

[leon1972]

What would you put in the refugium? I wanted to use it for better filtration so I was thinking d throw in some chaeto

 

[little_fish]

i would put rubble rock and cheato down there

 

[leon1972]

Rubble rock? You mean exta live rock?

 

[leon1972]

I've read about different methods of using chaeto for filtration. Should I just toss the chaeto in the sump or shoul i attach it somehow to the return sump guranting all water passes through the chaeto?

 

[marcah]

I would toss it in the sump and then weight it or attach it to something , just dont forget that chaeto needs some light, A CFL bulb running at 5000k will work great for you..:D
one like this
23-Watt (120W) R40 Daylight CFL Light Bulb (1-Pack)-ES5R42350K at The Home Depot

 

[leon1972]

Wouldn't the suction from the sump pull the chaeto down the water to the sump? I was also thinking of putting a simple Float swittch ato on it as well for now, until I can afford something a little more technical and sophisticated

 

[leon1972]

Also, if I put the chaeto in the sump section then the old filter section is still available. What should I do there?

 

[little_fish]

i would put the skimmer there

 

[leon1972]

It's an hob. I'm pretty sure the skimmer is too tall for it

 

[little_fish]

can you please post picture of your equipment set up? Im not sure that you have an actual sump, it sounds like you just have a canister filter.

 

[leon1972]

I would like opinions on using a simple float switch for an auto top off in the sump as well please

 

[leon1972]

Unfortunately I'm not home and wont be for some time. It's a box with a lid just a little too small for it on one section with a hose installed in it. It's just a tick too small that way if water leaks it will go right back into the box. Directly under the lid is a removable tray where you put in a fluvial filter pad. The box is separated into two sections with a hole at the bottom along the length of the divider below a removable egg crate tray. The second section simply houses the pump with the return hose.

 

[leon1972]

The whole thing holds like an extra five gallons of water

 

[little_fish]

I really dont think i can provide you with good help until i see a picture

 

[leon1972]

Just picture a rectangular box with 2 sections and a hole at the bottom diving the sections from one to the next. It is literally that simple.