• Why not take a moment to introduce yourself to our members?

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
For anyone who was following heres an updated picture. My 480 gallon sump up and running with test water.

filled.jpg
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
DanConnor":3j50kdnp said:
Cool! You going to cover that?

NO its going to be open. I plan on an 8 inch DSB (southdown) down the middle I will have a row of live rock and sevral mangroves. It wil be lit (down the line) by either 250w or 400w MH's (undecided). I will also be adding 2 20 or 30 gallon surges down the middle.

mountainbiker619, actually the main tank is smaller. It's only 240 gallons. :)
 

AllenF

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Dont know but he will be able to Stock the 240 till his hearts content and probably still have perfect water quality with only a skimmer...
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
MATTT":1ybtkwa7 said:
Why would you need such a big sump ? 8O 8O

Because I have the room. I truly belive in the more water volume you have in your system the more stable it becomes. I will also be growing out frags in the center row of live rock. On the sides there will be macro algae for nutrient export. I originaly planed on doing tidal events, but thats on hold for now. :D
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I just asked about the cover because you are going to be evaporating quite a bit of water into your basement!
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
DanConnor":2b2udj3a said:
I just asked about the cover because you are going to be evaporating quite a bit of water into your basement!

The way the basement is set up I actually have 2 - 500 cfm (1000 cfm) fans pulling the humid air out of the basement and then it goes into the enclosed canopy and the back out to the exterior of the house. This should keep the humidity down (I hope). :roll: in the basement. This is still in theroy! :wink:
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Craw,
I recommend you use HPS hydroponic metal halide lights over the sump and let it naturally develop into a refugium. The HPS bulbs are WAY cheaper and deliver high PAR for plants.
You could also place as many different types of macro algae as you can find. There is anecdotal evidence that the rooting systems of mangroves excrete acidic compounds which dissolve the mnerals in the sand/mud bed. This helps release calicium and buffer, and serves to isolate the release of other stuffs to the refugium substrate.
This is the main benefit of mangroves. Caulerpa will serve to chemically cleam the water.

Snapper
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
sounds like a good idea. I'll have to swing by the old brew and grow on the way home and look into. The only thing that confused was the bulbs. They are rated in lums instead of 'K' ratings. Thats where I get lost. Thanks for the input.

BTW you icon is creepy!! 8O

craw.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wow, I am so envious. Big sumps with sandbeds are so fun.

I have a 150 gallon sump with an 8 inch sand bed and I love to just sit on the edge and stare.

It has developed a colony of these awesome feather dusters, huge for hitchhikers, their crowns are as big as a silver dollar. The whole colony of them looks like some kind of alien forest.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You'll probably evaporate like 5-10 gallons a day(esp. with fans blowing out). Man That's a lot of RO water.
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I decided to cover the top of the tank so that I cannot get heat transfer from the MH's to the top of the water. The halides are 16 inches off the water. So I will be running NO bulbs over the refugiam. I'm thinking that the evaporation will be around 2-5 gallons a day. The good thing is the I'm on my own well so the water doesn't cost me anything.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
As you said the well water is free, however the evap rate will probably be higher with soo much surface area. I lose about a gallon a day on a 125, with two of three openings covered, in an already humid basement(plus it's not even hot in NY yet, I'll evap more when the basement hits 80-82). I think you are, at minimum adding 5 gallons a day w/o a cover.
 

Mac1

Advanced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Awesome 'fuge Craw!
We've got a guy down here (named 'Guy') who has a 10'x10' refugium (forget how many gallons), and I have to admit, I too, just love to sit on the edge and stare at it all. Reminds me of Tropicorium. Something to be said to just sitting there and watching a big fish swim towards you... from 10 feet away!
Nicely done!

- Mac
 

craw

Experienced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Thanks. Actually I had Guy send me a few picture of his to get an idae how to do miie. I just did not have the space to go that wide other wise I would have :D . I cant wait untill its full of life!
 

Sponsor Reefs

We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.

Click here to sponsor $10:


Top