Question about drains and fleece

[claydogg84]

I recently purchased a used IM 112 Lagoon which is an upgrade from my 60 gallon cube with all HOB equipment. Having a tank with a sump is brand new to me and I’m nearly all finished with the plumbing, just unsure on the drains. I’ve ordered a Reef Factory medium fleece roller and plan to plumb the main drain to it. My question is, do the back-up & emergency drains constantly drain water into the sump as well? Or just if there is an issue with the main drain?

 

[Timfish]

As intended the backup is in case there's an issue with the main drain. But I've seen systems running fine with both draining water. I would choose whichever way is the simplest to plump.

 

[claydogg84]

As intended the backup is in case there's an issue with the main drain. But I've seen systems running fine with both draining water. I would choose whichever way is the simplest to plump.

Thanks Tim. I guess my main concern is if the back-up drain is constantly draining, then it will be dumping unfiltered water into the sump as it won't be tied into the roller. Should I be concerned with this?

 

[Timfish]

I stopped using filter pads/socks a years ago. Since then I've found research showing the importance of fish poop. So I'd suggest dispensing with the roller.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115164607.htm
https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00842/95393/103168.pdf

 

[coreytrv]

I stopped using filter pads/socks a years ago. Since then I've found research showing the importance of fish poop. So I'd suggest dispensing with the roller.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090115164607.htm
https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00842/95393/103168.pdf

Great find. Interesting read. Wonder if they followed this up, since it was from 15 years ago, hope there's an update.

 

[slogan315]

Thanks Tim. I guess my main concern is if the back-up drain is constantly draining, then it will be dumping unfiltered water into the sump as it won't be tied into the roller. Should I be concerned with this?

You’ve probably already figured out your plumbing, but in case someone else runs across this post with the same problem:

You often will see for a 3 drain setup (bean animal style), the main and back up drain to the mechanical filtration. And the emergency dumps somewhere in the sump above the water line. Reason being, the main is often full siphon and the back up drains some of the flow. So just like you are thinking, all the normally planned flow will go through mechanical filtration. The emergency drain should only be used if something is really wrong. In this case, you want it loud and noticeable.

 

[claydogg84]

You’ve probably already figured out your plumbing, but in case someone else runs across this post with the same problem:

You often will see for a 3 drain setup (bean animal style), the main and back up drain to the mechanical filtration. And the emergency dumps somewhere in the sump above the water line. Reason being, the main is often full siphon and the back up drains some of the flow. So just like you are thinking, all the normally planned flow will go through mechanical filtration. The emergency drain should only be used if something is really wrong. In this case, you want it loud and noticeable.

Yes, so I do have it up and running. What I figured out was that the secondary drain does in fact constantly get a "trickle" of flow down it, so I installed a sock in that drain. I only did this because it seemed like most of the surface grime was being sent down that tube and I didn't want it to constantly be unfiltered.

 

[Timfish]

Great find. Interesting read. Wonder if they followed this up, since it was from 15 years ago, hope there's an update.

The second article was published last year and certainly expands on the nutrients provided and this paper from 2011 is also looking at carbonates in fish poop

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1015895108
And here is a google scholar search using the terms "Marine" "Fish" "Feces" and "Carbonate" published after 2020. Read away! :)

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2020&q=marine+fish+feces+carbonate&hl=en&as_sdt=0,44

 

[coreytrv]

The second article was published last year and certainly expands on the nutrients provided and this paper from 2011 is also looking at carbonates in fish poop

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1015895108
And here is a google scholar search using the terms "Marine" "Fish" "Feces" and "Carbonate" published after 2020. Read away! :)

https://scholar.google.com/scholar?as_ylo=2020&q=marine+fish+feces+carbonate&hl=en&as_sdt=0,44

Right on! I've noticed you link to some great articles on here, excellent find. Thx!