Show Off Your Sumps!

[vaguelyreeflike]

I seen another thread with only one reply. Show me your sump set up, bonus points for explaining the sections and what they’re for!

Do you have a refugium? Sand bed? What kind of bio media? What kind of sponge?

Looking to make an inspirational thread for myself and others looking into sump creation!

 

[JayM]

Here’s mine. I’m currently upgrading tanks, so sump is empty other than the return pump that is currently running to leak test my plumbing. When it’s done, my only plans at the moment are to transfer the skimmer and UV from my current setup.

 

[backbayreef]

My sump - super simple: drain , skimmer, reactor, and return

 

[JayM]

My sump - super simple: drain , skimmer, reactor, and return

That thing is a beast! It looks bigger than my tank and sump combined.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

 

[00W]

Nothing fancy....

I was the one reply....
Maybe I scared y'all away.... ;) :rolleyes:

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Nothing fancy....

I was the one reply....
Maybe I scared y'all away.... ;) :rolleyes:

I love it! It's awesome

 

[00W]

I love it! It's awesome

As is yours my friend!

 

[VintageReefer]

Been using this combo for 10 years across multiple style reef setups. It’s bombproof and I don’t need water changes

Trigger systems Ruby 30

Chamber 1 - octopus Diablo 160xs skimmer (offline/unplugged. Only use on as needed basis - remove a medication, or if tank has a nutrient issue)
Live rock in some free space
No socks or rollers or mechanical filtration in the sump at all

Chamber 2

3” fine live sand
Santa Monica surf 2 algae scrubber
Cryptic zone with Live rock, sponge, pods, micro dusters, etc under and around the algae scrubber

Between chamber 2 and 3 is a media shelf with chemi pure elite (2 bags rated 50g each) + media bag with matrix

Chamber 3 is return pump, live rock, and a phosban 150 reactor for running Phosguard if I ever need to quickly pull down phosphates

little messy, I never clean the sump and don’t believe sumps should be cleaned.

My results

 

[Cichlid Dad]

Been using this combo for 10 years across multiple style reef setups. It’s bombproof and I don’t need water changes

Trigger systems Ruby 30

Chamber 1 - octopus Diablo 160xs skimmer (offline/unplugged. Only use on as needed basis - remove a medication, or if tank has a nutrient issue)
Live rock in some free space
No socks or rollers or mechanical filtration in the sump at all

Chamber 2

3” fine live sand
Santa Monica surf 2 algae scrubber
Cryptic zone with Live rock, sponge, pods, micro dusters, etc under and around the algae scrubber

Between chamber 2 and 3 is a media shelf with chemi pure elite (2 bags rated 50g each) + media bag with matrix

Chamber 3 is return pump, live rock, and a phosban 150 reactor for running Phosguard if I ever need to quickly pull down phosphates

little messy, I never clean the sump and don’t believe sumps should be cleaned.

My results

Great setup! I find it amazing that it's the most simple sumps that can produce the great tanks they do. Mine, shown above, is my new setup like you I used the same design I had in my last build. I still need to finish it. I will have the cryptic zone ,the live rock in there is Tampa Bay Live Rock that came out of my last sump, so full of sponge.

 

[randomfishdude]

Here is my functional sump. Got the refugium that can't grow cheato but does grow dragons breath , the walmart bulb in a heat lamp connected to a lamp timer. The oddlymounted uv filter with the oddly mounted light. My skimmer that dosnt like to work often and grows more coaline than the tank. The filter socks that never seem to need to be cleaned exept for when I'm not home. Auto topoff to the side that is filled 50% of the time with all my wires, power straps and electrical ontop of it supported only by 2 pieces of a frag rack, a drumstick and a towel.
Also the refugium sandbed is 6 inches deep. Why? Yes.

 

[VintageReefer]

Great setup! I find it amazing that it's the most simple sumps that can produce the great tanks they do. Mine, shown above, is my new setup like you I used the same design I had in my last build. I still need to finish it. I will have the cryptic zone ,the live rock in there is Tampa Bay Live Rock that came out of my last sump, so full of sponge.

Thank you. I’ve never been a fan of mechanical filtration. Your tb rock was a good choice

 

[JoJosReef]

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Here’s mine. I’m currently upgrading tanks, so sump is empty other than the return pump that is currently running to leak test my plumbing. When it’s done, my only plans at the moment are to transfer the skimmer and UV from my current setup.

Very clean looking!

 

[vaguelyreeflike]

Nothing fancy....

I was the one reply....
Maybe I scared y'all away.... ;) :rolleyes:

I love the simplicity of it, the mangroves are an awesome touch! I finally have some lights on one of our sumps so looking into growing them. Are they fast growing with high nutrients?

 

[00W]

I love the simplicity of it, the mangroves are an awesome touch! I finally have some lights on one of our sumps so looking into growing them. Are they fast growing with high nutrients?

Not really.
I've definitely had better luck ordering the pods/seeds and just sticking them in the sand.
Those are growing faster.

 

[00W]

I love the simplicity of it, the mangroves are an awesome touch! I finally have some lights on one of our sumps so looking into growing them. Are they fast growing with high nutrients?

The roots are super fragile so get the pods.
Most of the ones I've gotten with roots die from osmotic shock.
I'm sure they help with N and P a little I just like the way they look, they just make me smile.
I add a little mag once a week and spray them every day.
That's a must.

 

[LiquidSpace]

This is my first true sump and I’m really proud of it. The aquarium is an IM 200 gallon and I’m slowly adding equipment. It’ll probably be cycling for a year before I have the lights!

Right now I just need a calcium reactor, two more MP40’s and a protein skimmer. Chamber 3 is full of 30 lbs of TBS rock and 30 lbs of TBS sand.

 

[mariano]

Ceramic media -> Rollermat -> Reactor (for activated carbon) -> CO2 scrubber -> Live Rock -> Skimmer -> Return Pump.
All controllers on the other side of the sump.

 

[lbacha]

I have a few systems

1. IM 25g tank with a trigger sump, heaters and skimmer only. This tank was a softy/sps tank and I just tore it down today he se the display being empty. The front chamber was full of pulsing Xenia for years.

2. 40g breeder used as a transfer/holding tank for fish before they make it into my main display. 10g diy sump with a tune nano skimmer, cheato and a bio block

3. 50g lowboy frag system with a 100g stock tank sump. Skimmer, lots of live rock in the sump there is also cheato and a huge mangrove. The stock tank runs into a 20g brute trash can that holds my COR15 return pump. I dose Kalk and have a calcium reactor on this system.

4. My new 300g main display tank. This has a custom 100g sump with a roller mat, UV, algae scrubber and ceramic media a royal exclusive skimmer and dual return pumps