Sumps and Nutrient export

WolfTangAquarist · Apr 10, 2019

Good morning everyone

We made our own sump back in December and it’s doing the job well, however we seem to have nutrient issues. What I mean by this is they will fluctuate and never really get nitrates down to 10 without extreme water changes. Phosphates range to around 5.

Equipment is 33L DT
1 eflux wave pump set way low
Eshopps X120 skimmer
filter sock
Small amount of chaeto

10% weekly water changes
5 smaller fish: sunburst and random clownfish
All softie and LPS corals
50ish pounds of rock
Thin sand bed on average 1/2 in thick
Feed once or twice a day

Just wondering or justifying to buy another sump

P-Dub · Apr 10, 2019

WolfTangAquarist said:
Good morning everyone

We made our own sump back in December and it’s doing the job well, however we seem to have nutrient issues. What I mean by this is they will fluctuate and never really get nitrates down to 10 without extreme water changes. Phosphates range to around 5.

Equipment is 33L DT
1 eflux wave pump set way low
Eshopps X120 skimmer
filter sock
Small amount of chaeto

10% weekly water changes
5 smaller fish: sunburst and random clownfish
All softie and LPS corals
50ish pounds of rock
Thin sand bed on average 1/2 in thick
Feed once or twice a day

Just wondering or justifying to buy another sump

I really wouldn't worry about it too much in a predominantly softy and LPS system. Keep doing what you are doing...