Freshwater sump? - Aquarium Advice

CaysE · 02-05-2008, 09:46 AM

I see a lot of threads in here about making a sump for SW tanks, but has anyone made one for FW? Here's my situation:

I have a 20 gallon tall planted tank with one of those DIY-style CO2 systems. I can only get about 10ppm CO2 from it. I have a spare 10 gallon tank that I'd like to use as a "sump" I suppose... it would filter the water, heat it, infuse it with CO2, and provide a place to do water changes and testing without disturbing the plant life and fish.

Sorry if this has been asked before... I'm pretty much a

CaysE · 02-08-2008, 12:19 PM

Anybody?

Skyrmir · 02-08-2008, 03:50 PM

You probably don't want to use a sump/overflow with co2 since the overflow is going out gas a TON of your co2. Especially if it's home brew that could be a pain to deal with.

In general freshwater tanks don't have the filtration issues that saltwater does. So a good cannister filter or two is all that's needed, rather than a sump. Fresh water tanks don't have to find someplace to put/hide protein skimmers or macro algae that you don't want getting loose in the display tank.

Pretty much the only reason to use a sump on fresh water is to increase the water volume to allow an increased bio load. The problem there is now you're cramming fish into a small space, that might have clean water, but also has less space to get away from tank mates. Fine if it's a single school of schooling fish, otherwise it's just a stressful life for community tanks where fish might get along, but that doesn't mean they like each other.

Jchillin · 02-08-2008, 05:44 PM

Agree with Skyrmir, a sump would diffuse almost all of your CO2. One member, czcz, did have a sump type set up but that was to hide equipment and keep some small critters inside since he did not use a filter. His CO2 however was injected into the main tank.

Subic76 · 02-08-2008, 05:46 PM

125 gal freshwater tank with sump. No need for CO2.

CaysE · 02-11-2008, 07:42 AM

I was hoping to increase the water volume not to increase the bioload, but to keep the water specs more easily balanced. I try my best not to cram fish into tanks, as you can see from my signature. I have this 10 gallon tank sitting around and I'd hate to let it go to waste, but I don't plan on setting up a third tank, either.

My DIY-type CO2 system is pushing it in effectiveness... I've only ever been able to get 10ppm at most out of it, so I'm open to using CO2 canisters. What about injecting it into the return line to the main tank?

Skyrmir · 02-11-2008, 09:55 AM

There's also the case to be made that the 10 gallon could be instantly made into a quarantine tank, simply by removing the connection between the tanks. Just leave a sponge filter sitting in the 10 gallon for when it's needed.

pitt420dude · 03-03-2008, 01:24 PM

I have a 55 gal fw w/ a 10 gallon sump. I was thinking o fgettin CO2 but now it appears that I may not want to. Does it make a big difference if you have theCO2 injection/reactor hooked into the line where it goes from the sump back into the 55 gal tank (is this called outflow or inflow?) I'm gonna guess it's inflow since it is flowing IN to the big tank.

Skyrmir · 03-04-2008, 01:46 AM

You would want to run the co2 on the line going into the display tank, the sump is going to out gas as the water enters it.

02-05-2008, 09:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
CaysE Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 235	Freshwater sump? I see a lot of threads in here about making a sump for SW tanks, but has anyone made one for FW? Here's my situation: I have a 20 gallon tall planted tank with one of those DIY-style CO2 systems. I can only get about 10ppm CO2 from it. I have a spare 10 gallon tank that I'd like to use as a "sump" I suppose... it would filter the water, heat it, infuse it with CO2, and provide a place to do water changes and testing without disturbing the plant life and fish. Sorry if this has been asked before... I'm pretty much a __________________ 20g tall - planted FW with furcata rainbows, albino BN, crystal red shrimp, and a cute neon blue Endler. 5g hex - planted FW for "Butters" the male betta.

02-08-2008, 12:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
CaysE Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 235	Anybody? __________________ 20g tall - planted FW with furcata rainbows, albino BN, crystal red shrimp, and a cute neon blue Endler. 5g hex - planted FW for "Butters" the male betta.

02-08-2008, 05:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jchillin Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New York, NY (The Big Apple) Posts: 12,935 Images: 47	Agree with Skyrmir, a sump would diffuse almost all of your CO2. One member, czcz, did have a sump type set up but that was to hide equipment and keep some small critters inside since he did not use a filter. His CO2 however was injected into the main tank. __________________ _________________________________ My 75g Planted tank

02-08-2008, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Subic76 Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 7	125 gal freshwater tank with sump. No need for CO2. Last edited by Subic76; 02-08-2008 at 05:48 PM. Reason: Edit to add picture of sump.

02-11-2008, 07:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
CaysE Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bloomfield, NJ Posts: 235	I was hoping to increase the water volume not to increase the bioload, but to keep the water specs more easily balanced. I try my best not to cram fish into tanks, as you can see from my signature. I have this 10 gallon tank sitting around and I'd hate to let it go to waste, but I don't plan on setting up a third tank, either. My DIY-type CO2 system is pushing it in effectiveness... I've only ever been able to get 10ppm at most out of it, so I'm open to using CO2 canisters. What about injecting it into the return line to the main tank? __________________ 20g tall - planted FW with furcata rainbows, albino BN, crystal red shrimp, and a cute neon blue Endler. 5g hex - planted FW for "Butters" the male betta.

02-08-2008, 03:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 508 Images: 9	You probably don't want to use a sump/overflow with co2 since the overflow is going out gas a TON of your co2. Especially if it's home brew that could be a pain to deal with. In general freshwater tanks don't have the filtration issues that saltwater does. So a good cannister filter or two is all that's needed, rather than a sump. Fresh water tanks don't have to find someplace to put/hide protein skimmers or macro algae that you don't want getting loose in the display tank. Pretty much the only reason to use a sump on fresh water is to increase the water volume to allow an increased bio load. The problem there is now you're cramming fish into a small space, that might have clean water, but also has less space to get away from tank mates. Fine if it's a single school of schooling fish, otherwise it's just a stressful life for community tanks where fish might get along, but that doesn't mean they like each other.

02-11-2008, 09:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 508 Images: 9	There's also the case to be made that the 10 gallon could be instantly made into a quarantine tank, simply by removing the connection between the tanks. Just leave a sponge filter sitting in the 10 gallon for when it's needed.

03-03-2008, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
pitt420dude Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pittsburgh! Home of the 5 Time Superbowl Champs! Posts: 949 Images: 11	I have a 55 gal fw w/ a 10 gallon sump. I was thinking o fgettin CO2 but now it appears that I may not want to. Does it make a big difference if you have theCO2 injection/reactor hooked into the line where it goes from the sump back into the 55 gal tank (is this called outflow or inflow?) I'm gonna guess it's inflow since it is flowing IN to the big tank. __________________ Thank you so much for all your help. I'm now going green. LOOK! A NEW LEAF!!!!!

03-04-2008, 01:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
Skyrmir Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 508 Images: 9	You would want to run the co2 on the line going into the display tank, the sump is going to out gas as the water enters it.

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