Biological filtering with carbon?

Kraken

Kraken

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hi everyone.

Im a real newbie.

I bought a system with a sump, it has been running over a year now.

The sump has three compartments.
1. A lot of liverock (small pieces) with a big sponge covering the top, the water from the display tank is spread equally over the big sponge, the next compartment only has a bag of active carbon (want to change this into a refugium) and then the last compartment is where the return pump is located.

I guess this is a form of biological filtering, so my question is must I run the active carbon? And must I rinse the sponge out with saltwater? In a months time I will be able to add the refigium.
 
Activated carbon would be considered chemical filtration. It helps to polish the water, or make it clearer. If you do run it, make sure you change it. You can put it in the same chamber as the return pump.
You will need to rinse the sponge often so it doesnt become a become a nitrate trap. Can you post a pic of your sump?
 
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This is the first compartment, filled with small pieces of liverock. And the sponge... (the redline is just a marker for me where to stop filling up that it doesnt overflow)

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This is the second compartment with the active carbon, want to change this in the refigium.

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This the last compartment, with the return pump.

Do I need to run the carbon? And the other thing I want to know is can I add a deep sand bed? And the later get a light and macro algae. And will hermit crabs be fine in the dark for a month? I read that you need a clean up crew with a deep sand bed?

Any advice would be great. Want the best sump I can get. And also do it properly with no shortcuts
 
Kraken said:
Do I need to run the carbon? And the other thing I want to know is can I add a deep sand bed? And the later get a light and macro algae. And will hermit crabs be fine in the dark for a month? I read that you need a clean up crew with a deep sand bed?
Click to expand...

@Kraken , macro algae will work nicely. I would get rid of the filter wool and rather use a filter sock where your tanks overflow pipe runs into the sump. Deep sand bed is only effective if the surface area is more or less the same as your display. Carbon in a sock or filter packet works well as is (I recommend using carbon as it will polish your water nicely). Hermits will be fine in the dark with no problems. Don't buy too many clean up crew critters as it will just cause problems later on. Other options for your sump to help with your tank parameters is Orca Bio-Cubes, Matrix stones and Marine Pure blocks (these you don't need any reactors or special equipment to use them). I hope I have answered some of your questions.
 
Thank you! You have been very helpfull. In what compartment must I place the Orca biocubes, Matrix stones and Marine pure blocks. I also want to add a protein skimmer in the first compartment, and then move the carbon to the third compartment. Also thinking about running a Phosguard.
 
@Kraken you will only need one of the 3 items I mentioned. The 2 used with the best results are the orca cubes or matrix stones. If you are using those then there will be no need for phosguard. Also I need to add you need to see what your bio load will be. I have only macro algae and carbon in my sump as I dont have a big bio load. Try to keep it simple.
 
Awesome! Going to get it today! Do I place the orca cubes in media bag and olace it the media bag in my sump where the return pump is? (Maximum flow?)

With my bio load I want to keep it simple. The setup came with 3 clowns. Only want to add:
2x bangai cardinal.
1x yellow tail damsel
1x goby (would be awesome if the goby could pair with a shrimp, please advice?)
And maybe a blenny that is good as shifting sand?

The display tank is 180L and the sump is 70L.

But I will only be adding fish and coral when I am happy with my sump, lighting, flow and stable water parameters.
 
When you buy the cubes you get a bag with it. Then use it in a "bomb" method, where you add a air stone in the bag with the cubes in a medium to high flow area. Search on the forum as there is a whole thread dedicated to the use of Orca Bio cubes.
 
I've read up on a few threads, and I have 1 concern.

I would really like to add a regifium, but some of the member's said that using the orca bio cubes has stopped their macro-algae from growing because they compete for the same food source?

But now I have a dillema because all the reviews I have read about the Orca bio cubes are amazing! So Im going with the orca bio cubes, will I still be able to do the refigium?
 
What skimmer do you have? When running the cubes, you do need a decent skimmer.

Is there a reason why you want both cubes and a refugium?
 
The setup came without a skimmer, Im going to biy a bubble magnus curve 5, would that be sufficient?

When I did research about the sump I felt inlove with the idea of a refugium.

I will only be able to get the skimmer in abouth a month, must I wait until the to add the cubes?
 
Skimmer should be fine for cubes. Definitely wait for the skimmer before adding cubes.
Seeing as you dont plan to stock heavily, why not consider the things EFJ suggested, like matrix stones etc?
When are you getting the tank wet?
 
I got a good deal off olx, I bought the setup with about 15kg liverock, sump as above, 3 clownfish, hermitcrab and a coral banded shrimp, his setup was running for about a year.

But there is a few extra things I have to buy, firstly want to sort out the sump then the lighting. And my wife has put me on a strict budget:m41:. (Took me a while to convince her!)

My plan of action:
1. Buy seachem reef salt
2. Powerhead for extra flow
3. Skimmer and install refugium (also small LED light)
4. Buy lighting unit from Improved living PE (already sent an email and they were very helpfull)
5 Buy RO unit from Waterboy

After all this then I will be adding coral and fish.

There has been some algae growing in the last two days but I cant buy the skimmer this month because my wife will kill me! I do a 15% wc every sunday and was thinking about adding Phosguard to reduce the phosphates until I can get the skimmer.
 
Seeinga s you just moved the tank, a bit of algae is to be expected.
Plan sounds good. Only thing i might change it to add refugium first.
Phosgaurd will help. Have you tested the water parameters?

You might want to remove the coral banded shrimp and one of the clownfish. You want to add small fish in the future, and the shrimp MIGHT eat them. Clowns will eventually pair of and the third one MAY get bullied.
 
Adding a good skimmer will be one of the best things to reduce nutrients. The curve 5 should be ok.

I would the suggest that regular waterchanges are done to maintain water quality and initially do not be too concerned about anything else.

A nice tank can be had with just the basics.
 
Thank you for all the advice! First Im going to install the refugium, (small clip on LED light, livesand and two hermit crabs?) then I will source the macro algae (anyone that has some to spare please give me a shout:m12:)

The going to get the curve 5 skimmer.

Im planning on a 15% wc every sunday, must I also sift the sand in display tank? Like what you do in a tropical tank with gravel when doing water chances?
 
No offence but leave the sand in the display and nothing in the sump. A refuge is a place you have to put naughty fish or others. The whole point of the sumpbis to put your heaters etc out of eye sight and add that extra space for what ever you want to add to help your tank.
 
Just an update: big shout out for all the advice! Much appreciated!

Got rid of the dirty sponges and it was crazy how much debris was caught in it! Tried to flush out as much as possible but think I will need to have another go at it

Installed the sump socket (looks a bit stupid, the overflow pipe is way to small for the socket but did some diy)
I will have to change the plumbing but for now is fine.

Moved all the liverock to the second chamber installed a LED light on top.

Moved carbon to the chamber with the the return pump.

Before:

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After:
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The LED that I used is this 1:

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Not going to grow coral in my sump and it will be a while before I have any frags, will this be fine for the macro-algae?

Did not trust the petshop dude, can always upgrade later. My main concern was getting the salt, another powerhead and some proper food for the clowns. And filter sock.

Next Item on the agenda will be the skimmer!

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