[mothergoose]

Ever get the urge to re-level your tank and end up with a whole new set up? Two weeks ago it started out as just re-leveling the tank. Sounds easy enough right?



Well after you empty all the water into rubber maid tubs, catch all the critters, remove the aquarium from the stand and you look inside the tank and realize this IS the time to upgrade from an under gravel filter system to a sump/wet dry filter and have a sand bottom. Yea, great idea if it wasn't Sunday. Hope there is enough cold to drink in the fridge.







So off to the store I went. Bought a pro clear wet/dry set up with over flow box, 55 lbs sand.



Don't freak out just yet the bio ball are gone. I have learned some stuff from this forum.

[mothergoose]

After hours of sand washing the tank still got all milky white.



With my new 500 gph pump things were looking much better before bed time. Pump seams a little big but it works great.



Had to do some modifications to the filter in order for it to work how I wanted.



Added Cora life super skimmer to the sump. Put new background on tank and this is what we ended up with.




Picture of old setup

Like the changes we made? Still working on water parameters all this kinda threw the whole tank out of cycle. Didn't have much livestock in there to begin with. We lost a Coral banded shrimp and the Cleaner shrimp and that was it. Thanks for reading and watching the tank grow next upgrade for this tank will be something easy like lights.
Wish us luck.

[emccullough1]

I like it and think your critters will to. How much LR did you put in to replace the bio balls?

[mothergoose]

I only have about three lbs so far but will pick up probably six more this weekend. I'm liking your 10 gallon better and better everyday. The maintenance cost on this tank is depleting my tax return quick.

[stephaniesquires]

Looks great, worth the work!!!

[mothergoose]

Thanks Steph I do like the system now that it is up and running. Still have some more tweaking to do on the sump but am happy with the results so far.

[ACE]

The tank looks !!grate!! I think it was the live sand, that made a big difference.

Grate job

[mothergoose]

Thanks Ace, I like the sand much better than the crushed coral I had in there.

[reefnoob1991]

Good thinking, undergravel filters are a nono as with crushed coral!

[R-e-D]

can i have a close up uf the running sump now

[mothergoose]

Robert,
still having adjustment issues with the sump. I have tried the pump in the middle chamber and in the far right one and both places produce loads of bubbles in the tank. Placed the bio balls and bubble cup in for now to help with this. The live rock is placed behind the skimmer under the trickle filter. Have about 3 lbs in there right now and it will probably take 6-9 more lbs to fill it.
Modified the intake cover of the filter in order to house the protein skimmer. Skimmer seems huge may go back to my modified visi jet ps. This model will fit all the way in the sump this way if it overflows it will go in the sump not on my floor. I placed a piece of Plexiglas over the bottom of the first chamber so that the water is high on the left side of the sump this enables the water to flow through the predrilled holes. When I shut off the pump the water comes very close to the top of the slant at the the far right of the filter so more adjustments need to be made in this area as well. Still need a light and some plants but will get to that when I get the others issues are taken care of.









I'm thinking that the sand area needs to be much smaller so that I can add baffles before the water hits the return pump. Hope this helps.

[mothergoose]

Brandon,
under gravel filters is all I know, have had this tank for many years with under gravel so this new set up is very frightening to me. I am glad that we made the switch.

[reefnoob1991]

Even though it's new its probably the best decision you could've made for your tank

[mothergoose]

I hope you are right. Now I am looking for a good cleaner crew for sand. not sure how it all comes together but I'm hoping for the best.

[mothergoose]

Robert,
I forgot to tell you that I cant find a heater that will fit in the sump unless I purchase two small ones and then they would be very cramped. I ordered and in line heater that I will put in this weekend I hope it works. I do not like my heater being the only thing in the tank that you can see on the back wall.

[emccullough1]

You may need to put a bubble trap in your sunp to get rid of the bubbles. If you need acrylic give me the sizes I have soma leftover from my build. O by the way if you like my little 10 gal We could swap. This is how my tank looks right now.

[mothergoose]

Ed,
The tank looks great. You should enter it into the tank of the month. I'm getting ready to set up a 10 gallon Sea Horse tank for my 8 year old he is very excited. Can you explain what a bubble trap is? someone else suggested that and I'm not quite sure how to set it up.
Thanks.

[emccullough1]

A bubble trap Is 3 deviders. Thay say 1 picture is worth a 1000 words so here go's.



Maybe this is a better way for you to see one and read about sumps

Melev's Reef - Sump Model A

By the way I got 3 of those frag mags. I need to get some new frags and give them a try.

[mothergoose]

I have read Melev's Reef guess I should have read it again. Pretty clear on what the bubble trap is. I am going to add the bubble trap to the sand area. Which will make the center area very small but will hopefully help with the bubbles.

I have a foam filter cover over the skimmer pipe and a collection cup in the center of the sump and a baffle before the return pump. You would think that no bubble would survive all that but I they are. This means two more days of running the filter out of a rubber maid container. Yea!!!
The frag mags are neat. I would suggest filling the whole magnet with frags. Mine looks kinda silly with only one frag on it. They are fun to work with.
Thanks for your help.

[emccullough1]

I went back up and looked at the sump again and it looks like you could get one in the skimmer section. You only need 3" I'm assuming the bubbles are coming from the skimmer anyway.

[Marine1]

Have you looked at the exterior heaters. A bit pricey, but worth it if you hate seeing heaters in you tank and they won't fit in the sump. See this web page:External Thermal Heater | Pet Solutions

[mothergoose]

My new external heater came in the mail yesterday. Will be putting it in this weekend. Does anyone use this type of heater? If so, is there anything I should know about it?
Thanks

[reefcouple]

Nice work!!! And if i'm ever looking for someone to manage the office, i know where to go.. You are very detailed

We just went through something very similar, lots of wok but fun huh?

Your tank looks great...

[mothergoose]

Thanks for the nice words your tank looks great. I'm not much of a paperwork type of person but i do like taking pics. Work on the tank is hard but i agree it is alot of fun.

[mothergoose]

I think it is finished!! I ended up using my old skimmer for the sump, after some modifications it fits perfectly. The water flows through the pre filter into the rock and skimmer area. The skimmer is directed toward the live rock(I ended up putting about six lbs in there). From this area it flows to the sand and grass area. From there it runs through the polishing filters into the return pump. I placed a 75 watt flood bulb into the clamp light (may end up removing the reflector but I'm not sure yet). In line heater is wonderful so far no runs, no drips and gallons warm water.



Water is crystal clear.