sand for my sump

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 01:47 PM

can i use the same sand we use for our pool filter for my sump. i think it will last longer and filter through alot better.

PEMfish · 07-23-2008, 02:07 PM

What kind of sand is it? ( what materials is it made from? )

Octoman · 07-23-2008, 02:18 PM

It most likely contains high amounts of silica and could have contaminants in it. There used to be a pool filter sand that people used, I think it was Southdown. But either they changed it's content around or they don't sell it any more.

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 02:37 PM

im not sure what the name of it is or what it has in it. but if it has high amounts of silcia i shouldnt use it? right.

Witfull · 07-23-2008, 02:43 PM

sand in a fuge,yes,,,,sand in a sump,,,no. to much flow and it will get into your pumps and kill them.

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 02:45 PM

so what should i use for my filteration in my sump and fuge, iv been really confused through the whole process.

Octoman · 07-23-2008, 02:51 PM

Are you talking about a Deep Sand Bed?

For mechanical filtration, typically sock or sponge type filters are used. But they are not a necessity and must be cleaned frequently. I only use a filter sock when I'm cleaning the tank to catch the stirred up debris.

A skimmer is a necessity and good at removing both particulate and dissolved material.

A Deep Sand Bed (DSB) of 4+ inches is intended to create an oxygen free area where bacteria can remove nitrate from the water. Water does not flow through this like it would through an undergravel filter.

PEMfish · 07-23-2008, 03:06 PM

A sump is a tank used to put equipment in such as a heater, and skimmer. A fuge is an isolated tank in the system thats predator free. Life grows there and is shot into the display tank by the pump, and eaten. Microw (sp?) algae can also be grown there witch removes nutrients from the water. Put sand in the fuge and DT, not the sump.

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 03:12 PM

this is what iv got pretty much made up. im getting glass cutters to make my baffles . also know that my little overflow box is nothing more than 3/8 inch hose that is siphoning in pvc pipe so it doesnt get kinks. i timed it so the water level is constant. im getting a flat as well for my pump so i dont burn out the motor. my 3/8 hose is cut to the level that it wont overflow into my sump incase of a power outage. its all pretty well thought out, i think. so should i get that under gravel filter and put it under the sand?

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 03:15 PM

oooh so technically my sump is the left of where my pump is. correct?

Octoman · 07-23-2008, 03:17 PM

No, you don't want to use the sand as a mechanical filter so you wouldn't want an undergravel filter. It would be very difficult to keep clean and would likely cause problems with nitrates. If you want to use it as a DSB, then it needs to be 4" deep.

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 03:18 PM

oh and my baffles are higher than the glass for my fuge i forgot to make it look like that in the picture

PEMfish · 07-23-2008, 03:19 PM

Yeah, you combined them, its a good way to go. But I would drill your tank.

As for the sand I wouldn't. Just get some dry sand meant for the hobby.

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 03:19 PM

so this wont work?

x17x11x · 07-23-2008, 03:20 PM

i thought about it but theres noway im gunna drill my tank.

07-23-2008, 01:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	sand for my sump can i use the same sand we use for our pool filter for my sump. i think it will last longer and filter through alot better.

07-23-2008, 02:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,391 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump What kind of sand is it? ( what materials is it made from? ) __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

07-23-2008, 02:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,574 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sand for my sump It most likely contains high amounts of silica and could have contaminants in it. There used to be a pool filter sand that people used, I think it was Southdown. But either they changed it's content around or they don't sell it any more. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

07-23-2008, 02:37 PM	#4 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump im not sure what the name of it is or what it has in it. but if it has high amounts of silcia i shouldnt use it? right.

07-23-2008, 02:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump so what should i use for my filteration in my sump and fuge, iv been really confused through the whole process.

07-23-2008, 02:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,574 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sand for my sump Are you talking about a Deep Sand Bed? For mechanical filtration, typically sock or sponge type filters are used. But they are not a necessity and must be cleaned frequently. I only use a filter sock when I'm cleaning the tank to catch the stirred up debris. A skimmer is a necessity and good at removing both particulate and dissolved material. A Deep Sand Bed (DSB) of 4+ inches is intended to create an oxygen free area where bacteria can remove nitrate from the water. Water does not flow through this like it would through an undergravel filter. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

07-23-2008, 03:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,391 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump A sump is a tank used to put equipment in such as a heater, and skimmer. A fuge is an isolated tank in the system thats predator free. Life grows there and is shot into the display tank by the pump, and eaten. Microw (sp?) algae can also be grown there witch removes nutrients from the water. Put sand in the fuge and DT, not the sump. __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

07-23-2008, 03:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump this is what iv got pretty much made up. im getting glass cutters to make my baffles . also know that my little overflow box is nothing more than 3/8 inch hose that is siphoning in pvc pipe so it doesnt get kinks. i timed it so the water level is constant. im getting a flat as well for my pump so i dont burn out the motor. my 3/8 hose is cut to the level that it wont overflow into my sump incase of a power outage. its all pretty well thought out, i think. so should i get that under gravel filter and put it under the sand?

07-23-2008, 03:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump oooh so technically my sump is the left of where my pump is. correct?

07-23-2008, 03:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
Octoman Majano Slayer Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 1,574 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: sand for my sump No, you don't want to use the sand as a mechanical filter so you wouldn't want an undergravel filter. It would be very difficult to keep clean and would likely cause problems with nitrates. If you want to use it as a DSB, then it needs to be 4" deep. __________________ Mark My tank thread... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-euphoria.html Tank build... http://55reef.blogspot.com/

07-23-2008, 03:18 PM	#12 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump oh and my baffles are higher than the glass for my fuge i forgot to make it look like that in the picture

07-23-2008, 03:19 PM	#13 (permalink)
PEMfish Golden Moray Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Kane Co. Il. Posts: 2,391 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump Yeah, you combined them, its a good way to go. But I would drill your tank. As for the sand I wouldn't. Just get some dry sand meant for the hobby. __________________ Paul `EM My new 48" reef tank; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-opciones.html My new planted; http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...-planted.html# Make it idiot-proof and someone will make a better idiot. I'll make the whole damn world jealous if given the money to do so. Don't make mistakes and learn from them, read and learn how to avoid mistakes. a)Fix the damn problem b)live with it -But absolutely no b*tching

07-23-2008, 03:19 PM	#14 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump so this wont work?

07-23-2008, 03:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
x17x11x Fire Coral Join Date: May 2008 Location: new york Posts: 83 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: sand for my sump i thought about it but theres noway im gunna drill my tank.

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