Sump System

The sump system consists of two tanks, a 40 gallon breeder and a 29 gallon regular tank. The 40 gallon breeder is really my true sump and has all the equipment in it:

1. 2 Won 500 W heaters
2. 2 Mag 18 return pumps
3. ASM G4 Skimmer powered by a Sedra 9000 pump. I started with a 5000 but decided that I wanted "better" skimming.

The overflow from the left hand side of the tank flows into a large Tupperware box that has the skimmer in it as I put no baffles in my system. This helps with the bubbles and also ensures that the skimmer gets the direct overflow from the tank.

My original skimmer was an ASM G4 which was a little underpowered with a Sedra 5000 pump, so I upgraded it to a Sedra 9000 pump which improved it's performance. This skimmer served me for almost 20 months. Recently I decided to try and upgrade my skimmer. So I went out an purchased a used Deltec APF600. This is a recirculating skimmer, and I have it feed with a Maxi-Jet 1200. I must say writing this after only having it 2 days, and this skimmer really rocks.

The right hand side overflow Ts off and part goes into the sump and part goes into the 29 gallon tank which acts as my refugium. I have 2x24 W T5 lights overdriven by an ICECAP 430 ballast over this and grow various types of macro alagae: Chaeto, Cauleprla (which I feed my tang), Halemida, and a mystery Red Macro Algae that I think is very pretty.

The refugium is also home to about 6" sand bed and some live rock and whatever critters live in there (mostly pods, mysis shrimp, bristle worms and the like).

The refugium has two bulk heads drilled into the top and it sits slight above the 40 gallon breader and literally overflows into the sump.

Also feeding into my sump I have my Korallin C-3002 Calcium Reactor which I have been running for 4 months after upgrading from a MRC CR-1 Calcium Reactor, which I started running in December of 2005. The Korallin reactor is much more efficient than the MRC CR-1. It takes a bit of adjustment to get a calcium reactor tuned in but once it is it does a great job at maintaing calcium level. Also I do my top off into my sump. I have 1 peristalic pump from reef dosing pumps that turns on only at night which feeds my kalk reactor (which also keeps my pH up at night).