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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

Sumps in Freshwater Aquariums

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14 Nov 2010 22:00 #1 by roealdo (j)
Why arent these more common?

Is there any benefits to using a sump over a traditional filter?

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14 Nov 2010 22:12 #2 by joey (joe watson)
they dont make alot of production tanks with sumps, only on large scales and most are for marine set-ups.

i guess this is stemming from a few recent sump posts? ;)

the advantage is you get more filter media and extra water volume for the same tank size. the downside (well there are no REAL downsides) is that it takes up more space, usually in the cabinet

for small tanks, hang on back filters are the next best thing

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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14 Nov 2010 22:15 #3 by roealdo (j)
How does the sump work? Is it all in the floss in the sump? Is it that simple?

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14 Nov 2010 22:26 #4 by joey (joe watson)
no the possibilities are nearly endless. for marines they put protien skimmers in the sump. i have 4 chambers in my sump, but some are much different designs (JustinK's is different but well designed) and i have coarse foam (mechanical) fine foam (mechanical) then ceramic (biological) with floss on top to polish the fine stuff. the last chamber has the return pump but i have a sock with peat pellets in and will be putting bio balls in. the chambers can be large enough to house weak/bullied fish in and i am using them to breed feeder shrimp and trumpet snails (puffer food)

so handy having filtration out of the tank it adds water volume and saves more space up top by not having a big internal (much like why externals are so popular as an alternative)

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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14 Nov 2010 23:11 #5 by andrewo (andrew)
Agree pretty much with what joey said PLUS sumps > any internal/external filters. I seen some videos where you wont believe what designs that people can come up with! The one that caught me stumped was the 'sump' within a 'sump'.....Hard to find any fault with a sump if it was affordable and convenient (i.e. came ready made and you never forget to pay your electricity bill :laugh: )

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17 Nov 2010 20:58 #6 by Sean (Fr. Jack)
I would not set up a new freshwater tank without a sump beside its the only please to inject ozone into the system to keep the redox level right for Africans assuming your are as lazy as me and dont do water changes.

www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...it,10/limitstart,10/

That would be a ecumenical matter!!!

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29 Nov 2010 13:54 #7 by roealdo (j)
So I went ahead and bought a 3ftX2ftx2ft tank with sump (total volume approx 400l) and it is due to arrive on Saturday (weather permitting at this stage!)

Its been set up by the supplier (all pluming is included) but I was just wondering is there anything extra I should be looking for? The only thing I can think of after my research is to make sure the out take is drilled to stop a flood of the power goes. Anything else?

I will be using the media from my 2217 so hopefully tank should be well cycled to accept fish straight away . Will also have some old tank water available.

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29 Nov 2010 14:34 #8 by davcummo (david cummins)
yeah just make your levels are right on the flow and return
you dont want and water back syphoning down pump pipes and such.

i have a 180l sump on my tank,and i have no complaints with it
i ripped up an old cushion or two and filled the fisrt chamber
with it takes out all the crap and keeps the other sponges and
other items clean from shite.

because my flow and return are high up the tank(so if the power goes the sump can handle the volume that flows back down) i have a power head down in the opposite corner to keep water movement.

dont be afraid to add extra filter media

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29 Nov 2010 16:47 #9 by joey (joe watson)
insulate the sump, and get a condensation guard. i didn't do this and am regretting. luckily when i rebuild the stand i can do it right.
have a heater in the last chamber with the pump, run your media from coarse to fine but dont bury your foam under ceramic. fill a chamber or 2 with ceramic and bio balls you cant go wrong, use the foam and floss just to polish

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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29 Nov 2010 17:08 #10 by roealdo (j)
How did you insulate and condensation guard did you use?

I've ordered plent if filter media and have loads if primed media so should be fine in that regard

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29 Nov 2010 17:35 #11 by joey (joe watson)
get aeroboard (polystyrene sheets) and cut it to go on the sides and back, i would recommend leaving the front visible so you can see whats going on there. dont pack loads of foam in it'll slow down the flow and could dry up the pump. for condesation guard just use corregated plastic like clear pvc, you could even put more aeroboard on top for extra insulation

post up pics of each step you are doing from the time you open the box till its fully stocked!

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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29 Nov 2010 20:22 #12 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)
Another + for the sumps is that you can put all sorts of equipment(heater,airpump...)in it.Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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30 Nov 2010 21:07 #13 by roealdo (j)
are you saying putting foam inside the the glass? Or just surround the tank?

Any one got any picks of their sumps? Looking forward to getting it set up. Weather permitting should be all good this weekend

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30 Nov 2010 21:30 #14 by mickdeja (Mick Whelan)
roealdo wrote:

are you saying putting foam inside the the glass? Or just surround the tank?

Any one got any picks of their sumps? Looking forward to getting it set up. Weather permitting should be all good this weekend


Here is my sump, two pics one with media and one with it insulated, also pics of insulation on the side of the tank as well.
www.irishfishkeepers.com/cms/component/o...it,10/limitstart,20/

Follow me up to Carlow

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30 Nov 2010 21:33 #15 by roealdo (j)
i've been keeping an eye on that thread some monster tank!

From what I have been told my tank comes with its sump "built in" so not 100% sure what that means. Will by some aeroboard before it comes.

I saw you were looking for some cycling fish. I have some hybrids you can have if you want

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30 Nov 2010 23:15 #16 by joey (joe watson)
what is the make of the tank you are getting roealdo? it probably comes with a purpose built tank and all the right fittings/plubing but probably wont have the aeroboard. put it under and around the sump and under the tank. if you painting/putting background on the tank, out some aerobard behind that too, any insulation helps. just wished i'd done that to all my tank, but i've another shot at getting it right next time

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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30 Nov 2010 23:18 #17 by mickdeja (Mick Whelan)
roealdo wrote:

i've been keeping an eye on that thread some monster tank!

From what I have been told my tank comes with its sump "built in" so not 100% sure what that means. Will by some aeroboard before it comes.

I saw you were looking for some cycling fish. I have some hybrids you can have if you want


where are u based man?

Mick...:)

Follow me up to Carlow

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01 Dec 2010 08:43 #18 by roealdo (j)
Dublin 18

Probably not ideal

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04 Dec 2010 18:32 #19 by roealdo (j)
Tank is been filled as we speak. Holy crap what have I let my self in for!

Any one got practical tips on how to run and maintain something like this?

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05 Dec 2010 00:18 #20 by joey (joe watson)
its so simple you wont believe. i think i posted on this thread, and i know i did in mickdeja's "big daddy tank" thread, about the best way to arrange the media, but i have also been recommended a sump sock (cheers tim - i will be looking out for one of these for myself) as it will trap most particles and the sump will never block, just empty and rinse out the sock every so often when only that is blocked. wont even need to use floss at the end to polish, and much much easier to maintain

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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05 Dec 2010 07:11 #21 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)
Hi,
bought my sump sock in Seahorse Aquariums.It is just another way to keep maintainance down.Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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05 Dec 2010 13:37 #22 by roealdo (j)
`how do people get the silent syphon to work? I cant seem to get the balance between the control valve the the over flow kicking in

i havent played with pump speed yet. Could use your help. Might be out on the street if I dont get this sorted asap

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05 Dec 2010 16:23 #23 by Frontosa (Tim kruger)
The solution is DORSO PIPE.Google it and you find plenty of infos.Regards,Tim

Midlands - in the heart of Ireland.

Keeping and breeding : Frontosa Blue Zaires , Synodontis Petricola , Tropheus Red Rainbow (Kasanga) , Tropheus Moliro . Regulary fry for sale.
Community tank with P.Kribensis and different livebearers.

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05 Dec 2010 19:21 #24 by mickdeja (Mick Whelan)
PM sent.

Mick...:)

Follow me up to Carlow

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05 Dec 2010 20:15 #25 by roealdo (j)
thanks for that mick.

Might drop you a text tomorrow.

If I'm seen even looking at fish in the next couple of weeks I could be shot!

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05 Dec 2010 22:32 #26 by joey (joe watson)
roealdo wrote:

If I'm seen even looking at fish in the next couple of weeks I could be shot!


LMAO

i'd probably be made to stand behind you to save bullets, like the nazi's did! cant even look at the new cory babies

Location: Portlaoise, Midlands

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