A beginner's guide to setting up a freshwater sump!

[@Jackal799]

Glad to see more freshwater guys using sumps. I run Dr. Novak’s anoxic system in my sump with a refugium (I grow water lettuce) and a drip system. I no longer do water changes on my discus tank and my nitrates are consistently 5. So much flexibility with a sump. I’ll never go back to canisters!

[@kethucdung]

Hey man, how has your Anoxic system works out for you? I want to try. Can you let me know how you set it up?

[@carlosbarajas382]

Would it be possible to use a sump and a canister filter but use a canister filter as a media reactor?

[@jondeguzman9116]

What is the size size of your tank and also your sump?

[@747maran]

Wow, great informative video, breaks down what is necessary and what’s not, thank you for the upload, one of the best I’ve seen

[@Bigpoecilia]

Great video as usual. Your Altums are growing well. They are larger than mine and much younger.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! Our Altums seem to benefit from all the extra food they get because of discus:)

[@bigdweeb7829]

Looking to move from cannister to sump for my freshwater set-up. Lots of information and education for us newbies . Thank you :)

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! Good luck with the sump!

[@jayantmurbade5892]

Very good sump filtration systemu have. I am using RO filter water for every water change weekly 30 to 40%. I have planted tank with manacparu angels and tetra fishes. Is there any issues with using RO water. like any lack of mineral issues ? If yes what should I add after water change. Your help much appreciated.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! How hard is your tap water? You will only need RO if your tap water is at pH 8 or higher. You can mix RO with a small amount (initially about 10%) of tap water to add some minerals.

[@jayantmurbade5892]

@@tropicalfishhub Thank you. I will try this.

[@ABD4VIDS]

Excellent explanation and information!! Thank you!! Now time for some upgrades on my system!

[@papy5504]

Very interesting video , do you use regular tape water or RO water for your water changes ? thx

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! I am using filtered tap water

[@pisces9194]

Hi Bro! You have utilised too much space of your cabinet for sump. Better try for raceway system for sump. Using acrylic partition too would help you in maintaining your cleaning purpose! It's not critics, It's for your next level and coming out of the box. Enjoy your work.

[@nate6390]

That tank stand has some bowing in the middle needs support 2x4s...very scary if u ask me

[@nurby1824]

Basically fill your sump up with course grade to fine grade following the flow.

[@gintonic5906]

I love your content man. No BS just pure knowledge

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you:)

[@corryncalhoun6867]

Are the glass dividers important? It's hard to see how the chambers are divided by them on the left side. I'm trying to set up one for my tank and I'm struggling to understand if they are necessary.

[@tropicalfishhub]

I think dividers are needed to slow water flow

[@corryncalhoun6867]

@@tropicalfishhubthank you! how are they arranged from left to right? Is it high (with the gap at the bottom) then low (gap at the top)?

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@corryncalhoun6867 Yes they are arranged exactly as you describe; high-low-low-high.

[@yukko4632]

Is your system quieter or louder than a canister filter of a corresponding wattage? Thank you!

[@tropicalfishhub]

I cannot hear the pump working at all, and the sump makes no noise at all

[@yukko4632]

@@tropicalfishhub Do you think you will hear a canister filter in the same circumstances? Or it might be unaudible as well? Sound is a problem for me. Theoretically submerged pump (in a sump) should be quieter that a canister filter. But it might have some extra sources of sound. From an entrance or an exit of an overflow pipes...

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@yukko4632 I think a quality canister could be about as quiet, but I might need a couple of them to fit all the bio media, so that would increase the amount of noise they produce. My overflow pipes used to be loud when the sump was new, but now they re probably covered with a layer of slime, so there is no sound at all!

[@neilviljoen270]

Very nice and neat set up. Thank you. I’ll be using this when I set up my first sump for Discus this weekend 🤩

[@obsessivecichliddisorder7258]

Your second last chamber is not doing much as the water is just flowing over the top of everything.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Well there is enough oxygen for the bacteria and that's all I want to achieve there;)

[@obsessivecichliddisorder7258]

@@tropicalfishhub but 90% of the water is not flowing through the media, no contact time so it’s pointless really as it’s all being bypassed up top and there would be very little oxygen down the bottom.

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@obsessivecichliddisorder7258 I'm pretty sure that the water goes first down then up and not just up in straight line. I can feel the flow when I put my hand on the bottom of this section. Actually there is more flow in there than in the inflow chamber. It flows down in a cascade then comes up

[@nalinfernando8184]

Beautiful tank 👍how Aften do you clean the sand

[@jameskennedy284]

Brilliant video this is going to help me so much. Thank you

[@ofirelbaz2309]

I'm a new sump user and your video helps me a lot. thank you!

[@discusnangels9292]

this video made my day, ossummmm insights...tnq

[@haymatr]

nice tank from MADREEFER fellow youtuber , liked and subscribed to help support your channel

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! I've done the same:)

[@nathanbrown8515]

My dirted planted tank has a sump and autowater change. Havent touched it other than ripping plants out and throwi g in the trash for almost 7 years now

[@kylelaughinghouse1893]

I've been running just sponge filters and an auto top off pump only downside is the what I call the vintage water look where the water gets a yellowish green tint to it not as crystal clear as my buddies sump

[@extremepsych]

Great video man. Thank you. I am in the process of setting up my own tank which was designed for reef but I just liked the idea of having a sump for my aquarium. Much to learn but it's exciting. I have always went natural on cleaning. Using plants and just having a well balanced system. But this tank is a whole other ball game...lol. So fat it's been a exciting experience and I don't even have water in it yet. Last month I knew I was gonna get this monster, so I went ahead and strengthen the floor where it will it. I have a crawl space so definitely needed too just for mental comfort, I went over kill of course. Anyhow, just got the stand together 2 days ago and finally found someone to help me get the tank on it today. Spent the entire evening running all the plumbing and most of the electrical, nice and neat. Also installed one of those TV LED strips inside cabinet which to be honest looks awesome, better than I expected. Figured would definitely make it easier to keep an eye on everything underneath. My biggest issue was trying to figure out what the hell was I supposed to do with all the extra space....lol. I have the small area which the manual calls the reception area, from there the water spill over to this other area which is 1st met by what is like a square cup holder, the 1st 2 have those socks you used and the next 2 have cups. From there spills over to another area that is completely empty...I suppose that's where I will put my media like you...Great idea by the way..then spills over to another area with a very rough spong which is a bubble killer...lol...then the return pump area. All of this is so darn cool...seriously. anyhow your video made me feel a little more understanding on what I will do now with sump. Thanks a bunch man.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Good luck with your project! It sounds very exciting. I'd certainly fill up all empty sump spaces with media just to maximize surface area of filtration

[@abhisheksalunke8903]

Great setup ❤

[@andrewgetty9478]

Why put your heater in with pump if pump drains that chamber heater will break

[@tropicalfishhub]

It never drains for me, my return pump can't work dry, so it stops pumping as soon as water level is low

[@veneshpillay2988]

Very informative video, thank you. What size tank is the main tank and what size is the sump tank?

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! Whole system is 460L, I cannot remember how large sump is.

[@rodbrittain6772]

Good video. Could you comment on the use of a bio pellet reactor for denitrification ?

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! I have never used it. I have always tried to use 'old school' methods of dealing with nitrates; water changes and riparian plants:)

[@michaladamski6039]

What about in the case of power cut ? It’s not gone overflow?

[@tropicalfishhub]

You should not overfill it, so you can first fill your sump.

[@courtneywhitt9971]

I am in the process of converting my 180 gal/40 gal sump from saltwater to freshwater. I wonder if I should continue to use my protein skimmer…thoughts? Pros or cons?

[@tropicalfishhub]

There is not much use of protein skimmer in freshwater unless you use it in koi ponds or tanks with monster fish. The softer your water the less efficient it will be.

[@eatsalad728]

@@tropicalfishhubwhy would monster fish benefit from it?

[@tylermorrison497]

Gru?

[@jojocool555]

Absolute brilliant Vid ! How do you do a water change with a sump, from the tank or the sump. I guess the tank as if you ater change from the sump, the media would be out of water for a few minutes ? ? Thanks.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you! I turn off the pump right before a water change allowing the sump to fill up, and I syphon water out of the tank. There is still an air stone working in the sump providing oxygen to the media. It shouldn't be a problem though to expose media to air for an hour or so, as long as it stays wet bacteria will live.

[@jojocool555]

@@tropicalfishhub Excellent answer, thank you. I feel I can have a go at setting up a sump in my tropical tank now. Have you made your own sump out of an old tank,,,,,,,that would be a great video. x x

[@argonaut04c4]

Great video man! Keep making good stuff like this as it helps beginners like me! Will definitely replicate your setup or as close to it as possible.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you:) I'm glad it was helpful!

[@GreenSaxon]

Excellent film.. Very informative and just what i needed to start my understanding of this type of aquarium set up.

[@Teamlastofus]

Good shit man. Subbed👍

[@tropicalfishhub]

Thank you!

[@sir_psykoo3997]

Do you have a pump in ur out flow?.or does gravity do its things?.

[@tropicalfishhub]

there is no pump in outflow, there is drain.

[@sumanth6000]

@@tropicalfishhub pls make a video on ur tank drain system, and what is the device name, tnx in advance

[@marcbenoeraguindin7606]

Hi. I'm having some problem with my setup. I'm using a pump with 2000 l/hr for my inflow and a 3500 l/hr for my outflow pump. The thing is, it drains more water from my 65 gallon tank then send it to the sump tank which eventually filled up though it didn't overflow cause im being cautious, I'm still being bother by the fact that it happens. Can you please help? I would appreciate any advice as this is my first time setting up a undertank sump for my planted aquarium. I filled my tank almost full and half the volume on the sump tank. 65 gallon - main tank 30 gallons - sump tank with only 3 chambers

[@tropicalfishhub]

I don't have pump on outflow, it drains through the pipe in the bottom of the tank, so it is easier for me. May be you need to regulate both inflow and outflow until they are both at the acceptable rate, that's the only way I can think of.

[@marcbenoeraguindin7606]

@@tropicalfishhub thank you for your time man. More likes and subscriptions to you 🍻🍻🍻

[@erikv1974]

Using a pump for outflow seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Why not drill the tank?

[@edmundooliver7584]

why can't you use gravity to siphon water to your sump?

[@GCperfect]

What is your ph? I have similar setup. But, the filter media I am using keep raising the ph higher than I want.

[@tropicalfishhub]

My pH is at about 6

[@GCperfect]

@@tropicalfishhub what filter media did you use? Seachem matrix and eheim substrate pro?

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@GCperfect yes and also alfagrog and red lava rock

[@Xephaholic]

In my country , we use clams shells as a way to keep the PH regulated , could be easily seen in all the fish stores here as well! or you could try the seachem natural regulator etc depending on which fish species youre keeping ;)

[@zero15388]

Hi, I am a complete beginner. How do you get the water down into the sump? Is it just gravity, or some kind of pump?

[@tropicalfishhub]

It is always gravity, as soon as your water level reaches outflow/drainage pipes the water will flow down.

[@zero15388]

@@tropicalfishhub so is there a chance that if your pump failed taking it back to the tank, it would overflow everywhere?

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@zero15388 as long as water level in your sump is well estimated, it should not overflow. I switch off my pump every time when making water changes.

[@zero15388]

@@tropicalfishhub the outflow pump and your main filter pump? What outflow pump do you use?

[@tropicalfishhub]

@@zero15388 I have eheim 3000 compact on pump

[@Mrblisticknife]

Great video ill be building a sump for a 29 gallon freshwater planted aquarium. Planing on doing a 10-15 gallon sump.

[@tropicalfishhub]

Sounds like a great project:) good luck! You have beautiful tanks.

[@Bellyup6969]

A beginner guide,,, uhmmm yeah ok