Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Dear Bob,
I have been reviewing your columns in my back issues of FAMA and decided to try to set up a saltwater tank with a live sand filter. I have years of experience with a variety of freshwater fishes, but have not taken the plunge into the marine world for one simple reason. I live overseas on an island in the Pacific, which has no support for saltwater hobbyists and minimal support for freshwater hobbyists. I can purchase small aquariums, powerheads, and air pumps, but not much more is available commercially. I want to set up a saltwater tank (about18 gallons) with a sump (about 50 gallons). A rubber type container with a lid will be used as the sump. What do you think about setting up a live sand plenum filter in the sump without any lighting? This will leave more room in the display tank. The water and everything else that goes in the tank will have to come from, you guessed it, the beach. Of course, I will need to check to ensure I don't violate any laws. Any additional advice that you offer would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for taking the time to reply.
Sincerely
Ray
Jejudo, Japan
Hi Ray,
Thanks for your email and as for the interconnected sump being used mainly as a biological live sand plenum-type filter (refugium), it should work nicely. And, keeping it somewhat in the dark should prevent unwanted cyanobacteria or microalgae from becoming a nuisance in this area. However, I would not seal the top of this rubber container with a tightly closed lid. You want good gas exchange and a simple aerator in this container would be quite useful.
I would also recommend placing some live rock or coral rubble in this 'sump' to provide additional biological filtration. Yet not too much as to block the majority of its sandbed surface. You may also want to consider some minor animal life in the sump area if this is to be a cool water system, such as crustaceans from the Island's surrounding waters. Maintain the sump area as needed, as basically it's no different than the main system. It's a small world by itself. Keep in mind it also needs good water movement, as does the main system
For appearance sake, the main system's bottom would only need a very shallow covering of sand, probably less than a quarter inch would suffice. Sounds like an interesting project.
Hope this helps and please keep me posted.
Bob
