RO water essential ?

[methical]

sorry this may sound completely NOOB having no experience at all in marine tanks but would like to start one in the future

i was just wondering is RO water essential in a marine set up ?

 

[reilersjr]

From everything that I've ready, tap water will only cause you problems with algae.

 

[methical]

sorry perhaps this is asking too much

but i have been trying to get my head around making a sump and i don't understand the instructions given on the pinned thread

what exactly is a sump used for ?

 

[leanne]

Tapwater can have high phosphate levels which can cause algae problems (and fish problems I think?) RO water is "pure".

A sump is basically a hidden tank. It is connected to your main tank via pipes and the water is cycled between them. It serves 2 purposes 1) to hide all the ugly equipment 2) to increase the volume of water in circulation (and therefore making the tank more stable).

Does that help any??

 

[methical]

yeah for sure

so ur saying u can put the heater etc etc in it and leave ur tank wire free ??

nice nice i have a spare 10 gallon in the shed and a few power heads

as u can see i'm in the process of collecting equiptment to create a saltwater set up

thanx for the advice

 

[ade]

Methical,

My understanding is that you can cut down on the amount of equipment on show - ie have the filter completely hidden - my tank has now sump, and whilst the filter is in the cupboard, I still have the inlet/outlet pipes showing.

But it certainly can't hide everything and leave the tank wire-free - even if the heater can go in there, which I personally am not sure if it can or not - would like it if it could. But don't forget you'll not escape the wires for powerheads for instance. But assuming the heater, filter, skimmer etc can be hidden away then powerheads are the only thing I can think of that would still be "on show".

Rgds

Ade

 

[Stryker]

A sump has many uses, some also have the sump on display.

1) Adds water volume to your system
2) Can house all the equipment, yes inc heater
3) Vastly improves airiation, esp where the sump is a few feet below the display tank.
4) When you mess with kit your not disturbing your fishes.
5) Evapouration does not lower the water in your tank, only the sump!
6) When adding meds, water changes etc you can do it in your sump giving it time to mix with existing tank water (less shock for the fish).
7) It can be used as a refuge for scavenger fish like ghost shrimp. Handy if you cant do that in the display tank owing to your fish eating them.
8) Can be used as temporary home for a weak fish or a bully fish to cool off for that matter, big advantage here as you are seperating the fish while keeping it in the same water, hence no shock.

Is that enough to be going with?

 

[Stryker]

The mechanics. (assumed sump below tank).

Your tank overflows into a sump below. The overflow is either done with a drilled tank with over flow pipe fitted or a hang on the side syphon. The hang on the side unit is designed to maintain syphon at ALL times and to only allow as much water out as has been put in.

The sump has a pump that pumps water up into the display tank....

hence you have a cycle, hence the water goes round and round.

 

[methical]

that makes sense

i'll probably start my saltwater next yr but it dun hurt to prepare first right