Ecosystem Sump for a Trigon 190

[andyos]

Right then guys, I'm planning to go for a ecosystem sump for my Trigon 190, fed by an overflow, with a skimmer as an emergency backup.....

As you all probably know, the Trigon's cabinet doesn't lend itself well to sumping without some serious surgery :eek: However, I reckon that by taking out the centre divider I could fit a 18"x12"x15" (being 15" deep) sump in comfortably - not exactly massive, but would it be big enough to run as a miracle/Mineral based system? If so, could anyone offer up their sump design for this sort of size sump please?

I've had a look through member's tanks and I can't see anyone with a MM based Trigon, a few with skimmer based sumps and most of those are the larger 350's....I'm thinking that I could always suppliment the smallish sump with a Hang On refugium as well? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Cranners]

How big is the 190? I have a 200L tank which is run on a similar sized sump. You just have to harvest regularly to maximise the nutrient export

Regards

J

[andyos]

Hi Cranners, the Trigon 190 is 190 Litres, probably about 160 after displacement. Did you make you sump or buy it readymade? I'm looking at a stock size clearseal for about £17 and will add the baffles myself. Bioballs in first section, followed by Miracle or Mineral Mud, then a bubble stop baffle followed by return section....Just need to make sure the first section can take the pump for the AM skimmer just in case....

What sort of return pump do you use? I'm thinking of an Eheim 1250 probably coupled with a Tunze overflow....I wish I'd drilled it before I started :(

[dandee123]

hi i have a trigon 190 in beech forsale its drilled 40mm pipe work and sump for sale £100 and i live in yorkshire if intrested . cheers dan

[andyos]

hi i have a trigon 190 in beech forsale its drilled 40mm pipe work and sump for sale £100 and i live in yorkshire if intrested . cheers dan

I would have been, but mine's in black and I've spent so much on equipment, livestock, corals etc that I have to do "stealth" purchases and hope that SWMBO doesn't notice.....think she would if she came home to find the tank had changed colour :laugh:

Sounds like a cracking deal though, I'm sure it will fly out the window...thanks for offering.

What size is your sump, out of interest?

[Cranners]

I made the sump out of a berlin style filter sump - A clearseal tank
September 2008
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/9066/algaebedstart1ep8.jpg

November 2008
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3387/algaebed1ct4.jpg

i think the sump is the same size as yours.....

[Cranners]

I am using an OR3500 return pump

J

[dbairduk]

I have an 18" sump under my trigon 190. Fits well. I use about 1/2 of it for the fuge/DSB

[andyos]

Right then, I'm a step closer to sumping the Trigon....I've got a used Schuran overflow box and an Eheim 1260 return pump :D All I need now is the sump itself, some Miracle/Mineral mud and some Caulerpa....

I think I'm going to go with Caribsea Mineral Mud, my LFS has the the 1 Gallon tub for £20.95 - am I right in thinking this is about 5Kg? A local guy is helping with the sump design which will be based on a Clearseal 18" x 15" x 12" tank so I think one tub of Caribsea MM should do it?

LFS has offered some Caulerpa as they have a large MM based display tank. Lighting I think will be from a couple of energy saving bulbs.The only thing left to plan is getting the blasted centre support out of the Trigon cabinet without getting wet :whistling:

[porter_painter]

have a look at my tank thread mate. i don't have my dimensions here (at work) but my mud chamber is only small and took a whole tub of mineral mud.

all the best