Today i was kindly given a plastic purpose built sump. The Kind Sir also gave me a uv filter and the pump for the sump too.

I had the idea that i can use this with my 5 foot Crenicichla tank. The tank has already been drilled which is very useful, I am in need of a few basic pointers on how to get this beast running. The UV light didnt come with a tube so i am in need of one of these, i think it is a T5 kind of tube with small end fittings, Where is my best bet to pick up one of these within reasonable cost.

Also how can i go about with hosing the tank to the sump, i have no tubings to fit the outlet pump to the tank or the uv light.
Any other pointers on what to fill the sump with would be of great help, i am thinking of some sort of peat run-through with plants.

Thanks for takin a butchers, im sure i will get some useful replys!

Thanks chaps

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Dom

Dom you lucky fella, nice bit of kit by the sounds of it.

Firstly I know nothing about Crenicichla (except there beautiful looking fish) so I'm not sure about adding peat to the sump. Although I have heard of other guys doing it. I'm not a pro on sumps and media but having got hold of one a while ago I did a lot of reading so know a bit.

Where is your tank drilled? base or up top? if its the base then cool, if its towards the top i think you'll need an overflox box.

Any idea what return pump it is? Has that got pipework with it? If not take it with you to the LFS and get some piping, it's not too dear I got about 5ft for a fiver.

I have a sump running on my 6fter. I got mine 2nd hand and it came with sponges and bio balls. I read up quite a lot on best things to use in terms of media and the best thing to use in term of value for money and effectiveness is scrubbies, you know the things people do washing up with? not the wire ones but the plastic ones. I went to the pound shop and got a load for a tenner, and I mean lots and lots. There meant to be the best bio media available on the cheap.

Scouring pads are good too as long as they haven't got any writing printed on them or anything else that could leach out nasty chems.

I've been running scrubbies, sponge and bio balls for ages but one thing that i recently only started doing (as per advice from grandad) was to have a filter sock over the inlet pipe to the sump and to use "PURA PHOSLOCK", I'm not usually one for chemicals unless theres a problem. But a little bit of this gear in the filter sock has done wonders for my water parameters. It is expensive but you only use very little and its lasts a long long time.

Get some pic's up of the kit if your able to?

Hope some of that's of use mate.

Yeah i will get some pictures in the morning mate, thanks for the good info.

It has some strange plastic circles in the main compartment, but theres still some space for media, there is a compartment straight below the inlet pipe with a drip tray, this looks like a good place to put some more media too.

I will take your advice and start looking for some pads tomorrow, firstly i will upload some pictures so you can get an idea of what goes where.

Thanks a lot buddy!

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Dom

Pete, i went into the fish shop today and they were showing me through the tubings etc they supplied, some of them were a total jip. Is there anywhere else i can get these fittings and pipes??

Also i found a tube for the uv filter, it was only roughly 9 pounds which isnt bad at all compared to what i expected it to cost

I will get them pictures for you tonight boss....

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Dom

Ah cool stuff Dom, good work on the cheap UV tube! Was it from the net or a local shop?

The tubings they were trying to do you...Were they showing you ones wrapped and in a packet? like one's that were pre wrapped in plastic from the manufacturer etc? Cos my LFS has them like that with the "brand" name written all over them and yeah they are well expensive.

But my gaff they got a load of rolls where you just cut off your own length and theres no branding or anything like that, just clear tube or black tube. If your lfs don't have it you could try your local plumbers merchant/hardware type shop. They should have something. But make sure to take your pump and what not with you as the fitment has to be exact. I measured mine then went to buy the tubing and got the wrong size by like .10mm! So yeah don't do what I did, although that spare bit of tubing is now handy for WC's!

Bet you can't wait to have it set up on your tank, gonna be cool stuff mate with that UV rigged up too!

Look forward to seeing the pic's mate.

Take it easy.

Pete

looks like peter is doing a fine job sorting you out dom,( if you know what I mean ) always cheaper from the buildersand plumbers merchants , look forward to seeing the pictures

hows the little beardy getting on dom ?

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senile old git

Yeah he's good grandad! eating plenty like usual, i will get some nice pics of his home soon. cheers for asking.

Thanks again chaps!

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Dom

Ah Dom

Get some pic's of the Crenicichla too!