View Full Version : Sump Area of Savannah Monitor Enclosure
AjaMichelle
11-03-12, 01:24 AM
The sump/filter area of my savannah monitor enclosure in photos...
The pool is connected to the sump via a gravity siphon (overflow). The water is then filtered out of the sump and pumped back into the pond. The system has a total water volume of 40 gallons (the pond is 20 gallons and the sump is 20 gallons).
That Mopani driftwood is no longer in the pond. Apparently the rule about burrowing under heavy objects applies to water features too.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure/PA100008.jpg
20 gallons of water weighs roughly 175 pounds. I didn't want the pond sitting on the substrate, thereby creating a crushing hazard, so the pond is fixed to a shelf.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P8150334.jpg
Underside of the sump shelf
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P8310447.jpg
Shelf with FRP (fiber reinforced plastic)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9090473.jpg
Tub on the shelf. This is a mortar mixing tub from Lowe's
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/IMG_1534.jpg
Connection from the pump/filter to the pond
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9150482-1.jpg
Through this hole
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9150481.jpg
Connection under the enclosure to the pump/filter.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160498.jpg
infernalis
11-03-12, 04:33 AM
Impressive attention to detail.
marvelfreak
11-03-12, 12:42 PM
Very nicely done.
BarelyBreathing
11-03-12, 01:05 PM
Excellent!
Palaciosivan
11-03-12, 05:37 PM
Very nice!
Palaciosivan
11-03-12, 05:38 PM
What kind of filter are you using?
Pirarucu
11-03-12, 08:42 PM
Very well done!
AjaMichelle
11-03-12, 10:33 PM
Thank you all for your kind words! :)
I have more photos!
The sump tank is divided into three sections to manipulate water flow. The divisions prevent the pump from becoming clogged by vegetation and from taking in sand, and keep the sediment in place.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160493.jpg
Right division lessens the force with which the water enters the sump thereby protecting the substrate and plants in the center.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160494.jpg
The left division protects the pump (and many of the fish).
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160497.jpg
The pump pulls water from the sump through the filter and returns it to the pond.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160500.jpg
Input from the pond into the sump, with a grow bulb to the left
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160499.jpg
Mulch added on top of the sand
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160502.jpg
More sand added on top of the mulch.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160506.jpg
AjaMichelle
11-03-12, 10:56 PM
Filling the sump
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160510.jpg
An alluvial fan begins to form! :)
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160511.jpg
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160517-1.jpg
This filter was chosen because it's way easier to use than the previous generation of Fluval filters, and considerably less expensive. It's rated for 55 gallons, and if this isn't enough filtration, filter extension modules can be added on.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160533.jpg
Before I added all of the substrate
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9240679.jpg
Current flow
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9210655.jpg
AjaMichelle
11-03-12, 10:58 PM
The sump tonight with plants, fish, and shrimp!
Forgive the glare, the grow bulb is really bright.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/IMG_1975.jpg
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/IMG_1976.jpg
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You have fish in there?! That is something I wouldn't have thought of. Don't the fish add to the stressing of the nitrogen cycle? I see the plants being beneficial as they would draw some out but don't fish just add more? Knowing you, you have researched this thoroughly, do I'm very interested to hear about it.
AjaMichelle
11-14-12, 11:42 PM
Hey! :) The fish help clean up the detritus that's settling in the sump. They may also be an occasional food item for my sav if they grow large enough.
They don't seem to contribute to the nitrate load at all. Whatever waste they're producing seems negligible compared to what my sav does in that pool. I'm doing 10 gallon water changes every week so everyone seems to be doing well. :)
Thats great! Love the total ecosystem aspect of it. Im guessing they are bottom feeders that you have in there, so they probably help break down the sav waste too. Do you do your own nitrate/trite testing and pH testing daily? How much does it fluctuate after each waste from your monitor? How long does it take to flatten out again? It seems like quite a lot of water, so Im curious if you can actually see the difference or if it doesnt spike at all.
jaleely
11-15-12, 02:41 PM
that's pretty awesome. I haven't researched fresh water sumps at all, we only have our saltwater one.
does the water level get low easily in the upper tank bin?
also, i can't see what fish are there in the bottom? i like the sand idea....but doesn't the mulch break down "too much" into the water and cause alot of detritus?
how long as this particular system been set up?
very cool, i'm very interested as well! I too know you'll have good answers LOL
shrimp are great for cleanup. do you have other bottom dwellers or snails or anything?
AjaMichelle
11-16-12, 08:40 PM
Thats great! Love the total ecosystem aspect of it. Im guessing they are bottom feeders that you have in there, so they probably help break down the sav waste too. Do you do your own nitrate/trite testing and pH testing daily? How much does it fluctuate after each waste from your monitor? How long does it take to flatten out again? It seems like quite a lot of water, so Im curious if you can actually see the difference or if it doesnt spike at all.
Thanks! :) I just have guppies for now because I wasn't sure how the system would work out or if it could handle the bio-load from Liam. However, it seems to be working out very well because my two fish just produced about twenty fry!!! I test the ammonia, nitrates, and pH every few days and the ammonia starts to increase toward the end of the week so I do a ten gallon water change every week, and that's been working out really well. :) It seems like the bio-media and bacteria can handle Liam very well. :) There don't seem to be any spikes at all. :)
that's pretty awesome. I haven't researched fresh water sumps at all, we only have our saltwater one.
does the water level get low easily in the upper tank bin?
also, i can't see what fish are there in the bottom? i like the sand idea....but doesn't the mulch break down "too much" into the water and cause alot of detritus?
how long as this particular system been set up?
very cool, i'm very interested as well! I too know you'll have good answers LOL
shrimp are great for cleanup. do you have other bottom dwellers or snails or anything?
The water level doesn't get low in the upper tank and it only drops about an inch over a week in the sump. When I made the video, there were only two fish. They're on the right near the outlet from the pond. The mulch hasn't broken down as far as I can tell. It provided nutrients for the plants while I was cycling the tank. I believe the water system has been running since September. I don't have my notes handy right now, so I don't have the date handy, but the system was cycled for over one month before livestock was added. I also have ghost shrimp and snails in the sump. :)
EMAC1990
11-17-12, 11:41 AM
Wow... I thought my enclosure looked pretty good...
jaleely
11-18-12, 12:07 AM
that's awesome. we were just discussing setting up our first freshwater sump. Ours would be a fish tank on top, but obviously the principle is the same. Very cool, girly! And thanks!
AjaMichelle
11-18-12, 01:54 AM
Thanks!!! :) Keep me updated on yours!!!
The sump/filter area of my savannah monitor enclosure in photos...
Connection under the enclosure to the pump/filter.
http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/r544/_AjaMichelle_/Savannah%20Monitor%20Enclosure%20Build/P9160498.jpg
That is so good =] did it cost much for the pump? I'm going to build my on Vivarium early next year and I'm keeping an eye out for ideas I can implement into mine and this would be such a good feature to have :)
beardeds4life
12-16-12, 04:22 PM
You should buy some feeder goldfish to put in the sump then as they get to big move them up to the top area so your sav can hunt them down. You could also buy like 15 feeder fish and just put them straight in the top. I think it would be enriching to let him catch a few of his own fish.
AjaMichelle
12-17-12, 12:55 AM
Goldfish and other members of that family aren't good to feed to reptiles because doing so results in vitamin B deficiencies (specifically thiamine).
infernalis
12-17-12, 02:41 AM
Goldfish and other members of that family aren't good to feed to reptiles because doing so results in vitamin B deficiencies (specifically thiamine).
http://www.reptard.info/aa/a.gif
beardeds4life
12-17-12, 10:23 PM
Oops some other type of fish then.
Mikey T
01-12-13, 12:06 AM
not to mention they have nasty sharp dorsal fins
AjaMichelle
01-12-13, 12:16 AM
That is so good =] did it cost much for the pump? I'm going to build my on Vivarium early next year and I'm keeping an eye out for ideas I can implement into mine and this would be such a good feature to have :)
The filter came with a pump and it was pretty inexpensive. I think I paid like $70 for the filter.
I love seeing how you've done this it's something I would love to do in my next build as Mr Rex will dirty the water as soon as he gets in it and it has to be changed very regularly. After looking it all seemed clear, but what I don't get is you have the pond in the vivarium that cycles fresh water but at the bottom do you have a normal pond with Fish in? if so what roles does that play in your pond? intrigued to understand as I want one myself =]
I love seeing how you've done this it's something I would love to do in my next build as Mr Rex will dirty the water as soon as he gets in it and it has to be changed very regularly. After looking it all seemed clear, but what I don't get is you have the pond in the vivarium that cycles fresh water but at the bottom do you have a normal pond with Fish in? if so what roles does that play in your pond? intrigued to understand as I want one myself =]
Oh I think I get it now, the glass part at the bottom is what is used to feed fresh water back into the pond, I was getting confused as you made not just a container area for fresh water but transformed it into a pond, I think from what I can remember you saying was the plants and fish help to keep the the water clean?
AjaMichelle
01-25-13, 11:37 AM
The aquarium under the enclosure is a sump tank, not a vivarium. :) The water in the pond is cycled first through the sump tank, is pumped through the filter, and then up into the pond inside of the enclosure, finally exiting the enclosure and returning to the sump tank.
The plants keep the water clean, the fish help clean up some of the detritus, but they're mostly around as monitor stimulation.
Update:
Some of the fish grew to over an inch and put on a lot of girth (for a guppy anyway) so I made a trap and moved them to the pond inside of the enclosure. Then they disappeared... so I'm guessing Liam ate them. I moved 10 fish to the pond and now 4 remain and they're tiny.
So the fishing activity was a success. :) I'm going to get some larger fish and try to record her technique. :)
The aquarium under the enclosure is a sump tank, not a vivarium. :) The water in the pond is cycled first through the sump tank, is pumped through the filter, and then up into the pond inside of the enclosure, finally exiting the enclosure and returning to the sump tank.
The plants keep the water clean, the fish help clean up some of the detritus, but they're mostly around as monitor stimulation.
Update:
Some of the fish grew to over an inch and put on a lot of girth (for a guppy anyway) so I made a trap and moved them to the pond inside of the enclosure. Then they disappeared... so I'm guessing Liam ate them. I moved 10 fish to the pond and now 4 remain and they're tiny.
So the fishing activity was a success. :) I'm going to get some larger fish and try to record her technique. :)
That's Brilliant! Would be really interesting to see a video of Liam getting the Fish =) and my bad I knew it wasn't a vivarium I meant to say fish tank :p but its actually a sump isn't it aha :p so when Liam gets soil an sand in the pond your filter collects it all? If so I have to have one of these!!! I have a nice clean fresh water bowl and over comes Mr Rex after an hour and its all dark again :(... Can't wait to see a video =D
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