radical question about sump design

fishgate · 01/11/2012, 06:41 AM

How bad would it be to skip all the compartments in a sump and just run in from the DT on one end and out to the DT on the other end? I have read what each of these compartments does, and I can see the benefits of them, but it seems to me that just running it through the sump without any separating should also provide adequate filtration. So all of the same components - skimmer, reactors, live rock, DSB, etc - just no separation. I was envisioning a 55 gallon sump filled about 1/2 way. The longer the better with this design.

Has anyone tried this? Is this just crazy talk?

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/11/2012, 07:09 AM

It depends entirely on what you want the sump to accomplish and the compatibility of the devices attached to it or in it, but many folks do not have dividers in their sump.

psusocr · 01/11/2012, 07:25 AM

its not crazy but are you going to have your skimmer in sump? return pumps etc? you may carry through alot of detrius and/or micro bubbles through the sump into the DT..other than that you can do it, but as randy stated it al depends on your goals.

aqua80 · 01/11/2012, 07:51 AM

mine is pretty simple too : 1 separation for the skimmer chamber to have a stable level of water...
the second one is optional but helps keeping the return pump free of detritus etc...

sirreal63 · 01/11/2012, 10:27 AM

If the sump is large enough it will not a problem. I use a 40 gallon container and have used a baffle free sump for a very long time. Detrious settles in the same spot and I vac it out with water changes. The only issue you could have is your skimmer, if it is not recirculating you will need to have it in a separate container that drains to the level the skimmer requires. I recently switched to a non-recirculating skimmer and just put a smaller plastic tub that the overflow drains into and cut holes in the tub for it to drain at the correct height for the skimmer. Chaeto is held in place just before the return pump and grows great.

It is not for everyone, but you can do it. Slow flow through the sump helps, if you try and crank the flow high you may get bubbles in the return. Mine is set up so the flow is around the perimeter of the sump and do not get microbubbles, also the Chaeto being right before the return will help stop them.

sunlitreef · 01/11/2012, 10:57 AM

No dividers for me. I did it so I could do water changes out of the sump without turning the pumps off.

mc-cro · 01/12/2012, 08:53 PM

Its fine. I have used open sumps with no dividers for years. there is nothing wrong with dividers, and may even necessary on small tight set ups, but I prefer leaving it open

mc-cro · 01/12/2012, 08:54 PM

slow RC and double posts

tkeracer619 · 01/13/2012, 11:34 AM

I have one baffle at the end of the sump. It is a 6 foot long 120g though so I have a lot of room to get rid of bubbles from the skimmer.

01/11/2012, 06:41 AM	#1
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	radical question about sump design How bad would it be to skip all the compartments in a sump and just run in from the DT on one end and out to the DT on the other end? I have read what each of these compartments does, and I can see the benefits of them, but it seems to me that just running it through the sump without any separating should also provide adequate filtration. So all of the same components - skimmer, reactors, live rock, DSB, etc - just no separation. I was envisioning a 55 gallon sump filled about 1/2 way. The longer the better with this design. Has anyone tried this? Is this just crazy talk? __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

01/11/2012, 07:09 AM	#2
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	It depends entirely on what you want the sump to accomplish and the compatibility of the devices attached to it or in it, but many folks do not have dividers in their sump. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/11/2012, 07:25 AM	#3
psusocr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NEPA Posts: 1,080	its not crazy but are you going to have your skimmer in sump? return pumps etc? you may carry through alot of detrius and/or micro bubbles through the sump into the DT..other than that you can do it, but as randy stated it al depends on your goals. __________________ -BN- Current Tank Info: Custom 300 in-wall mixed reef, SRO Diablo DCRS EXT 250 Skimmer ,LED's with 6' VHO Actinics, Custom fuge, (2)Tunze 6105's (2)Tunze 6095's on Tunze 7095 controller, MRC CR-4 Dual, ATO & Aquacontroller III

01/11/2012, 07:51 AM	#4
aqua80 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Quebec city, Canada Posts: 577	mine is pretty simple too : 1 separation for the skimmer chamber to have a stable level of water... the second one is optional but helps keeping the return pump free of detritus etc... __________________ 93g 30x30x24 running since 2010/06 \| sump 40g \| frag tank 9g \| RLSS 6i \| mp40/tunze 6095/wp-25 \| Giesemann Spectra MH250w radium/4t5ho \|

01/11/2012, 10:27 AM	#5
sirreal63 Go Spurs Go!!! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Meadowlakes Texas Posts: 13,357	If the sump is large enough it will not a problem. I use a 40 gallon container and have used a baffle free sump for a very long time. Detrious settles in the same spot and I vac it out with water changes. The only issue you could have is your skimmer, if it is not recirculating you will need to have it in a separate container that drains to the level the skimmer requires. I recently switched to a non-recirculating skimmer and just put a smaller plastic tub that the overflow drains into and cut holes in the tub for it to drain at the correct height for the skimmer. Chaeto is held in place just before the return pump and grows great. It is not for everyone, but you can do it. Slow flow through the sump helps, if you try and crank the flow high you may get bubbles in the return. Mine is set up so the flow is around the perimeter of the sump and do not get microbubbles, also the Chaeto being right before the return will help stop them. __________________ Jack No One has ever been seriously injured by using the search function. Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency. Current Tank Info: Reefing the Pentagon.

01/11/2012, 10:57 AM	#6
sunlitreef Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Vista, North San Diego County Posts: 66	No dividers for me. I did it so I could do water changes out of the sump without turning the pumps off.

01/12/2012, 08:53 PM	#7
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	Its fine. I have used open sumps with no dividers for years. there is nothing wrong with dividers, and may even necessary on small tight set ups, but I prefer leaving it open __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

01/12/2012, 08:54 PM	#8
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	slow RC and double posts __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire Last edited by mc-cro; 01/12/2012 at 09:06 PM.

01/13/2012, 11:34 AM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I have one baffle at the end of the sump. It is a 6 foot long 120g though so I have a lot of room to get rid of bubbles from the skimmer. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

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