Sump Design Issue

[rldcpa]

I am having trouble completing the sump design for my tank maker.

I have 4 sections to the 60x18 sump:

section 1 - auto-refill (21 gallons) 15"
section 2 - skimmer and 7" sock section 16"

bubble traps and glass - 4"

section 3 - pump section 8"
section 4 - refugium 17"

The problem is possibly with section 2 (skimmer and 7" sock). Skimmer footprints are large. Of the ones I am considering they are 16x16 or 14x13 or 11x14 or 12x14. The 7" sock with holder is about 8"x8".

From your actual sumps, how do you fit the sock in with the sump since they fill most of the area? Or is there room for a 8x8 sock within the footprint area of the skimmer.

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

[rldcpa]

Hopefully someone can help me with this.

[thegrun]

Each skimmer is different but many would allow room for the filter sock(s) to overhang their footprint. You need to pull up the specifications and pictures of the individual skimmers you are considering to be sure.

[Whyley]

Understand I have no idea what I'm talking about but I do know mechanics. When you say section 1 is your auto refill. Do you mean auto top off? If so you will be introducing nice clean RO/DI water for your skimmer to process there by diminishing its effectiveness. Further to that its my understanding that the use of "socks" is just a place for your system to create nitrite/phosphorus. Any negative or beneficial critters will be caught just die and add compounds you don't want to you system. I'm lazy. Your going to have to clean that sock on a regular basis to prevent excess ugly from entering your tank. Wish I could reference the link I read that at but I can't edit my tank build page to keep track of anything.

Please look into it
Why

[thegrun]

Originally Posted by Whyley

Understand I have no idea what I'm talking about but I do know mechanics. When you say section 1 is your auto refill. Do you mean auto top off? If so you will be introducing nice clean RO/DI water for your skimmer to process there by diminishing its effectiveness. Further to that its my understanding that the use of "socks" is just a place for your system to create nitrite/phosphorus. Any negative or beneficial critters will be caught just die and add compounds you don't want to you system. I'm lazy. Your going to have to clean that sock on a regular basis to prevent excess ugly from entering your tank. Wish I could reference the link I read that at but I can't edit my tank build page to keep track of anything.

Please look into it
Why

I believe the first chamber is simply the storage for top off water. I agree that the top off water is best injected into the return pump section.
I like to use filter socks and have done so for many years. They do need to be cleaned 2-3 times a week. If you can't keep up the maintenance I agree that they shouldn't be used, but if you do keep them clean you pull a lot of junk out of the tank that your skimmer and bio-filtration don't have to deal with.