Filtration/Sump setup

oakes · 11/16/2013, 03:52 PM

Currently in the process of setting up a 90gallon DT and possibly a 60gallon frag/separation tank both plumbed to the same sump. 90 gallon will be setup in living room on the main floor while the frag/separation tank and sump will be in the basement. I'm going to use a Rubbermaid stock tank as the sump but cannot decide which size to get. I'm thinking of getting the 150 gallon but was also thinking of getting two 100/150 gallon tanks and attaching them together but not sure how that would work. Any thoughts on this would be great. I'm planning on using the Reef Octopus Diablo DCS-250 in sump skimmer to handle the whole system.

Sethjamto · 11/16/2013, 04:15 PM

There are a thousand ways to skin a cat, its all up to what you want. You could have the DT on the main floor drain to the frag tank in the basement which then drains to the sump, with the return pump going from the sump back to the DT on the main floor. A single 150g stock tank will be plenty for the DT and frag tank combined, unless you wanted to have two stock tanks with one being a refugium.

oakes · 11/17/2013, 12:06 PM

I guess with being use to freshwater water needs to flow a certain direction but seems with saltwater it's not always so. If I had a separate refugium would that need to be before the sump with the skimmer? So it would be DT to frag to refugium to sump back to DT or if I had the DT and Frag go straight to the refugium then to the sump and back to both tanks.

MrHarvard · 11/17/2013, 12:29 PM

I would go with 2 tubs 1 fuge and 1 sump. I would have the DT drain into the frag tank then into the sump (with skimmer) then into the fuge tank and back to display. The reason to have the sump first is I wouldnt want any mico bubbles being that close to the return so any should be gone by the time they go through the fuge and also you are going to want slower flow through your fuge tub. I would use a gate valve or something to slow the flow through the fuge. Also having the skimmer before the fuge keeps from getting macro algae in your skimmer and also having pods get sucked up into the skimmer. Hope this helps!

oakes · 11/20/2013, 09:16 PM

Ended up going with two 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tanks, working on getting those where I want them. Need to build a stand for one and then I should be able to determine flow. Resealed my 90gallon DT tank the other night going to let that cure for a few more days then start a water leak test on it while it is still in the basement. This should give me time to get more equipment and rock/sand.

11/16/2013, 03:52 PM	#1
oakes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 67	Filtration/Sump setup Currently in the process of setting up a 90gallon DT and possibly a 60gallon frag/separation tank both plumbed to the same sump. 90 gallon will be setup in living room on the main floor while the frag/separation tank and sump will be in the basement. I'm going to use a Rubbermaid stock tank as the sump but cannot decide which size to get. I'm thinking of getting the 150 gallon but was also thinking of getting two 100/150 gallon tanks and attaching them together but not sure how that would work. Any thoughts on this would be great. I'm planning on using the Reef Octopus Diablo DCS-250 in sump skimmer to handle the whole system.

11/16/2013, 04:15 PM	#2
Sethjamto Registered Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 845	There are a thousand ways to skin a cat, its all up to what you want. You could have the DT on the main floor drain to the frag tank in the basement which then drains to the sump, with the return pump going from the sump back to the DT on the main floor. A single 150g stock tank will be plenty for the DT and frag tank combined, unless you wanted to have two stock tanks with one being a refugium. __________________ 8ft 300g, Reeflo Dart Gold return, MRC 48" High-flo reef sump, MRC MR4 dual beckett Skimmer, (2) Reefbreeders Photon 48's, Reef Angel, LMIII continuous water change/ATO setup..

11/17/2013, 12:29 PM	#4
MrHarvard "ship it" Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Tampa/Westchase Posts: 2,951	I would go with 2 tubs 1 fuge and 1 sump. I would have the DT drain into the frag tank then into the sump (with skimmer) then into the fuge tank and back to display. The reason to have the sump first is I wouldnt want any mico bubbles being that close to the return so any should be gone by the time they go through the fuge and also you are going to want slower flow through your fuge tub. I would use a gate valve or something to slow the flow through the fuge. Also having the skimmer before the fuge keeps from getting macro algae in your skimmer and also having pods get sucked up into the skimmer. Hope this helps! __________________ "You gon learn today!" Current Tank Info: SPS Dominant 29g BB Rimless Bio Cube lit by 2x AI Primes, IM desktop Reactor, Tunze ATO, Tunze. 9001 skimmer ........ 40g Breeder with 20g long sump/refugium. ATI 4 bulb T5s....Mixed reef stock heavy on SPS.

11/17/2013, 12:06 PM	#3
oakes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 67	I guess with being use to freshwater water needs to flow a certain direction but seems with saltwater it's not always so. If I had a separate refugium would that need to be before the sump with the skimmer? So it would be DT to frag to refugium to sump back to DT or if I had the DT and Frag go straight to the refugium then to the sump and back to both tanks.

11/20/2013, 09:16 PM	#5
oakes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Virginia Posts: 67	Ended up going with two 100 gallon rubbermaid stock tanks, working on getting those where I want them. Need to build a stand for one and then I should be able to determine flow. Resealed my 90gallon DT tank the other night going to let that cure for a few more days then start a water leak test on it while it is still in the basement. This should give me time to get more equipment and rock/sand.