Sump upgrade

jimbo78 · 07/16/2008, 10:03 AM

I think I'm gonna switch out my 20g sump/fuge for a 29g so I can upgrade skimmers in the future. Right now my sump is set up left to right with the first section being the line from overflow and skimmer in the first section then the fuge section then bubble trap. Then return pump.

My question is what if any are the benifits to setting it up with the skimmer one one side return in the middle and the fuge on the other side. It seems like that way is just adding extra plumbing for no reason, but since I've seen so may like that I figure there must be a reason

stingythingy45 · 07/16/2008, 10:21 AM

Very simple.
You'll be splitting your overflow water(dirty water)between the refugium and the skimmer.Skimmers pull out some nutrients and chaeto growing in a refugium will pull out some more disolved nutrients.It would make no sense to send water that has already been skimmed through the refugium.The idea here is to give both the mechanical and natural filtration equal water flow.
I like the idea that the pods that live in the refugium along with other minute creatures get nutrients from the display that they need to survive and thrive.

IslandCrow · 07/16/2008, 10:37 AM

Or the water could just flow into the refugium first, then to the center section with the skimmer, and then to the last section for the return. I've seen quite a few people using the center section for the return, but I don't really see the benefit.

stingythingy45 · 07/16/2008, 11:03 AM

"I've seen quite a few people using the center section for the return, but I don't really see the benefit."

It works out pretty good if you have two corner overflows.That way you don't have to plumb them together and if one happens to clog up the other could still function.

IslandCrow · 07/16/2008, 11:08 AM

Ahh, that makes sense.

jimbo78 · 07/16/2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by stingythingy45
Very simple.
You'll be splitting your overflow water(dirty water)between the refugium and the skimmer.Skimmers pull out some nutrients and chaeto growing in a refugium will pull out some more disolved nutrients.It would make no sense to send water that has already been skimmed through the refugium.The idea here is to give both the mechanical and natural filtration equal water flow.
I like the idea that the pods that live in the refugium along with other minute creatures get nutrients from the display that they need to survive and thrive.

the way it now my cheato doesnt seem to be having a problem growing and the fuge is full of pods. wouldn't it make more sense for the dirty water to go through both kinda like going thru RO and then DI. i cant imagine a system that all of the water goes through the skimmer before passing to the return unlessyour overflow feeds directly into your skimmer which wouldn't work.

jimbo78 · 07/16/2008, 04:55 PM

any other opinions?

twoodall · 07/16/2008, 08:29 PM

I have been toying with the idea of redoing my sump/fuge set up all day. The return in the middle makes good sense to me, I have two overflows on my 150. I suppose you would need a bubble trap on both ends, knowing the that skimmer chamber wouldn't be helped by bubbles from the overflow. How would a the fuge end handle bubbles or would you consider a bubble traps there as well?

Man will the set up (refining) ever come to an end? :-)

07/16/2008, 10:03 AM	#1
jimbo78 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: miami Posts: 3,099	Sump upgrade I think I'm gonna switch out my 20g sump/fuge for a 29g so I can upgrade skimmers in the future. Right now my sump is set up left to right with the first section being the line from overflow and skimmer in the first section then the fuge section then bubble trap. Then return pump. My question is what if any are the benifits to setting it up with the skimmer one one side return in the middle and the fuge on the other side. It seems like that way is just adding extra plumbing for no reason, but since I've seen so may like that I figure there must be a reason __________________ Dive with sharks? Doesn't everyone. Current Tank Info: 60 cube

07/16/2008, 10:21 AM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Very simple. You'll be splitting your overflow water(dirty water)between the refugium and the skimmer.Skimmers pull out some nutrients and chaeto growing in a refugium will pull out some more disolved nutrients.It would make no sense to send water that has already been skimmed through the refugium.The idea here is to give both the mechanical and natural filtration equal water flow. I like the idea that the pods that live in the refugium along with other minute creatures get nutrients from the display that they need to survive and thrive. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

07/16/2008, 10:37 AM	#3
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Or the water could just flow into the refugium first, then to the center section with the skimmer, and then to the last section for the return. I've seen quite a few people using the center section for the return, but I don't really see the benefit. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/16/2008, 11:03 AM	#4
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	"I've seen quite a few people using the center section for the return, but I don't really see the benefit." It works out pretty good if you have two corner overflows.That way you don't have to plumb them together and if one happens to clog up the other could still function. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

07/16/2008, 11:08 AM	#5
IslandCrow Reef Monkey Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rockledge, Fl Posts: 5,759	Ahh, that makes sense. __________________ All opinions in the above message should be taken with 35 ppt salt. -Mike C. Current Tank Info: I have a reef screen saver on my phone, does that count?

07/16/2008, 04:55 PM	#7
jimbo78 Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: miami Posts: 3,099	any other opinions? __________________ Dive with sharks? Doesn't everyone. Current Tank Info: 60 cube

07/16/2008, 08:29 PM	#8
twoodall Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Marianna, FL Posts: 201	I have been toying with the idea of redoing my sump/fuge set up all day. The return in the middle makes good sense to me, I have two overflows on my 150. I suppose you would need a bubble trap on both ends, knowing the that skimmer chamber wouldn't be helped by bubbles from the overflow. How would a the fuge end handle bubbles or would you consider a bubble traps there as well? Man will the set up (refining) ever come to an end? :-) __________________ Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop drinking coffee..... Current Tank Info: 150 gallon, 3-150w MH, 4 96w Actinic, 4 Lunar Blue Moon Glow LEDs, Aquac EV180 skimmer w/ mag7, Mag18 return pump, 3 #4 Koralia, 250# LR, 3" Live Sand Bed, 55 G sump/fuge