Sump design help

Bike2k · 08/31/2012, 06:28 PM

I have a 75g DT that I am building a sump for. I have a 20g long tank that I will be using. reading the forums there seems to be two basic types of sump design used. I am not sure if there are any benefits to using one over the other. Below are the two layouts I'm talking about.

Which one would be better and why?

your help and comments are greatly appreciated.

thanks in advance

tanzer16 · 09/01/2012, 09:01 AM

i'm contemplating the same issue with a 20g long sump for a 55g display. the more i read, the more i like having the return in the center and then putting in a tee to feed and control the flow through the fuge. the only concern i have is that i already bought my return pump, which i figured with head loss would give me approximately 5x turnover through my sump......i'm afraid if i put a tee in the return line, it will detract too much flow from the turnover i calculated. there's another thread going in DIY forum concerning this as well....check it out

tanzer16 · 09/01/2012, 09:08 AM

i may incorrect in this.....but looking at your sump diagram B, there is no need for a tee in the return line in this configuration. others can chime in, but i think some people in that configuration put a tee in the drain line and feed the fuge about 25% of the drain water. i'd be concerned about putting a tee in though if you have only one drain line

jlv0lpk · 09/02/2012, 08:34 AM

Go with design A, if you want a refugium. I see more setups like option "A" that incorporate a refugium. Also, if you do want a refugium, you will be able to control the flow better in design "A". Try to minimize you return area for the pump. You can also use the t to feed a media filter.

Bike2k · 09/03/2012, 08:59 AM

Do you think in design 'A' there should e a bubble trap between the fuge and the return pump?

jlv0lpk · 09/03/2012, 09:13 AM

I wouldn't put one there. Keep the flow into the refugium low and it should not be a concern.

nemosworld · 09/03/2012, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlv0lpk

I wouldn't put one there. Keep the flow into the refugium low and it should not be a concern.

I agree with everything you said.
on small sumps i see no reason for bubble traps as the flow through the sump should not be that high, if you have a high turnover in a small sump, then you will deal with the water fall sound and bubbles with or without traps and also salt creep/spray.

jimmy_beaner · 09/03/2012, 09:37 AM

Why are you feeding the fuge from the return instead of the drain? In theory, the return water is "cleaner" than the drain water.

08/31/2012, 06:28 PM	#1
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Sump design help I have a 75g DT that I am building a sump for. I have a 20g long tank that I will be using. reading the forums there seems to be two basic types of sump design used. I am not sure if there are any benefits to using one over the other. Below are the two layouts I'm talking about. Which one would be better and why? your help and comments are greatly appreciated. thanks in advance __________________ Bike2k Water parameters:PH: 8.0, SG:1.025, Ammonia:0, NO2:0, NO3:5, PO4:0.08,dKH:6.2,Ca :375,Mg:1080__75g DT, Solarmax H.O. (2) 54 watt T5 lights & night LEDs, RO NWB-150 skimmer, Eheim 1262 main pum

09/03/2012, 08:59 AM	#5
Bike2k Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Plantation, FL Posts: 251	Do you think in design 'A' there should e a bubble trap between the fuge and the return pump? __________________ Bike2k Water parameters:PH: 8.0, SG:1.025, Ammonia:0, NO2:0, NO3:5, PO4:0.08,dKH:6.2,Ca :375,Mg:1080__75g DT, Solarmax H.O. (2) 54 watt T5 lights & night LEDs, RO NWB-150 skimmer, Eheim 1262 main pum

09/01/2012, 09:01 AM	#2
tanzer16 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: mountain top, pa Posts: 221	i'm contemplating the same issue with a 20g long sump for a 55g display. the more i read, the more i like having the return in the center and then putting in a tee to feed and control the flow through the fuge. the only concern i have is that i already bought my return pump, which i figured with head loss would give me approximately 5x turnover through my sump......i'm afraid if i put a tee in the return line, it will detract too much flow from the turnover i calculated. there's another thread going in DIY forum concerning this as well....check it out

09/01/2012, 09:08 AM	#3
tanzer16 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: mountain top, pa Posts: 221	i may incorrect in this.....but looking at your sump diagram B, there is no need for a tee in the return line in this configuration. others can chime in, but i think some people in that configuration put a tee in the drain line and feed the fuge about 25% of the drain water. i'd be concerned about putting a tee in though if you have only one drain line

09/02/2012, 08:34 AM	#4
jlv0lpk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wellington, FL Posts: 7	Go with design A, if you want a refugium. I see more setups like option "A" that incorporate a refugium. Also, if you do want a refugium, you will be able to control the flow better in design "A". Try to minimize you return area for the pump. You can also use the t to feed a media filter.

09/03/2012, 09:13 AM	#6
jlv0lpk Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wellington, FL Posts: 7	I wouldn't put one there. Keep the flow into the refugium low and it should not be a concern.

09/03/2012, 09:37 AM	#8
jimmy_beaner Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Clive, IA Posts: 692	Why are you feeding the fuge from the return instead of the drain? In theory, the return water is "cleaner" than the drain water.