Sump setup help needed...

freshera07 · 09/27/2007, 01:47 PM

Hey,

I need some help with setting up my sump. I have a 10g aga sump (20L x 10W x 12H) and was wondering how I should compartment it for best results.

What dimensions should I put each compartment? What I want is a drain chamber, return chamber and refugium chmaber.

Do I need baffles and if so how many and how should you I set it.

What about return pumps? What is the best? And how much gph rating should I get if I have 5-6ft of head height.

Whatever help you can give me will be deeply appreciated. Also I dont plan on using a skimmer but I'm not sure about future thoughts so keep that in mind.

Thank you so much in advance

jcpatella · 09/27/2007, 02:59 PM

Here is a diagram of the sump I had planned:

This was planned for a 10gal, but when I started to build it, I realized I had much less space than planned..... Basically, I dropped the idea of the refugium (for this sump) and put three baffles in the middle. The drain chamber contains my skimmer and is covered to prevent splashing. I have carbon in between two of my baffles (passive), two heaters in between the next baffles, and a return pump in the return chamber. Because it is a 10gal, my return chamber is quite small and the level of the water in there drops quickly (due to evaporation). I top-off every day (two days if I'm lucky). If you will be using a 10gal, you don't want too many gallons/hour flowing through - you'll never be able to calm the microbubbles.

I don't have any recommendations for the particular type of return pump you should use, but most of them come with a graph - letting you know how much flow they're rated for at different head lengths.

Good luck!

freshera07 · 09/27/2007, 05:16 PM

Thank you for your reply jc..

You saying that too much gph isnt good for the 10g so I was wondering what the best rating would be?

Also can't you fit in a refugium if you have 3 baffles(over->under->over spaced apart at 1 inch.

Again i also was wondering if I can put the return in the middle and then tee off the return to the refugium at the far most side so that the flow through the refug is low

thanks again

jubjub · 09/27/2007, 05:23 PM

i been doing reading and such and i actually finding out it seems like

is a better idea

jcpatella · 09/27/2007, 05:34 PM

I wouldn't say that too much flow isn't good, it's just such a small area for so much flow to be going through that it will be overwhelming. I have my pump (rated for 500gph @ 4 ft) turned down to about 300-350gph for two reasons: 1)Not enough time for baffles to catch bubbles 2)Too much splash in my overflow.
You could tee off your return (which is a good option to control the flow back into the tank) to the refugium if you have the space. The reason why I find my 10gal sump to be so limiting is that I have a skimmer in the drain chamber that takes up almost half of the sump. My return pump is submerged, so I had to make my return chamber large enough to house it. I could have squeezed a 2 inch refugium in the middle, but it wouldn't have been worth it.
Now, if you're not using a skimmer (like you mentioned above) and you use an external return pump, you'll be eliminating the two things that took up the most room in my 10gal, which should leave you with enough room in the middle for your refugium.

Kryptikhan · 09/27/2007, 05:42 PM

ghod this thread rules...finally a sketch...i learn visually so this is a big help. the real pics get real confusing....lol

Kryptikhan · 10/01/2007, 05:22 PM

Can someone show me where one would put either your bioballs, liverock or sand in these diagrams? First diagram would be the refuge right? but what about the second flow chart with middle return?
And would anyone go with a bioball set up with eggcrate on bottom bioball then eggcrate, plasti with holes then foam set up?

thx

jcpatella · 10/01/2007, 05:42 PM

I'm not sure about the bioballs - I have yet to hear anything good about them, so I personally don't use them.

Both pictures have a compartment labeled "refugium." Notice the refugium is surrounded by baffles that are on the bottom of the sump - this holds the sand.

Kryptikhan · 10/01/2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jcpatella
I'm not sure about the bioballs - I have yet to hear anything good about them, so I personally don't use them.

Both pictures have a compartment labeled "refugium." Notice the refugium is surrounded by baffles that are on the bottom of the sump - this holds the sand.

besides sand..i might use liverock. what else is missing in the sump? The baffles i thought could hold a foam pad, and possibly a carbon bag........

thx

jcpatella · 10/01/2007, 06:19 PM

I have a foam pad in between two of my baffles - to catch the larger stuff that goes through and to help minimize the microbubbles I'm currently battling. Also, I have my heaters and a carbon bag in between other baffles.

09/27/2007, 01:47 PM	#1
freshera07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 80	Sump setup help needed... Hey, I need some help with setting up my sump. I have a 10g aga sump (20L x 10W x 12H) and was wondering how I should compartment it for best results. What dimensions should I put each compartment? What I want is a drain chamber, return chamber and refugium chmaber. Do I need baffles and if so how many and how should you I set it. What about return pumps? What is the best? And how much gph rating should I get if I have 5-6ft of head height. Whatever help you can give me will be deeply appreciated. Also I dont plan on using a skimmer but I'm not sure about future thoughts so keep that in mind. Thank you so much in advance

09/27/2007, 02:59 PM	#2
jcpatella Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 814	Here is a diagram of the sump I had planned: This was planned for a 10gal, but when I started to build it, I realized I had much less space than planned..... Basically, I dropped the idea of the refugium (for this sump) and put three baffles in the middle. The drain chamber contains my skimmer and is covered to prevent splashing. I have carbon in between two of my baffles (passive), two heaters in between the next baffles, and a return pump in the return chamber. Because it is a 10gal, my return chamber is quite small and the level of the water in there drops quickly (due to evaporation). I top-off every day (two days if I'm lucky). If you will be using a 10gal, you don't want too many gallons/hour flowing through - you'll never be able to calm the microbubbles. I don't have any recommendations for the particular type of return pump you should use, but most of them come with a graph - letting you know how much flow they're rated for at different head lengths. Good luck! __________________ Dogs - Man's best friend; entropy's greatest catalyst. Current Tank Info: Biocube 8 on the way!

09/27/2007, 05:23 PM	#4
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	i been doing reading and such and i actually finding out it seems like is a better idea __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

09/27/2007, 05:34 PM	#5
jcpatella Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 814	I wouldn't say that too much flow isn't good, it's just such a small area for so much flow to be going through that it will be overwhelming. I have my pump (rated for 500gph @ 4 ft) turned down to about 300-350gph for two reasons: 1)Not enough time for baffles to catch bubbles 2)Too much splash in my overflow. You could tee off your return (which is a good option to control the flow back into the tank) to the refugium if you have the space. The reason why I find my 10gal sump to be so limiting is that I have a skimmer in the drain chamber that takes up almost half of the sump. My return pump is submerged, so I had to make my return chamber large enough to house it. I could have squeezed a 2 inch refugium in the middle, but it wouldn't have been worth it. Now, if you're not using a skimmer (like you mentioned above) and you use an external return pump, you'll be eliminating the two things that took up the most room in my 10gal, which should leave you with enough room in the middle for your refugium. __________________ Dogs - Man's best friend; entropy's greatest catalyst. Current Tank Info: Biocube 8 on the way!

09/27/2007, 05:42 PM	#6
Kryptikhan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North East Posts: 272	ghod this thread rules...finally a sketch...i learn visually so this is a big help. the real pics get real confusing....lol __________________ 72 Bow Reef, 75 FW Planted, 90 Acrylic tank being transformed to sump. Larger Reef in works. Current Tank Info: 72g AGA Bow (Current 4x54 T5, Super Skimmer 125, Mag 7, Hydor 3's x2, Kent Hi-S 60gph, 20G Acrylic Sump/Fuge, Dual Bulkhead Overflow, 80 lbs sand, 100 lb rock)

09/27/2007, 05:16 PM	#3
freshera07 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 80	Thank you for your reply jc.. You saying that too much gph isnt good for the 10g so I was wondering what the best rating would be? Also can't you fit in a refugium if you have 3 baffles(over->under->over spaced apart at 1 inch. Again i also was wondering if I can put the return in the middle and then tee off the return to the refugium at the far most side so that the flow through the refug is low thanks again

10/01/2007, 05:22 PM	#7
Kryptikhan Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North East Posts: 272	Can someone show me where one would put either your bioballs, liverock or sand in these diagrams? First diagram would be the refuge right? but what about the second flow chart with middle return? And would anyone go with a bioball set up with eggcrate on bottom bioball then eggcrate, plasti with holes then foam set up? thx __________________ 72 Bow Reef, 75 FW Planted, 90 Acrylic tank being transformed to sump. Larger Reef in works. Current Tank Info: 72g AGA Bow (Current 4x54 T5, Super Skimmer 125, Mag 7, Hydor 3's x2, Kent Hi-S 60gph, 20G Acrylic Sump/Fuge, Dual Bulkhead Overflow, 80 lbs sand, 100 lb rock)

10/01/2007, 05:42 PM	#8
jcpatella Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 814	I'm not sure about the bioballs - I have yet to hear anything good about them, so I personally don't use them. Both pictures have a compartment labeled "refugium." Notice the refugium is surrounded by baffles that are on the bottom of the sump - this holds the sand. __________________ Dogs - Man's best friend; entropy's greatest catalyst. Current Tank Info: Biocube 8 on the way!

10/01/2007, 06:19 PM	#10
jcpatella Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 814	I have a foam pad in between two of my baffles - to catch the larger stuff that goes through and to help minimize the microbubbles I'm currently battling. Also, I have my heaters and a carbon bag in between other baffles. __________________ Dogs - Man's best friend; entropy's greatest catalyst. Current Tank Info: Biocube 8 on the way!