Sump: Skimmer>Return<Refugium OR Skimmer>Refuge>Return Question.

[Chris155hp]

Hey guys I have a couple of questions. I have been doing my research on making a diy sump for my custom 60 Gal Rimless(36x20x20) with a left corner overflow, which is now on order. I plan on using a 29 gallon Aqueon as Petco is having their dollar per gallon sale as it is the biggest tank that will fit in my stand. I am going to make it so that the skimmer section always sits at a constant water level with a bubble trap. From this point on is where the confusion sets in.

Since I eventually plan on getting a Green Mandarin further on when my tank is more established(one of my must have fish), having a sump that is best for microfauna(copepods etc.) is of significant importance. Also have gathered that microfauna can also be an alternate food source for corals which is also a plus! I originally planned on having a Skimmer>Refuge>Return ordered sump (as recommended by Mark Callihan in his guide) but threw some research have seen some people claiming that most of the nutrients for the refugium gets skimmed out before the refugium which has a negative affect on microfauna in the refugium. I have also seen something about evaporation from this setup comes from the return area which increases the risk of having the pump run dry(Don't know if this is true, but its what I have heard). Since an ATO isn't currently in the budget, this is also a pertinent issue.

The other setup I have interest in is the Skimmer>Returnhttp://www.melevsreef.com/acrylics/sumps/f/sump_f.html model F sump.
I heard that this setup reduces the risk of evaporation in return section and running the return pump dry. What I am most confused about in this sump type is the T Section and ball valve placement as to control flow to refugium while not restricting the overflow. If some one can provide a diagram to explain this It would be most helpful.

If some one could tell me which one is a "Better" design for my tank and why I i would be very appreciative. Thanks

[Chris155hp]

Bump! Some one please help

[rovster]

Take my advice with a grain of salt, but I think I have a pretty good understanding of this. The 2 configurations you described seem to be most popular. Both should be fine. I think the general consensus is that there is not perfect design for a sump/fuge and that most configurations would work. Also keep in mind that in your first scenario, your protein skimmer will not skim all the water in that chamber. Its just impossible, so you will get "crap" into the fuge so no worry there

As far as your second scenario goes, its really very simple. Water drains into your sump where its skimmed and goes directly to a return chamber (in the middle). In your return line to the main tank, you plumb a "T" off it and a valve that lets you slow down the flow to the fuge, if not you'd have a jet stream into the fuge. You want low peaceful flow in the fuge. The fuge water would overflow back into the middle chamber where it would be pumped back to the display.

There are a lot of pictures around of this. I think one of the biggest concerns is not having the skimmer between the fuge and return, because you will skim SOME pods out.

As far as evaporation, I cant imagine how that would be affected one way or the other. I would imagine that would have more to do with flow and surface area of the water.

As long as you keep your return chamber at the proper level with top offs, there is no problem and you should never run dry. An ATO is not necessary. Its just one of those things that automate the system and is nice to have. If you top off daily or every other day, you should be fine.

[kriv4o]

I thing for option #2 he should Tee of the overflow because if he feeds the fudge from the return,he gets filtered water and you are getting close if not the same to option 1. If you feed the fudge from your overflow you get all the goodies to the micro-fauna in your fudge. Take my words with a grain of salt as I am not an expert but it seems that's what most people with option #2 do.

[T Smith]

My first sump design on my 75 some time back was skimmer - fuge - return but there was too much flow through the fuge for me.

When I set up my 100 I went skimmer - return - fuge and as stated above I have Tee'd off a return line for feeding the fuge, this way flow through the fuge is variable.

On both set ups my display drained/drains into the skimmer area.

[Reefing Newbie]

Like others have said, they are no experts and neither am I. I personallay like the set up Skimmer--->Fuge--->Return, maybe its because I have my 125 DTs 55 gallon sump set up that way for now. I am going to get rid of the fuge and put LR in it when I get an algae scrubber up and running.

I noticed you said you want to achieve a goal of being able to have a mandarin in your tank. I will be getting a mandarin for my tank down the road as well. For the purpose of getting lots of pods, you may want to think of going with an algae scrubber instead of a fuge... Look in the advanced topics and do a little reading on Algea Scrubber Basics. Read through posts 2000-2010 as they are a summary of everything in that thread up until that point. People have reported getting more pods with an algae scrubber than with a fuge I think, I have heard people say millions of copepods and amphipods!

[Chris155hp]

The algae scrubber link is broken

[daplatapus]

Here's what I've got on mine. This is my first attempt at a SW tank and my first sump. My sump is in my basement with the DT upstairs so I'm running about 9' of head pressure. The main return is 1 1/4" flows thru a gate valve then "T"'s off with each side of the T having it's own ball valve. I found the flow a bit strong at times in my fuge so I put another T on the bottom of it to diffuse the flow so it didn't dig a hole in my DSB. SO going from left to right I have my skimmer section (where probably 85% of the DT return goes to), then the return pump section, then the fuge on the far right. It's all in an 80 gal tank and I am cramped for room lol