DIY 20L sump ... i have a few questions...

[LennyD4]

So I am building a 20L sump for my 65g tank. I decided to go with | Refugium - return - Protein skimmer | from left to right. I understand that my protein skimmer area needs to be big enough to fit the protein skimmer footprint. My questions are:

1) Should I go extra big to fit my protein skimmer in or make it just big enough for the skimmer?
2) For my return section : Is there a specific size it should be ? Or just enough to fit the return pump?
3) If i go with the set up as above: Would I need bubble traps on either side of the return or just the side of the skimmer?

[daplatapus]

1) I wouldn't make it too tight, but yeah, it doesn't need to be any bigger than necessary
2) keep in mind this is the only place you will notice evaporation. If this space is too small you'll need to really keep an eye on your water level here.
3) I have the same set up as you're thinking but with a bubble trap only on the skimmer side. For 99% of the time it works fine. But I do notice every now and then when the glass separating the fuge and return side get's something on it and the water doesn't flow smoothly over it, I do sometimes get the odd bubble sucked into the pump. For me it hasn't been an issue, but just an fyi.

[Toddrtrex]

I made a 20 long for my 65 (( used the same sump set up for my 75 and 40 breeder )) -- make sure the skimmer section has enough room for you to do maintenance on it.

Like mentioned above, you will notice evaporation in the return section, so you need to compromise b/t fuge space and evaporation issue.

For reference my 20 long under my 75

[LennyD4]

awesome pic! thanks! Another question I thought of...should the refugium be a specific depth? What were your mesaurments for your baffles?

[Toddrtrex]

The first baffle (( skimmer )) is 10 inches
The "floating" baffle after that is about 8.5 inches -- it is about an inch and a half off the bottom (( I used an PVC elbow to hold it off the bottom while the silicone dried ))
The first baffle for the beginning of the fuge is about 9 inches
The single baffle b/t the fuge and return section is also 9 inches

All measurements were just made, on the outside of the sump, so the numbers might be slightly off.

The skimmer section is 10 inches wide
Bubble trap section is 4 inches wide
Fuge section is 9 inches wide
Return is 7

[LennyD4]

Awesome thanks a lot for the info!! I was looking at purchasing the reef octoupus nwb110 which has an operating depth of 5.5 inches..so if I wanted to do close to the same setup, I would just have to build a small stand for under hte skimmer. Do you think the refugium in the middle is a better option then all the way to the left?

[Toddrtrex]

Sure thing.

Yeah, you could make a little stand without any issues.

Not sure if one way is better than the other, I just have found it simpler to just go skimmer, fuge, return. Over the years I have made 7 sumps, and have always used this design --- figure if it isn't broke...

[LennyD4]

Ok awesome. Thanks for all the info

[LennyD4]

Ok awesome. Thanks for all the info

[LennyD4]

Did you use glass or acrylic for your baffles? Thickness?

[Toddrtrex]

I used acrylic, they are held in place with silicone. After the silicone cured I was able to pick the whole sump up by one baffle. I used 1/4 inch, 1/8 inch bows too much.

One more thing, remember that the bottom of the tank has a bead of silicone, it helps if you cut off the bottom corners of the baffles;

[LennyD4]

Oh I see. I didn't even think about that.