Re-DIY 75gal sump input needed

BishopM · 04/02/2014, 07:52 PM

It's time to overhaul the 75gal sump! This sump has been up and running for several years now but its time to move things around in it. It needs a fine tuning for where everything should be instead of where it is.
I have a problem with microbubbles and I feel my auto top off as well as water changing water needs to be added into the sump in a new location instead of making more bubbles in the return area of the sump.

The sump is filled from multiple tanks "ie" fragging tank and deep sandbed tank.

The water enters the sump from the left side chamber then through baffles. From there into the the main chamber with the skimmer, return pumps, probes, auto top off float and heater.

I have drilled this tank with and overflow drain and a drain in the lower water leave to do water changes my turning a valve. They are on the right side for the sump.
What I was hoping for is the return area of the sump would have around 20 to 30 gals of water that I can purge and then refill for my water change area.

BishopM · 04/03/2014, 11:40 AM

Here is a raw drawing of the sump set up as it is right now.

Sump Build Pic.jpg

Looking for some new thoughts and ideas.

cvcoda · 04/03/2014, 12:25 PM

I'm going to tag along as I will be building a 75g sump for my 180.

BishopM · 04/03/2014, 12:57 PM

Hi cvcoda,

Is your new sump setup going to be drilled with an overflow and also have an auto top off?

cvcoda · 04/03/2014, 01:56 PM

BishopM, I'm only in the planning stages right now. I won't be setting up the tank until we move (hopefully within the next year). I've got an open canvas, so I'm looking for ideas at this point.

docstach · 04/03/2014, 09:25 PM

Mine is not really what you are looking for but here is my 75 sump. The area on the right with the black lid is my ATO section. Otherwise, water enters from the left where the skimmer is. That section drains through 2 filter socks (the two round holes). The next section is the refugium, where the water flows up from the bottom and rubble rock will be suspended off of the bottom by elevated egg crate. Water then overflows into the return section. Tank is empty so there is no plumbing or pump yet.

BishopM · 04/04/2014, 09:11 AM

That is one very impressive sump! You have everything you need in one place. If I ever set up a different tank I may have to borrow your design..

In this set up I'm running now, room wasn't an issue. We had an old storage room not being used so I took the wall down and built the stand around the display tank.

In this system I have separate tanks for live rock/deep sand bed, frag/algae all going into my sump. Also a 10 gal rodi top off tank and 55gal salt mixing tank.

All the tanks are hidden away inside the stand that you can sit or lay down next to the display tank and never know that so much is going on underneath.

Everything is controlled by my Apex. But after I upgraded my skimmer the microbubbles came and some of my baffles came loose.

So let the redesign start!!!

BishopM · 04/04/2014, 04:28 PM

Just ordered 1/4" glass baffles from Portland Glass.

My flow rate is around 1000 ghp going into the sump right now. I do plan to replace my return pumps with bigger DC pumps that are controllable with my Apex once they come out.

My question, If my flow of 1000 gph to maybe even up to 2000 gph, how far apart should the baffles be to eliminate all the microbubbles?
Some say 1.5" to 2" apart. Should they be even further?

04/03/2014, 12:25 PM	#3
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	I'm going to tag along as I will be building a 75g sump for my 180. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

04/03/2014, 01:56 PM	#5
cvcoda Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 190	BishopM, I'm only in the planning stages right now. I won't be setting up the tank until we move (hopefully within the next year). I've got an open canvas, so I'm looking for ideas at this point. __________________ Waiting to be set up in new house: 180g mixed reef Current Tank Info: 27g reef, AI Sol Blue, mixed SPS/LPS/softies

04/04/2014, 04:28 PM	#8
BishopM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 18	Baffle spacing Just ordered 1/4" glass baffles from Portland Glass. My flow rate is around 1000 ghp going into the sump right now. I do plan to replace my return pumps with bigger DC pumps that are controllable with my Apex once they come out. My question, If my flow of 1000 gph to maybe even up to 2000 gph, how far apart should the baffles be to eliminate all the microbubbles? Some say 1.5" to 2" apart. Should they be even further?

04/03/2014, 12:57 PM	#4
BishopM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 18	Hi cvcoda, Is your new sump setup going to be drilled with an overflow and also have an auto top off?

04/03/2014, 09:25 PM	#6
docstach Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East Boston, MA Posts: 140	Mine is not really what you are looking for but here is my 75 sump. The area on the right with the black lid is my ATO section. Otherwise, water enters from the left where the skimmer is. That section drains through 2 filter socks (the two round holes). The next section is the refugium, where the water flows up from the bottom and rubble rock will be suspended off of the bottom by elevated egg crate. Water then overflows into the return section. Tank is empty so there is no plumbing or pump yet.

04/04/2014, 09:11 AM	#7
BishopM Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Posts: 18	That is one very impressive sump! You have everything you need in one place. If I ever set up a different tank I may have to borrow your design.. In this set up I'm running now, room wasn't an issue. We had an old storage room not being used so I took the wall down and built the stand around the display tank. In this system I have separate tanks for live rock/deep sand bed, frag/algae all going into my sump. Also a 10 gal rodi top off tank and 55gal salt mixing tank. All the tanks are hidden away inside the stand that you can sit or lay down next to the display tank and never know that so much is going on underneath. Everything is controlled by my Apex. But after I upgraded my skimmer the microbubbles came and some of my baffles came loose. So let the redesign start!!!