pros & cons - sump bubble trap - OUO vs UOU

Lv2_play · 03/28/2006, 05:03 PM

Hi,

I am converting an aquarium to a sump. I already have a refugium plumbed out side of the sump. Flow is SKIMMER -> BAFFLES -> RETURN.

More people seem to have OUO flow through the baffles. Is this just personal preference or OUO works way better than UOU. I know OUO will create a fall of water to the return area. But will it also cause bubbles defeating the purpose of the bubble trap? And since my refugium is outside of the sump will just 2 baffles work? Either OU or UO?

Thanks for your help

pmcustom · 03/28/2006, 07:53 PM

I used OUO on my last sump, and it was fine as long as the return level didn't drop (then it would create the water fall like you were talking about). Although it was kind of nice, because I always knew at a glance when my auto-topoff reservoir went empty. As soon as the level dropped a little, microbubbles started getting into the tank. I guess it was nice to know that if the topoff failed, I would see it before it caused too much trouble.

I think I would at least go under first, right after the skimmer, because that's where most of the bubbles will be, and they'll try to go to the top. After that, it's up to you how many stages you want/need.

mr pink floyd · 03/28/2006, 08:05 PM

mine goes skimmer, O, fuge, OUO, return

sjm817 · 03/28/2006, 08:32 PM

Mine is O-U-O-U

RaveChild · 03/28/2006, 08:41 PM

If you are planning on having any type of substrate in your sump/fuge then U-O-U won't work because the substrate will try and follow the same path and possibly block the water flow.

ChemE · 03/28/2006, 09:27 PM

UOU makes more sense to me.

BeanAnimal · 03/28/2006, 10:03 PM

under over under forces the water down twice. This is more effective in reducing bubbles. It also puts the water into your sump at a low point and forces it to mix well with the other water there, instead of flowing at the surface and over the wall into the return area. In other words it keeps currents moving in the sump.

salt lick · 03/28/2006, 10:30 PM

Think outside the sump! (box)
My acrylic sump is divided into 3 comartments with large mouse holes at the bottom of the dividers. So my water goes front back front. no waterfall or bubbles

gsxrguru2 · 03/28/2006, 10:30 PM

I used an UOUO design in my old sump and the water spilled over into my fuge. Seemed to work well with eliminating bubbles. I ended up going with acrylic- cut myself one too many times on glass...

ShiftNation · 03/28/2006, 10:33 PM

I go baffleless with a fat ball of cheato as a bubble trap and I dont have much microbubbles , but thats not for everyone .

Roland Jacques · 03/28/2006, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by salt lick
Think outside the sump! (box)
My acrylic sump is divided into 3 comartments with large mouse holes at the bottom of the dividers. So my water goes front back front. no waterfall or bubbles

very good i like that. but you have to have a over somewhere or do you have a auto top off?

Lv2_play · 03/29/2006, 03:27 AM

One good thing I've seen with water going over the final baffle is the surface agitation which in turn helps oxygen exchange, evaporative cooling, and breaks up any slime/slick on the surface.

My refugium is plumbed outside of the sump. I am going to use live sand in my refugium. But no sand in the sump, maybe some live rock in sump. So this sump would only be skimmer area and return area.

03/28/2006, 05:03 PM	#1
Lv2_play Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: OC - Anaheim Hills Posts: 235	pros & cons - sump bubble trap - OUO vs UOU Hi, I am converting an aquarium to a sump. I already have a refugium plumbed out side of the sump. Flow is SKIMMER -> BAFFLES -> RETURN. More people seem to have OUO flow through the baffles. Is this just personal preference or OUO works way better than UOU. I know OUO will create a fall of water to the return area. But will it also cause bubbles defeating the purpose of the bubble trap? And since my refugium is outside of the sump will just 2 baffles work? Either OU or UO? Thanks for your help __________________ Virgil Ross

03/28/2006, 08:32 PM	#4
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Mine is O-U-O-U __________________ - Scott

03/28/2006, 09:27 PM	#6
ChemE Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: East Nashville, TN Posts: 1,607	UOU makes more sense to me. __________________ Holding it down on the engineering tip y'all Current Tank Info: 190G

03/28/2006, 10:30 PM	#9
gsxrguru2 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 657	I used an UOUO design in my old sump and the water spilled over into my fuge. Seemed to work well with eliminating bubbles. I ended up going with acrylic- cut myself one too many times on glass... __________________ James Current Tank Info: 125g w/ custom acrylic sump. Assortment of softies, LPS's and SPS's. Regal Tang, Flame Angel, Lyretail Anthias, Yellow Tang, Harlequin Tusk. 3 250w Ushio 10k HQI's Sequence Dart on Closed Loop

03/28/2006, 10:33 PM	#10
ShiftNation Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: MA Posts: 1,673	I go baffleless with a fat ball of cheato as a bubble trap and I dont have much microbubbles , but thats not for everyone . __________________ PBITAWA "It's the route your about , what tool? If all you have's a flathead then everythings a screw." Current Tank Info: 58 gallon custom setup w/foam epoxy background

03/28/2006, 07:53 PM	#2
pmcustom Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 569	I used OUO on my last sump, and it was fine as long as the return level didn't drop (then it would create the water fall like you were talking about). Although it was kind of nice, because I always knew at a glance when my auto-topoff reservoir went empty. As soon as the level dropped a little, microbubbles started getting into the tank. I guess it was nice to know that if the topoff failed, I would see it before it caused too much trouble. I think I would at least go under first, right after the skimmer, because that's where most of the bubbles will be, and they'll try to go to the top. After that, it's up to you how many stages you want/need.

03/28/2006, 08:05 PM	#3
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	mine goes skimmer, O, fuge, OUO, return

03/28/2006, 08:41 PM	#5
RaveChild Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 53	If you are planning on having any type of substrate in your sump/fuge then U-O-U won't work because the substrate will try and follow the same path and possibly block the water flow.

03/28/2006, 10:03 PM	#7
BeanAnimal Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 20,772	under over under forces the water down twice. This is more effective in reducing bubbles. It also puts the water into your sump at a low point and forces it to mix well with the other water there, instead of flowing at the surface and over the wall into the return area. In other words it keeps currents moving in the sump.

03/28/2006, 10:30 PM	#8
salt lick Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Tehachapi, CA Posts: 415	Think outside the sump! (box) My acrylic sump is divided into 3 comartments with large mouse holes at the bottom of the dividers. So my water goes front back front. no waterfall or bubbles

03/29/2006, 03:27 AM	#12
Lv2_play Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: OC - Anaheim Hills Posts: 235	One good thing I've seen with water going over the final baffle is the surface agitation which in turn helps oxygen exchange, evaporative cooling, and breaks up any slime/slick on the surface. My refugium is plumbed outside of the sump. I am going to use live sand in my refugium. But no sand in the sump, maybe some live rock in sump. So this sump would only be skimmer area and return area. __________________ Virgil Ross Last edited by Lv2_play; 03/29/2006 at 04:13 AM.