Plan for sump / need advice

[jsc4354]

Let me start by saying thanks for looking...

Here is the setup, I have a 120g tank with overflow, 30g? (12" wide x 18" high x 30" long) sump, getting a reef devil skimmer and mag7 (for skimmer) soon.

So, here are my questions...
1.) Is the baffle on the right necessary? I'm trying to make the refugium section larger but don't know if this will stir things up too much in this area. Maybe if I add a filter bag I can avoid this.

2.) Can I get away with one baffle between the refugium and return section? Typically, I see 3 baffles to keep bubbles from making there way to the main tank but the refugium is to the left of this. So, this raises question #3.

3.) Placing the skimmer and return pump in the same section a bad idea? Reason being will it cause bubbles to enter main tank?

4.) I plan on mating a mag7 with reef devil skimmer but what about the return pump should this also ne a mag7 or should I go larger with either a mag9.5 or eheim1262.





Sorry for the long list of questions but the more I learn the more confusing it gets.

Thx,
John C.

[Stidd]

Just make sure you watch the Flow of the water going through the Fuge...

[jsc4354]

I know the mag9.5 is rated for 750gph with with 5' of head loss. Do you think I should plumb a return line or what else can be done to decrease the amount of flow through the sump?

[jsc4354]

One more quick question, I was planning on making the baffle 14" tall leaving 4" of room above it. Do you think this is too little?

Thx,
John C.

[Pat_13]

I would put make it:
Fuge/ return/ overflow

put the skimmer in the overflow and put a "T" with gate valve on the return pump to the fuge.

[jsc4354]

The reason I set it up this way is because I was told the water should go through the refug first then to the skimmer. Is that really necessary or does it not matter in which order it goes.

I do like the idea you have with the T that gives you total control of flow through the sump.

Thx

[akrimmel]

this is the way my sump is setup 30 long as well as yours is.
1.dump from display with rubble rock
2. skimmer and phosban reactor pump
3. fuge
4. carbon area, whatever you want
5. return pump eheim 1262

each number represents a seperate area with glass partitions/baffles.

[MJAnderson]

That's a good bit of flow through your fuge (and your sump in general). I've heard some people say that macro algae likes to be tumbled around but I think your pods prefer it more calm. Typical is 3-5x volume through the sump and less in the fuge (which is why people T and ball valve the pvc so they can control the fuge flow). The Mag 9.5 might be a bit much.

Check out www.melevsreef.com for some sump plans.

[akrimmel]

all depends on the evap rate as far as tumbling of the chaeto goes. but yeah i got awesome flow through mu sump.

[jsc4354]

Thanks for the good advice I have modified the design of the sump. Have a look and let me know what you think.

Also, is it okay if the two left baffles (return section) are the same height?



Thx,
John C.

[msuzuki126]

I would tee off the line from the overflow to drain half into the fuge and half into the skimmer area with ball valves on each side. Then just put a ball valve on the return line.

[jsc4354]

What is the benefit of doing it that way versus what I drew?

[msuzuki126]

I would think it would be easier to control the flow through the fuge. That's just my idea of how i'm doing mine. I'm sure your plan would work fine too.

[jsc4354]

Someone told me it is better if the overflow runs through the refugium first before it gets to the skimmer. I thought you were thinking along the same lines but I guessed wrong.

Thx

[jerehmy]

I like the idea, heres how I did mine and a goo d site for info
http://melevsreef.com/

blue print


the real deal

[jaeden]

I would say your on the right path with the return in the middle of the sump , that is the config I like the best , my 120aga has two overflows both will go back to chamber no 1 which is where the skimmer housed , off one of those overfows will be a gate valve which will flow in to the refuge chamber no3 (reason for the gate valve is to control the flow ) from there both the chambers 1 and 3 will flow into chamber no2 (middle chamber ) then bak to main tank

PS return needs to be large enough as this is where most evaporation will take place possilbly causing the pump to run dry as well as good place for water changes

[jsc4354]

jerehmy - I have two questions for ya... First, the baffle for the refug seems pretty tall have you ever wished you made it shorter? Second, how your water parameters since you are not using a skimmer?

jaeden - in regards to the return section, I plan on using an ETSS Reef Devil skimmer which IIRC has a 7x7 footprint. So, I plan on making this section atleast 8" or so inches. Ya think this is enough?

Thx everyone for the great advice guys!

[jerehmy]

I do have a skimmer its a Aqua C Remora HOB in the overflow on the far left in the pic. look for thegrey inlet tube on the skimmer you will see it. Great skimmer by the way.
.
The baffle for the fuge has a 1" bulkhead about 2" down from the top so that skims the surface of the fuge, the water never gets within 2" from the top of the baffle

[jsc4354]

I see it now (the skimmer that is) and i'm glad you pointed out the bulkhead if I were to create a baffle that large I would have serious problems.

John C.

[jsc4354]

Oops, the skimmer is not going in the return section but the overflow section. So, the return section can be any size. What do you think is a good size? I do not want to be constantly worried about the return pump running dry but on the other hand I would like for the refugium to be as big as possible.

John C.

[jerehmy]

I made 3 sections that are all the same size, just divide the length by 3 and theirs your length

[jsc4354]

Ahh, i'm so gonna cheat on that measurment. Somehow I know my refug will end up a lil bigger.

John C.

[jerehmy]

remember that the return needs to be big enough for evap

[m3rcury]

i've heard the fuge before skimmer thing too. but, then i read someone pointing out that the skimmer in the overflow will NEVER actually skim everything out of the water. so, the nutrients will still make their way into the fuge. in addition, any waste produces in the fuge will work it's way back to the skimmer through the loop. maybe it does, but i can't imagine it will make a huge difference either way. i've never seen someone post "omg, i put the skimmer first and everything in my fuge died and all my corals just bleached." so, i think you'll be ok either way

maybe someone with more experience can chime in.

[jerehmy]

yeah my skimmer is in the overflow but the fuge is fine, I have lots of pods now in the tank and in the fuge.

The skimmer skims less now but it skims darker than before.


I have never heard that it was bad to have a set up this way but I guess anything is possible, it works good for me because I can controll the fuge flow exactly the way I want it