What are my sump options?

Fishel · 11/14/2006, 01:06 PM

Hi,

I have been keeping freshwater fish for about 5 years now but never saltwater.

I bought a 240 gallon tank (8ft long, 24 inches wide, 25 inches high) from glasscages.com last year but it's been sitting in my living room since then. I was going to make it freshwater but changed my mind and decided to go with Fish only and Live Rock to start with. I'll need to add better lighting later if I want to go reef.

The tank has 2 overflows built-in (4 total holes). I was going to do the wet/dry with bio-ball thing but read too many posts on this forum saying that's not the way to go (nitrate factory). I was also going to do the Eheim canister filter thing but again read it's better to go with a really good and big protein skimmer with a lot of live rock and a DSB.

I have 4 glass sump tanks to work with (remember I only have 2 overflows). Here are the tank sizes

Tank 1 and 2 are 10 gallons (lwh = 20 X 10 X 12.5)
Tank 3 is approx. 20 gallons (lwh = 24 x 12 x 17)
Tank 4 is approx. 29 gallons (lwh = 30 x 12.5 x 18.5)

Tank 4 is currently built as wet/dry but it can be torn down to a open tank and glass can be added (baffles etc.).

My stand is approx. 8 ft long, 2 feet wide and 27 inches high.

Question #1
I want a ASM G-4 PLUS protein skimmer. It says it is 24 inches high. will I have enough room to take the cup off if I am only working with 27 inches of height inside my stand?

Question #2
How to best utilize my 4 sump tanks above? Put the ASM protein skimmer in the 20 gallon tank with 1 drain and return and use the 29 gallon tank to hold live rock with 1 drain and return? I realize I'll need to build glass baffles etc. in each tank.

On a side note I have 2 Mag 12 pumps for my returns.

If you had this equipment how would you do it? I don't want anything running outside the stand.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

tpb31 · 11/14/2006, 01:16 PM

I am a newb too, but I was reading and came across this link
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php

it may help you out.

Randall_James · 11/14/2006, 01:33 PM

You will only need one of the pumps for return.

The idea is to get as much volume as possible in your sump area.
The skimmer pickup should be isolated to pickup as much virgin tank skim water as possible.
The skimmer discharge needs as much time in the sump as possible to allow bubbles to dissipate.

You need to decide how move water in the tank as well. Powerheads or closed loop (will use under tank space)

You would need to join the sumps under the display (prefer drilling the two and using piping myself).

Tank 1 would contain the skimmer, skimmer discharge and a shelf for carbon, heaters etc.
Tank2 would hold my refugium, macro algae and return pump.
(optional) Tank3 would hold return pump and more water

I have seen some pretty fancy baffle setups but I like to keep it simple and so you would have 3 baffles in tank 2 for a bubble trap and return pump section.

Now if you use one of the 10's (tank 3) then I doubt you need any additional baffles at all in tank 2, just fill it up with refugium stuff...

Take a look at http://melevsreef.com/ for all kinds of sump systems
My plain jane setup:

Fishel · 11/14/2006, 01:49 PM

Randall, thanks for the quick reply......

So take the 20 and 29 gallon and join them via bulkheads and pvc.

1 drain from 240 into the 20 gallon with the skimmer.. no baffles in the 20?

water goes into 29 gallon via pvc connection where the refugium is at.. in the 29 build baffles (3 panes of glass)...my Mag 12 will need to be in the 29 submersed as I want to minimize the amount of glass cutting necessary....

What should I do with the other drain from the 240?

Randall_James · 11/14/2006, 02:00 PM

The only baffle I would put in the 20 would be the collection area from the 2 tank drains. The "pickup" for the skimmer would also pickup from this area. Skimmer discharge would go outside the baffle.

If you use 2 tanks, the 3 baffles will go as far right as possible (only need room for the pump) of the 29. (I will edit image)

I fill the void between the 3 baffles with reef rubble to help with bubbles. The last chamber is just 4" to fit the return pump. (mag12 is likely bigger as I use mag9)

Fishel · 11/14/2006, 06:50 PM

in that sketch that water flow from the skimmer tank to the refugium won't be too strong? Note I'll have 2 drains going into the skimmer tank from my 2 overflows on the 240 gallon display tank........

what program did you use to sketch that up?

N8ster · 11/14/2006, 10:19 PM

Try melev's reef for a bunch of info on sumps. He makes is own, and shows different configurations.

www.melevsreef.com

11/14/2006, 01:33 PM	#3
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	You will only need one of the pumps for return. The idea is to get as much volume as possible in your sump area. The skimmer pickup should be isolated to pickup as much virgin tank skim water as possible. The skimmer discharge needs as much time in the sump as possible to allow bubbles to dissipate. You need to decide how move water in the tank as well. Powerheads or closed loop (will use under tank space) You would need to join the sumps under the display (prefer drilling the two and using piping myself). Tank 1 would contain the skimmer, skimmer discharge and a shelf for carbon, heaters etc. Tank2 would hold my refugium, macro algae and return pump. (optional) Tank3 would hold return pump and more water I have seen some pretty fancy baffle setups but I like to keep it simple and so you would have 3 baffles in tank 2 for a bubble trap and return pump section. Now if you use one of the 10's (tank 3) then I doubt you need any additional baffles at all in tank 2, just fill it up with refugium stuff... Take a look at http://melevsreef.com/ for all kinds of sump systems My plain jane setup: __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/14/2006, 02:00 PM	#5
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	The only baffle I would put in the 20 would be the collection area from the 2 tank drains. The "pickup" for the skimmer would also pickup from this area. Skimmer discharge would go outside the baffle. If you use 2 tanks, the 3 baffles will go as far right as possible (only need room for the pump) of the 29. (I will edit image) I fill the void between the 3 baffles with reef rubble to help with bubbles. The last chamber is just 4" to fit the return pump. (mag12 is likely bigger as I use mag9) __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

11/14/2006, 01:06 PM	#1
Fishel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 68	What are my sump options? Hi, I have been keeping freshwater fish for about 5 years now but never saltwater. I bought a 240 gallon tank (8ft long, 24 inches wide, 25 inches high) from glasscages.com last year but it's been sitting in my living room since then. I was going to make it freshwater but changed my mind and decided to go with Fish only and Live Rock to start with. I'll need to add better lighting later if I want to go reef. The tank has 2 overflows built-in (4 total holes). I was going to do the wet/dry with bio-ball thing but read too many posts on this forum saying that's not the way to go (nitrate factory). I was also going to do the Eheim canister filter thing but again read it's better to go with a really good and big protein skimmer with a lot of live rock and a DSB. I have 4 glass sump tanks to work with (remember I only have 2 overflows). Here are the tank sizes Tank 1 and 2 are 10 gallons (lwh = 20 X 10 X 12.5) Tank 3 is approx. 20 gallons (lwh = 24 x 12 x 17) Tank 4 is approx. 29 gallons (lwh = 30 x 12.5 x 18.5) Tank 4 is currently built as wet/dry but it can be torn down to a open tank and glass can be added (baffles etc.). My stand is approx. 8 ft long, 2 feet wide and 27 inches high. Question #1 I want a ASM G-4 PLUS protein skimmer. It says it is 24 inches high. will I have enough room to take the cup off if I am only working with 27 inches of height inside my stand? Question #2 How to best utilize my 4 sump tanks above? Put the ASM protein skimmer in the 20 gallon tank with 1 drain and return and use the 29 gallon tank to hold live rock with 1 drain and return? I realize I'll need to build glass baffles etc. in each tank. On a side note I have 2 Mag 12 pumps for my returns. If you had this equipment how would you do it? I don't want anything running outside the stand. Thanks in advance for your advice.

11/14/2006, 01:16 PM	#2
tpb31 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 96	I am a newb too, but I was reading and came across this link http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/gt/index.php it may help you out. __________________ I am a newb...but I finally have a tank Current Tank Info: 29Gal FW, 80Gal SW

11/14/2006, 01:49 PM	#4
Fishel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 68	Randall, thanks for the quick reply...... So take the 20 and 29 gallon and join them via bulkheads and pvc. 1 drain from 240 into the 20 gallon with the skimmer.. no baffles in the 20? water goes into 29 gallon via pvc connection where the refugium is at.. in the 29 build baffles (3 panes of glass)...my Mag 12 will need to be in the 29 submersed as I want to minimize the amount of glass cutting necessary.... What should I do with the other drain from the 240?

11/14/2006, 06:50 PM	#6
Fishel Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 68	in that sketch that water flow from the skimmer tank to the refugium won't be too strong? Note I'll have 2 drains going into the skimmer tank from my 2 overflows on the 240 gallon display tank........ what program did you use to sketch that up?

11/14/2006, 10:19 PM	#7
N8ster Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 306	Try melev's reef for a bunch of info on sumps. He makes is own, and shows different configurations. www.melevsreef.com