Planned Sump/Fuge build (pic)....

AquaKnight · 12/12/2006, 01:50 PM

Here's my sketch for my planned sump. It's going to be out of a 40gal breeder tank (36"x16"x18" I believe). I wanted an large fuge and work area because eventually it will house 2 med. skimmers, heater, kalk drip, and phosban reactor with either a 90 or 120 gal tank.

The pics pretty much self-explanatory, the fuge will be 12"x14"x16" with 6" of DSB and 1 chateo clump and 1 of the other macro (it's slipping my mind right now), 1 piece of LR. The fuge will be feed by the return pump, that way I can control the exact rate of flow. The second T is just to slow the return if need be. I'm thinking of a Mag 9 for the return. Return Length would be right around 5'.

Any thoughts or ideas or even criticism is welcome...

db_triggerfish · 12/12/2006, 02:01 PM

looks good but i am new to sumps so really just tagging

dippin61 · 12/12/2006, 03:49 PM

dont think you'll really need the second "T" to feed the equipment bay, only using a mag 9.

AquaKnight · 12/12/2006, 05:01 PM

I wasn't sure. Is the Mag 9 a good pump or should I look at something else?

sjm817 · 12/12/2006, 05:20 PM

Use an Eheim 1260 for the return. Spread the baffles out more. 1" is too tight. 1.5" - 2" would work better. Baffles should not go all the way to the top. The under baffle only needs to be an inch or two higher than the over baffle. I dont see a need for the feed to the equipment bay.

dippin61 · 12/12/2006, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaKnight407
I wasn't sure. Is the Mag 9 a good pump or should I look at something else?

if youve already got the mag 9, it should work just fine

AquaKnight · 12/12/2006, 08:06 PM

I don't have the Mag, just knew it was aprox. right amount of flow. Will looking into the Eheim, heard good things.

I was using Melev's site as a guide. He mentioned 1" for baffles, will go 1.5". 2" seems like the bubble won't get trap.

I will knock the eq. feed off and lower the center baffle. I guess it needs to be lower in case the sump ever fills up, the water can just flow overtop.

I was looking some more at Melev's and might change the intake from a complete section, to just an intake chamber. Should contain the LR better. Like this one...

angelopasto · 12/12/2006, 08:53 PM

Why not split the drain to your fuge and to equipment bay? Then they both drain to your return bay and get pumped back to your tank - IMO

SJm187 - why use a Eheim 1260? I just return two because they lose power fast - I mean with a 6 foot head the GPH goes down significantly.

lvpd186 · 12/12/2006, 09:03 PM

I just finished building a sump out of a 40gal breeder. Here is a pic:

Mine will be under a 120gal with two overflows. One overflow will feed the skimmer section (far left) and the other will feed the refuge. (far right). Both will empty in to the center area where the return pump will be.

AquaKnight · 12/12/2006, 09:14 PM

Looks good LVPD, any reason for just two baffles instead of three? How much sand are you planning to use in the fuge?

gbarber66 · 12/12/2006, 09:20 PM

Don't make your return section too small unless you will have an auto top off valve of some kind. I made that mistake when I built mine. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the return section will have the lowest water level. Depending on how high your baffles are, that 5" section can hold a maximum of 6.2 gallons. I'm sure your baffles will be lower than that. If the baffles are around 12" high, the max volume in the return is like 4.2 gallons. If it is anything like my tank, after a day or two of evaporation, your pump will start sucking air. I was adding fresh water almost daily. I added a float valve to automatically top mine off.
Just my two cents worth. If I misunderstood your design, please ingore me. Look good though. Good luck.

lvpd186 · 12/12/2006, 09:21 PM

Thanks. The skimmer I plan on using doesn't really put out any micro-bubbles (from the reviews I've read) so the main cause of bubbles would be the water falling in to the center area of the sump. Those should be stopped without having to worry about another trap. I'm not too sure on the sand bed as of yet, but I was thinking around 4". BTW I like your design but I think you would have better luck feeding your refuge from the over-flow like I think someone suggested. The way you have it now the water will have been processed by the skimmer before getting to your macro-algea.

sjm817 · 12/12/2006, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by angelopasto

SJm187 - why use a Eheim 1260? I just return two because they lose power fast - I mean with a 6 foot head the GPH goes down significantly.

Eheims are far better than a Mag when it comes to head loss and noise. You used them for closed loops? A 1260 is a great return or skimmer pump. Its not large enough for a closed loop pump on anything but a small tank. That is large external flow pump territory like a Sequence Dart.

AquaKnight · 12/12/2006, 11:25 PM

GBarber, good point. With the redesigned intake just being a corner box, I can shave 2" off the equip., making the return 7" (7"x16"x12") which is 5.8 gals. Yea, as the return pumps out water it will be the lowest point.

LVPD, my 30 isn't drilled currently, and I'm not sure how 2 overflows boxes would do on my 30. The fuge volume is almost 40% of the main tank, so I think even skimmed so do fine? When I upgrade, it definitely will have it's own overflow.

Please keep it up about the pumps. The Ehiem is twice the price of the Mag, not really an issue, just a point. Also, by Mag, I think I meant Mag 9.5, because I can't find just a "Mag 9". The Mag 9.5 puts out more published GPH, as I'm finding, and noise is not an issue. I'm pulling sides, just menting what I found. The Mag is also common locally too, so parts are here. I believe the Eheim is higher quality pump though?

Lastly, what about tubing? I believe schelude 80 PVC, where is that available, Home Depot?

sjm817 · 12/13/2006, 06:42 AM

I've owned both the Mag9.5 and an Eheim 1260. They are both very good pumps. In reality with the typical 3/4" plumbing, ~ 4' of head of so, the flow would be similar. The Mag9 would be slightly higher, maybe 50 GPH or so more. If noise is not an issue, the Mag9.5 is a fine pump.

12/12/2006, 01:50 PM	#1
AquaKnight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 2,030	Planned Sump/Fuge build (pic).... Here's my sketch for my planned sump. It's going to be out of a 40gal breeder tank (36"x16"x18" I believe). I wanted an large fuge and work area because eventually it will house 2 med. skimmers, heater, kalk drip, and phosban reactor with either a 90 or 120 gal tank. The pics pretty much self-explanatory, the fuge will be 12"x14"x16" with 6" of DSB and 1 chateo clump and 1 of the other macro (it's slipping my mind right now), 1 piece of LR. The fuge will be feed by the return pump, that way I can control the exact rate of flow. The second T is just to slow the return if need be. I'm thinking of a Mag 9 for the return. Return Length would be right around 5'. Any thoughts or ideas or even criticism is welcome...

12/12/2006, 02:01 PM	#2
db_triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,127	looks good but i am new to sumps so really just tagging __________________ FMAS - Florida Marine Aquarium Society Member . Current Tank Info: AGA 75g RR 6 x 54w T5 overdriven (510w) with 2 x Icecap 660, DAS EX-1 Skimmer, OR 2500, Reefkeeper II

12/12/2006, 03:49 PM	#3
dippin61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,897	dont think you'll really need the second "T" to feed the equipment bay, only using a mag 9. __________________ Reefers Law: It can take about 48 hours to brown, and 48 weeks to color back up! Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon BB Low Iron Glass, Dual 110w VHO Actinics, 250w PFO MH 20k XM

12/12/2006, 05:20 PM	#5
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	Use an Eheim 1260 for the return. Spread the baffles out more. 1" is too tight. 1.5" - 2" would work better. Baffles should not go all the way to the top. The under baffle only needs to be an inch or two higher than the over baffle. I dont see a need for the feed to the equipment bay. __________________ - Scott

12/12/2006, 09:03 PM	#9
lvpd186 Reefing in NE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 1,485	I just finished building a sump out of a 40gal breeder. Here is a pic: Mine will be under a 120gal with two overflows. One overflow will feed the skimmer section (far left) and the other will feed the refuge. (far right). Both will empty in to the center area where the return pump will be. __________________ "A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby

12/12/2006, 05:01 PM	#4
AquaKnight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 2,030	I wasn't sure. Is the Mag 9 a good pump or should I look at something else?

12/12/2006, 08:06 PM	#7
AquaKnight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 2,030	I don't have the Mag, just knew it was aprox. right amount of flow. Will looking into the Eheim, heard good things. I was using Melev's site as a guide. He mentioned 1" for baffles, will go 1.5". 2" seems like the bubble won't get trap. I will knock the eq. feed off and lower the center baffle. I guess it needs to be lower in case the sump ever fills up, the water can just flow overtop. I was looking some more at Melev's and might change the intake from a complete section, to just an intake chamber. Should contain the LR better. Like this one...

12/12/2006, 08:53 PM	#8
angelopasto Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montreal Posts: 193	Why not split the drain to your fuge and to equipment bay? Then they both drain to your return bay and get pumped back to your tank - IMO SJm187 - why use a Eheim 1260? I just return two because they lose power fast - I mean with a 6 foot head the GPH goes down significantly.

12/12/2006, 09:14 PM	#10
AquaKnight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 2,030	Looks good LVPD, any reason for just two baffles instead of three? How much sand are you planning to use in the fuge?

12/12/2006, 09:20 PM	#11
gbarber66 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Central Ohio Posts: 3	Don't make your return section too small unless you will have an auto top off valve of some kind. I made that mistake when I built mine. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the return section will have the lowest water level. Depending on how high your baffles are, that 5" section can hold a maximum of 6.2 gallons. I'm sure your baffles will be lower than that. If the baffles are around 12" high, the max volume in the return is like 4.2 gallons. If it is anything like my tank, after a day or two of evaporation, your pump will start sucking air. I was adding fresh water almost daily. I added a float valve to automatically top mine off. Just my two cents worth. If I misunderstood your design, please ingore me. Look good though. Good luck.

12/12/2006, 09:21 PM	#12
lvpd186 Reefing in NE Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Papillion, NE Posts: 1,485	Thanks. The skimmer I plan on using doesn't really put out any micro-bubbles (from the reviews I've read) so the main cause of bubbles would be the water falling in to the center area of the sump. Those should be stopped without having to worry about another trap. I'm not too sure on the sand bed as of yet, but I was thinking around 4". BTW I like your design but I think you would have better luck feeding your refuge from the over-flow like I think someone suggested. The way you have it now the water will have been processed by the skimmer before getting to your macro-algea. __________________ "A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones that need the advice." Bill Cosby

12/12/2006, 11:25 PM	#14
AquaKnight Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Emerald Coast Posts: 2,030	GBarber, good point. With the redesigned intake just being a corner box, I can shave 2" off the equip., making the return 7" (7"x16"x12") which is 5.8 gals. Yea, as the return pumps out water it will be the lowest point. LVPD, my 30 isn't drilled currently, and I'm not sure how 2 overflows boxes would do on my 30. The fuge volume is almost 40% of the main tank, so I think even skimmed so do fine? When I upgrade, it definitely will have it's own overflow. Please keep it up about the pumps. The Ehiem is twice the price of the Mag, not really an issue, just a point. Also, by Mag, I think I meant Mag 9.5, because I can't find just a "Mag 9". The Mag 9.5 puts out more published GPH, as I'm finding, and noise is not an issue. I'm pulling sides, just menting what I found. The Mag is also common locally too, so parts are here. I believe the Eheim is higher quality pump though? Lastly, what about tubing? I believe schelude 80 PVC, where is that available, Home Depot?

12/13/2006, 06:42 AM	#15
sjm817 On Yer left! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Northern VA Posts: 18,777	I've owned both the Mag9.5 and an Eheim 1260. They are both very good pumps. In reality with the typical 3/4" plumbing, ~ 4' of head of so, the flow would be similar. The Mag9 would be slightly higher, maybe 50 GPH or so more. If noise is not an issue, the Mag9.5 is a fine pump. __________________ - Scott