10 Gal Fuge/Sump

[TANKSALOT]

I will be building a 10 gallon fuge / sump to go under my 46 gallon bowfront.
It will replace the wet/dry that is currently under there.

Here is my design. Let me know if there is anything that I should change.
I am using 1/4" plate glass due to costs. The local glass shop buys it by the truck load and it's a lot cheaper than a thinner glass.

 

[Troylee]

Looks good on paper but in reality your gonna run out of room real fast.... Where's the skimmer gonna go??

 

[TANKSALOT]

The skimmer has a very small footprint and will go into the overflow area.

The size is slightly bigger than the wet/dry that I have now. So everything will fit and instead of the bio-ball area, I get a fuge.

 

[Troylee]

Ok that's good, the skimmer should always get raw water from the overflow...what exactly are you planning on doing with the fuge?? What's going in there?? I have seen many times and people amongst the top reefers try to figure a way to make a 10gal sump with a fuge feasable and most if not all find it impossible... Maybe a good place for pods but the area is so small nutrient export is out of the question...

 

[CookieJar]

I agree, the size is so small, might be best to have a larger overflow and return area and ditch the 'fuge option.

 

[TANKSALOT]

The fuge area is primarily for Chaeto to spawn pods in for my Mandarin Gobie.

I would love to make it bigger and more effective, but the space under my 46 bowfront stand will only accommodate a 10 gal :sad:

TANKSALOT

 

[Troylee]

well what you got planned will work for pods great but not so well on the nutrient export... i feel ya with the bow front's i get hit up all the time for customs sumps to fit under those things.... i would say go for it, at least there will be no equipment in the tank and you can get some pods out of the deal...
just make sure you adjust the overflow correctly so it dont flood the sump in a event of a power failure with the current conifiguration you got drawn up there it looks like you only have about 3gal allowance for a power failure...

 

[TANKSALOT]

Yes, the power failure is always a concern. I use a check valve on the return line to eliminate the back flow. So I only have to worry about the overflow water. It has never over filled the wet/dry and it has less extra room. So with fingers crossed, I think I am OK.

 

[Troylee]

Were not going to go into the subject of check valves here but make sure you clean it at least twice a month... that is a whole thread in it's own..

 

[BlazinNano]

The fuge area is primarily for Chaeto to spawn pods in for my Mandarin Gobie.

I would love to make it bigger and more effective, but the space under my 46 bowfront stand will only accommodate a 10 gal :sad:

TANKSALOT

Yeah under those tanks there is no room at all. I understand that. My fiance has one and it is small.

 

[hounddog01]

Looks good on paper but in reality your gonna run out of room real fast....

I agree. I use this size just for a fuge.

 

[TANKSALOT]

I agree. I use this size just for a fuge.

I don't disagree..... But it is all the room that I have and it will be better than the small wet/dry that is currently in use.

Trust me, if I had the room it would be much larger.

TANKSALOT

 

[ddwbeagles]

I'm missing something here. First off - Regardless of size, it was a wize choice to put the return in the middle and the fuge on the other side. 95% of all "off the shelf" sumps have the fuge in the middle with water travelling too quickly accross it - to the return side of the sump. But now to my concern/observation. You fuge wall is 10.5" H and your baffles will keep the water level at 7" high. How are you planning to get flow into the fuge area?

If you haven't already considered this - I would recommend that you make a PVC manifold where you split the retun line, each with a ball valve to control flow. 90% and the closest valve returns water to the tank, 5% (2nd valve) provides flow into the fuge section (BTW I would cut teeth into the top of that fuge wall) and the 3rd valve can flow about 5% to a media chamber or KIY closed wall/open bottom media basket. Of course flow via the manifold can be manipulated any way you choose, but it adds control and flexibility to your system.

IMO fuge is small, but small with a slow flow is way better than no fuge at all. Post pics when you're done. Thanks

 

[ddwbeagles]

OH - and side comment. I see I'm not the only one who uses MS Excel like graph paper. Has nothing to do with your review, but a fun piece (and FREE) 3D software to use is Googlesketch. Sizeable download but a easy to use and visual friendly design software.

 

[TANKSALOT]

Thanks for your comments ddwbeagles.
The fuge will be plumbed with a slow flow.
I will have egg crate across the top of it.

I have attached a PIC of the 33 Gal Sump/Fuge that is on my frag station.

And thanks for the heads up on Googlesketch, I will have to check it out.

TANKSALOT