20 Long Sump Build

[kkgaskin90]

Replacing an Aqueon sump that is inefficient and frustrating. Also replaced Coralife Skimmer. Sump is a used 20 long (I paid 20$) with 5 baffles dividing it in to 3 sections plus a divided fuge. I sketched and sketched, asked for opinions, sketched some more, and changed my mind 58 times. Here is my current setup:

Almost final:

.

Final sketch:

Can you find my big time blonde moment?

Currently:

Baffles are made from 1/4" glass. Edges were sanded down. Cost $17 at a local glass shop. The measurements from left (Skimmer section) to right (Fuge) are 11.75"x8", 11.75"x7" (raised approx 3.25"), 11.75"x8" (raised approx 3"), & 11.75"x10". The divider in the fuge section is 8"x11".
Skimmer section is 12" for a Coral Box D700 (footprint 10.6"x10.6").
Return section is 7".
Fuge section is 8" (divided into front and back so Chaeto is kept separate from other macroalgaes.
There is approx 1" between baffles.
Tank dimensions are approximately 30"x12"x12".

 

[Ebone]

how big is your skimmer, why not make the larger side you fuge?

 

[kkgaskin90]

Skimmer is gigantic. 10.6 x10.6". It needs all that room

 

[kkgaskin90]

Installed the new sump last night I'm certainly not a handy chick but I did it all and I'm pretty proud of the outcome!

 

[segg05]

Looks good! I want to redo my sump. Where do you have your heaters?

 

[kkgaskin90]

In the above picture it was still in the DT-I put it there to keep it warm while I did the install and the glue cured. It's now back in the sump next to the return pump.

 

[Teddynola]

You weren't kidding about your skimmer, it's huge. What size is your DT?

 

[kkgaskin90]

75g

 

[kkgaskin90]

I'm terrible at pictures, but here's tank and sump:

Tank:

 

[TheEngineer]

Nice job.

Two questions:
1. Is the output of your skimmer plumbed over to your fuge section?
2. How does your skimmer react when the water level drops? The way it is setup your skimmer section's water level will drop to the height of the baffle (looks to be an inch or two from where it is in the picture) when you get evaporation and the water level in the return section drops.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Nice job.

Two questions:
1. Is the output of your skimmer plumbed over to your fuge section?
2. How does your skimmer react when the water level drops? The way it is setup your skimmer section's water level will drop to the height of the baffle (looks to be an inch or two from where it is in the picture) when you get evaporation and the water level in the return section drops.

No. Skimmer is freestanding in its chamber and not plumbed to anything. There is a T off the drain. The horizontal drops down with a 90 to the skimmer section while the vertical runs across to the fuge via a 90 connected to a ball valve to slow flow to fuge and ensure flow to skimmer.

That picture a few posts back was taken right as I was filling the sump and still attempting to figure out the correct water level versus what would cause an overflow in the case of a power outage. Here is the level now, with ATO sensors in place to compensate for evaporation. Water levels in fuge and skimmer sections will remain stable.

 

[TheEngineer]

Cool.

I maintain my previous remark. Nice job.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Thank you! I had lots of design help from great people [emoji4]

 

[william_acker]

Sorry for these 3 questions but starting up my 75 gallon soon.

So you control the flow to the fuge with the ball valve?

What's the clear line running right to return?

What return pump are you running?

 

[spllbnd2]

Looks great. That is the same way I set my sump up. Return in the middle and works like a charm. I did put my skimmer on a stand and have a ATO plumbed into the system as well.

What kind of flow are you running for the return?

Cheers,
Alex

 

[kkgaskin90]

Sorry for these 3 questions but starting up my 75 gallon soon.

So you control the flow to the fuge with the ball valve?

What's the clear line running right to return?

What return pump are you running?

Yes, flow to the fuge is controlled with a ball valve. Flow through each side of the fuge is pretty low... I fill a 2 cup container in about 16 seconds.

The clear line is 5/8" ID plastic tubing that connects the return pump back to the bulkhead and then to the tank.

My return pump is a Fluval SP2. It came with the tank and seems to be sufficient, but I've honestly never looked in to whether or not that's correct... Probably should in-tank flow comes from a MaxSpect Gyre.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Looks great. That is the same way I set my sump up. Return in the middle and works like a charm. I did put my skimmer on a stand and have a ATO plumbed into the system as well.

What kind of flow are you running for the return?

Cheers,
Alex

Thank you! My ATO is not plumbed in on mine. I've got a 5g container in the stand and use a Tom's aqualifter pump to get fresh water to the sump. I'm happy with it. Skimmer isn't on a stand but recommended water level is 6-8 inches and baffle is 8 inches so I can raise it if need be.

Return pump is 950 GPH

 

[Harold Green]

Wish my wife was that handy. You did a really nice job with the sump. Question. Do you plan to add sand and rubble to the refusium? I put a deep sand bed in mine along with several pieces of live rock with a couple of turkey wings. It's been running for over a year now with no issues so far. I'm also a believer in large skimmers. This is my sump before I installed it built from a 75 gallon tank.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Oh don't be fooled! I'm not handy! Haha but with a husband that travels for work out of necessity I need to get things done.
I'm still looking in to the pros and cons of sand in the refugium. I had sand in my last but with the low flow I worry about it becoming a nitrate and detritus trap. Turkey wings?
That's an awesome sump! A local reefer runs his tank with the Berlin method. He just upgraded to a 560g from a 240g, so I reaped the benefit of one of his skimmers. Otherwise I probably would have gone too small.
That's a nice sump! What size DT?

 

[Harold Green]

The displays a 210. Turkey wings are live clams that do an excellent job of filtering the water. I don't know of anywhere you can buy just them. Mine came in on the live rock I buy from Florida. The whole idea of the deep sand bed is that it converts the nitrate and removes it. It does that by no air penetrating the bed. Of course the macro does the same thing. I just like to have as much removal as possible and the fact that I feed the refusium from clean water. It flows from my return pump through a gfo/carbon reactor before entering the refusium. That way I'm only removing what makes it through all the filtering, skimming, reactors rather than dumping all the detritus into the fuge. If the macro suddenly takes off I know it's time to change the gfo media. Lots of views on the right or wrong way to feed the fuge but this method seems to be working well for me and the fuge is full of pods and macros.