Advise Needed for First Sump

[JHami]

Hi all
I'm a long time lurker on here but first time poster. After 13 years running a fresh water tank, a new extension to our home has offered me the chance to start my first marine. I have bought a second hand 6ft x 2ft x2 ft tank with sump and I am building an in built tank to my front hall with a window through the tank into the kitchen.I am planning to run the tank on the Triton system
My first question relates to the layout of the sump I have bought:

My question relates to the right hand side of the tank. The previous owner used the first compartment for ATO and the second larger compartment as a salt water mixing tank. As I live only 500yrds from the Wild Atlantic I will be using NSW. I am planing to convert this large compartment into a refugium. I would prefer not to put a T junction in the return pump line so what would be my best option?
I was thinking of raising the divider about an inch off the bottom of the sump and let the water flow under the divide from the return chamber to the refugium.
Would this work or has anyone any other suggestions?

 

[Retro Reefer]

Welcome to R2R! Be sure to say hello in the meet and greet section

I don’t see why your plan wouldn’t work but you will need to have two way flow in and out of that camber or just put your return pump in the refugium chamber.

 

[Mical]

Awesome sump - lots of room for all kinds of configurations. If it was me, I would from left to right: 1st section - return (Socks etc), 2nd section - refugium (cheato etc), 3rd section - media (marine pure, etc) 4th section - skimmer & return pump(s) and last section ATO. IMO

 

[JHami]

Awesome sump - lots of room for all kinds of configurations. If it was me, I would from left to right: 1st section - return (Socks etc), 2nd section - refugium (cheato etc), 3rd section - media (marine pure, etc) 4th section - skimmer & return pump(s) and last section ATO. IMO

Any reason for that configuration? I was thinking 1st- return+roller filter +skimmer... 2nd reactors etc..3rd Return...4th refuge.The only thing we agree on is the ATO
Thanks for your input

 

[RocketEngineer]

Why do you not want to tee off the return? If that’s really the case, why not run another pump supplying the refugium? I would suggest going over or through that tall baffle for the refugium as the height will give you much more water volume. If you have just a single under baffle, the water will only be as high as the return and that’s the shallowest section of a sump.

 

[JHami]

Why do you not want to tee off the return? If that’s really the case, why not run another pump supplying the refugium? I would suggest going over or through that tall baffle for the refugium as the height will give you much more water volume. If you have just a single under baffle, the water will only be as high as the return and that’s the shallowest section of a sump.

Thanks for your feedback.I think your suggestion is probably the best option.
Getting the flow through the refugium is my only issue. I am nervous about cutting the baffle glass or drilling holes in it.
Also I am wary of teeing off the return. As its my first sump I really want to keep the plumbing as basic as possible.Teeing the (high pressure) return line has the potential to go very wrong

 

[Reef-junky]

Thanks for your feedback.I think your suggestion is probably the best option.
Getting the flow through the refugium is my only issue. I am nervous about cutting the baffle glass or drilling holes in it.
Also I am wary of teeing off the return. As its my first sump I really want to keep the plumbing as basic as possible.Teeing the (high pressure) return line has the potential to go very wrong

Do you plan on buying a DC return pump? Teeing off the return is the only way to control the speed of an AC pump. If done right you won’t be adding any pressure. Water’s preference is the path of least resistance. You should not be closing a valve against the pump. The bleed for your return pump can feed the refugium. I would not go under there is no reason or advantage to doing so.

 

[Reef-junky]

Any reason for that configuration? I was thinking 1st- return+roller filter +skimmer... 2nd reactors etc..3rd Return...4th refuge.The only thing we agree on is the ATO
Thanks for your input

A refugium can benefit from unfiltered tank water. Personally I would run an ATS instead.

 

[Oropher]

Hi all
I'm a long time lurker on here but first time poster. After 13 years running a fresh water tank, a new extension to our home has offered me the chance to start my first marine. I have bought a second hand 6ft x 2ft x2 ft tank with sump and I am building an in built tank to my front hall with a window through the tank into the kitchen.I am planning to run the tank on the Triton system
My first question relates to the layout of the sump I have bought:

My question relates to the right hand side of the tank. The previous owner used the first compartment for ATO and the second larger compartment as a salt water mixing tank. As I live only 500yrds from the Wild Atlantic I will be using NSW. I am planing to convert this large compartment into a refugium. I would prefer not to put a T junction in the return pump line so what would be my best option?
I was thinking of raising the divider about an inch off the bottom of the sump and let the water flow under the divide from the return chamber to the refugium.
Would this work or has anyone any other suggestions?

Don't raise the bottom divider between return and refugium. It will connect both chamber, your refugium will loose the depth and ATO will loose sensitivity.

I suggest from left to right:
1st chamber = mechanical (sock/roller/rocks etc)
2nd chamber = Skimmer and possible reactors
3rd chamber = Return pump
4th chamber (the big one) = refugium. You can lower 2 inch at the top of divider so refugium can overflow directly to return chamber.
5th chamber = ATO fresh water reservoir

Your drain from main tank could be splitted into 2: the faster flow to the 1st chamber and the slower flow (regulate flow with gate valve) to refugium. Or you could have 2 drain pipes, one to 1st and the other to 4th refugium.
Your return pump can be directly to MT without a Tee.

With refugium you would want to make a slow water movement. So at the bottom you could place marine pure or something for denitrification (if necessary).

 

[JHami]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I think I will go with Oropher's layout with the sump and I will probably split the return to the refuge.

I am now looking for advice on return pumps and I have it down to two options : Jebao DCP10000 or Hydor SELTZ D9000
Has anybody any suggestions? (The display tank is 7'x2'x2')

 

[bob salzlein]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far. I think I will go with Oropher's layout with the sump and I will probably split the return to the refuge.

I am now looking for advice on return pumps and I have it down to two options : Jebao DCP10000 or Hydor SELTZ D9000
Has anybody any suggestions? (The display tank is 7'x2'x2')

Go with the Hydor, more power and two year warranty