Do I have my sump set up correctly?

De Michieli · Jan 20, 2016

To be honest Im not sure why and I could be wrong I just noticed a big difference in performance of my skimmer from when I had the sock on and had it off. (My skimmer is not the best in the world so that could be a big reason. Its the Coral Life 65 super skimmer)

redfishbluefish · Jan 20, 2016

You can calculate the volume of water going into the sump when the pumps are turned off. I'll use inches in this example. You need to measure the length and width of the inside of the tank and now the depth the water would drop when the pumps are off. If the lowest point are the saw teeth in the overflow, then it's there. If you have a return line that is lower, then it's there.

Now simply multiple length x width x depth to get cubic inches.

Now multiply your cubic inch number times 0.004329 to get number of gallons.

You can do the same calculations to determine the amount of available space in your sump to accept this volume.

Here is an actual example with my tank. The length is 59 inches, the width is 17 inches and the saw teeth are about 3/8 inch below the water.....I'll round that up to a 1/2 inch to play it safe.

So 59 x 17 x 1/2 (0.5) = 502 cubic inches

502 x 0.004329 = 2.2 gallons

Hope this helps.

ndz98 · Jan 20, 2016

Am I measuring where the hole is drilled on the return or where the flare nozzle is going to sit?

redfishbluefish · Jan 20, 2016

You're measuring to your deepest hose, nozzle, saw tooth, pipe, whatever. The deepest point at which water will drain or siphon back to the sump.

Reefrookie220 · Jan 20, 2016

redfishbluefish said:
You can calculate the volume of water going into the sump when the pumps are turned off. I'll use inches in this example. You need to measure the length and width of the inside of the tank and now the depth the water would drop when the pumps are off. If the lowest point are the saw teeth in the overflow, then it's there. If you have a return line that is lower, then it's there.

Now simply multiple length x width x depth to get cubic inches.

Now multiply your cubic inch number times 0.004329 to get number of gallons.

You can do the same calculations to determine the amount of available space in your sump to accept this volume.

Here is an actual example with my tank. The length is 59 inches, the width is 17 inches and the saw teeth are about 3/8 inch below the water.....I'll round that up to a 1/2 inch to play it safe.

So 59 x 17 x 1/2 (0.5) = 502 cubic inches

502 x 0.004329 = 2.2 gallons

Hope this helps.

Bill Nye the science guy!

KorD · Jan 20, 2016

just to give you an idea on how my little sump is set up... I have the water coming down from the tank into a 1st holding area.. the water bubble are trapped in there as I have two larger holes at the bottom of the chamber to release the water. The water then goes into a second chamber that houses my skimmer and reactor, then the water move through a filter and into my return area that is only a pump and also the RODI float.

Sorry for the mess it is, but The tank is getting worked on slowly and will be in better condition by this weekend I hope.. I also have about 1.5 gallons too much water in my sump right now.. I added a little too much water during the last water change a few days ago that I need to remove. The water normal is only 1/2 to 1 inch above the filter to return.

ndz98 · Jan 20, 2016

I'm gonna do all the calculations and what not in a little bit to make sure everything is right. Got nothing to do since I'm snowed in

KorD · Jan 20, 2016

ndz98 said:
I'm gonna do all the calculations and what not in a little bit to make sure everything is right. Got nothing to do since I'm snowed in

Where are you located?? we got just a light dusting this morning, but I'm still holding hope to get a hellova snowstorm still this winter.

ndz98 · Jan 20, 2016

Mid Tennessee. We had some freezing rain and then snow last night and this morning. It's not a lot maybe a few inches but enough to get me out of school lol.

KorD · Jan 20, 2016

good deal.
I did some work in Ky and Tn a few years ago.. it was funny because there was a little snow and the whole town was shut down. I laughed because we were the only work truck with 4 wheel drive, no need for it that day, and everyone complained about the snow and the cold.. We all chuckled be cause we are from WI and are used to the massive snow and the bitter cold..lol
Everyone else we were working with was from the deep south, and they barely ever saw snow more or less worked in anything less then 50 degrees..lol

ndz98 · Jan 20, 2016

Oh yea I know what you mean. I'm from Florida so I was never used to the snow. But seems like I can handle driving in the snow way better than the people here do. Everyone seems to lose there driving skills as soon as they see a speck of snow. Rain is the same way. If the ground is even the slightest bit wet then you can just forget about getting anywhere on time. Last year we got out of school for two weeks straight because of snow haha

ndz98 · Jan 20, 2016

Okay bear with me guys...I'll figure out the right height of the glass dividers in order to make sure the overflow from the tank will fit in it. But is this a better design? The reason I have the first chamber so high is because of the over flow. And on the third piece of glass should I move it off the bottom or should I leave it where it's at?