drilling sump/adding refugium

[SeaJay]

I have this eshopps 300 sump and I want to move it to the basement. That means I will be ditching the twin sicce syncra in-sump return pumps I have now in favor of a reeflo external pump. Doing this will free up some space in the sump to add a small refugium.

My 2 questions are: 1) Where do I drill the sump? Does it matter? Should I just drill it so that it aligns with the pump intake, or is there a specific location I should drill?
2) now that I have some extra space in the sump, how would I going about utilizing part of it as a fuge? I’m not sure where to begin on this.

Any input would be helpful. Thanks!

Return pumps are housed on the far right, skimmer is in the center.

 

[Peace River]

I’m not sure why you are wanting to drill the sump. The black ports on top are the in and the return pump flow will exit through plumbing out of the top of the sump chamber. What am I missing?

For the fuge, you may want to do a YouTube search to see different configurations for that sump. You may be able to split the middle section into fuge and return and have the skimmer in the end chamber.

 

[SeaJay]

I’m not sure why you are wanting to drill the sump. The black ports on top are the in and the return pump flow will exit through plumbing out of the top of the sump chamber. What am I missing?

Wanting to change from in sump return pumps to an external pump. Without drilling the sump I’d have to plumb up to the pump. Isn’t it most desirable to have the pump setup where it is gravity fed? Or am I misunderstanding the concept?

For the fuge, you may want to do a YouTube search to see different configurations for that sump. You may be able to split the middle section into fuge and return and have the skimmer in the end chamber.

Just by looking at it, I assumed that the return portion is too small to house my skimmer, but maybe it will fit. I’ll have to pull it out and try it to see. If so, I think that would be the easiest and most effective option.

 

[Jon Fishman]

Your skimmer will eat your pods.

 

[Peace River]

Wanting to change from in sump return pumps to an external pump. Without drilling the sump I’d have to plumb up to the pump. Isn’t it most desirable to have the pump setup where it is gravity fed? Or am I misunderstanding the concept?


Just by looking at it, I assumed that the return portion is too small to house my skimmer, but maybe it will fit. I’ll have to pull it out and try it to see. If so, I think that would be the easiest and most effective option.

My first configuration suggestion was based on the return pump in the sump.

I understand now why you want to drill the sump if you are going to use an external pump. In that case you may want to consider using the middle chamber for the skimmer, the end chamber for the fuge, and then drill out of the end chamber (probably on the end panel if you have room for the external pump at that spot).

 

[Peace River]

Your skimmer will eat your pods.

I agree! That is why in both of my suggested configuration the flow went through the skimmer and then the fuge. Do you use a different approach?

 

[Jon Fishman]

I agree! That is why in both of my suggested configuration the flow went through the skimmer and then the fuge. Do you use a different approach?

Currently my skimmer eats my pods..... haha.... I have a new setup I'm creating, and this will no longer be an issue....... I even have 2 pre-drilled holes/valves/everything on the 'new' sump, and I am still debating just putting the pump inside the sump for leak-proofing reasons.

 

[SeaJay]

Yeah. I would definitely set it up so pods will survive the skimmer. Supporting a pod population is the main reason I want a fuge.