Need help with sump build

Xclusive Reef · May 30, 2017

here is a rough picture of a 30 gallon and i did my best with the baffles. right to left i have flow flow going into the socks, into baffle to the skimmer, missing 1-2 more baffles and into the refugium and finally to return.

Question, is that 5-6 inches enough for refugium or forget the refugium and do a santa monica algae scrubber? Not much room left, not sure where to put the heaters and future media reactors.

sbash · May 30, 2017

Yes, that is enough room for a refugium. However, I should point out the if the baffle leading into the refugium is raised (i.e. the water is going under it, which it looks like it is in your picture), then you are going to be putting a lot of flow through the fuge. This can be good and bad. Generally a refugium has a low through flow...

Also, with your return chamber so small, you will need to top up the water more frequently. If you have an ATO, then there is nothing to worry about, if not, be prepared for frequent top ups.

Lastly, I am not sure what is going on on the right there; however, did you consider having your drain pipes go straight into the socks?

Something like this (for example):

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 30, 2017

Here is mine

Xclusive Reef · May 30, 2017

What

Shaddow_wolf169 said:
Here is mine

What s better height of your baffles?

Xclusive Reef · May 30, 2017

sbash said:
Yes, that is enough room for a refugium. However, I should point out the if the baffle leading into the refugium is raised (i.e. the water is going under it, which it looks like it is in your picture), then you are going to be putting a lot of flow through the fuge. This can be good and bad. Generally a refugium has a low through flow...

Also, with your return chamber so small, you will need to top up the water more frequently. If you have an ATO, then there is nothing to worry about, if not, be prepared for frequent top ups.

Lastly, I am not sure what is going on on the right there; however, did you consider having your drain pipes go straight into the socks?

Something like this (for example):

It's a rough design. I want to have drain in 1 chaimber then goes into socks then under baffle into the skimmer department

Shaddow_wolf169 · May 30, 2017

nycluis718 said:
What

What s better height of your baffles?

My baffles are set up for my skimmer height of 10 inches

ycnibrc · May 31, 2017

I like cheato reactor better easy to service and dont have to worry about algae flow back to main display. You can use the space for po4 brick or spirex for filtration

jeff williams · May 31, 2017

I would suggest a bubble trap between the fuge and the return this will eliminate bubbles in the main tank plus you can add foam to the top of the bubble trap to stop anything in the fuge getting to the return pump. Also if you make your bubble trap wide enough you can put your heater in between the panes of glass and all your water runs over your heater for more affective heating and it protects the heater from anything getting dropped on it

jgvergo · Jun 1, 2017

sbash said:
Yes, that is enough room for a refugium. However, I should point out the if the baffle leading into the refugium is raised (i.e. the water is going under it, which it looks like it is in your picture), then you are going to be putting a lot of flow through the fuge. This can be good and bad. Generally a refugium has a low through flow...

Also, with your return chamber so small, you will need to top up the water more frequently. If you have an ATO, then there is nothing to worry about, if not, be prepared for frequent top ups.

Lastly, I am not sure what is going on on the right there; however, did you consider having your drain pipes go straight into the socks?

Something like this (for example):

+1 on a larger return chamber.

I chose to use a very effective $15 filter sock holder instead of building it into my sump. It takes up very little space and made the build easier.

Xclusive Reef · Jun 1, 2017

jgvergo said:
+1 on a larger return chamber.

I chose to use a very effective $15 filter sock holder instead of building it into my sump. It takes up very little space and made the build easier.

how large of a return? pumps are pretty much about the same size. i am thinking either going with jebao dcp 10000 or sicce syncra 5.0

jgvergo · Jun 1, 2017

nycluis718 said:
how large of a return? pumps are pretty much about the same size. i am thinking either going with jebao dcp 10000 or sicce syncra 5.0

Here is a picture of my sump. The return chamber is 12" (length), 6.5" (width) and 9"-12" (height). That's a Sicce Syncra 12.0 in the return chamber (I have 10 feet of head, hence the larger pump). Sometimes when I start up the pump I wind up completely draining the return chamber. It's not a big deal and it usually stabilizes within 15-30 seconds, but a larger return chamber would probably avoid it all together.

Xclusive Reef · Jun 1, 2017

jgvergo said:
Here is a picture of my sump. The return chamber is 12" (length), 6.5" (width) and 9"-12" (height). That's a Sicce Syncra 12.0 in the return chamber (I have 10 feet of head, hence the larger pump). Sometimes when I start up the pump I wind up completely draining the return chamber. It's not a big deal and it usually stabilizes within 15-30 seconds, but a larger return chamber would probably avoid it all together.

cool thanks for the pic.. how u like the sicce pump? some people complain of a light hum noise? i am between the vectra m1, sicce syncra 5.0 and jebao dcp 12000...

jgvergo · Jun 1, 2017

nycluis718 said:
cool thanks for the pic.. how u like the sicce pump? some people complain of a light hum noise? i am between the vectra m1, sicce syncra 5.0 and jebao dcp 12000...

I have a bad news/good news story with Sicce. I had a pump failure (broken impeller). It turned out to be a rare manufacturing defect. That was the bad news. I contacted Sicce and I have to say that I had about the best customer service experience I could ask for. They were tremendously easy to work with and responsive. They over nighted me a new part at no charge. I had always been happy with the pump and after the failure and great customer service, I bought another 12.0 as a backup, which I should have done in the first place!

Xclusive Reef · Jun 1, 2017

jgvergo said:
I have a bad news/good news story with Sicce. I had a pump failure (broken impeller). It turned out to be a rare manufacturing defect. That was the bad news. I contacted Sicce and I have to say that I had about the best customer service experience I could ask for. They were tremendously easy to work with and responsive. They over nighted me a new part at no charge. I had always been happy with the pump and after the failure and great customer service, I bought another 12.0 as a backup, which I should have done in the first place!

Any humming noises coming from the pump?